IEC 61508 Experts in Germany
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Meet FRATCH Experts in Germany, who have recently used IEC 61508
Volker Foitzik
Last position:
Technical Lead | Software Architect | Embedded Software Engineer at Hydac
- Development of safety-related embedded software for a mobile machine on a Hydac TTC 2390 controller.
- Implementation in C with consideration of SIL 3 / ASIL D and MISRA-C:2025.
- Implementation of communication via CAN, CANopen, and J1939.
Standards, guidelines and norms: ISO 26262, IEC 61508, MISRA-C:2025
Technologies: C99, Hydac TTC 2390, Infineon TriCore Aurix TC397, Hightec C/C++ Compiler, PC-lint Plus, CAN, CANopen, J1939, MISRA-C:2025
Torsten Voegler
Last position:
COO/CTO (Freelance) at Reitreal LLC
- Setting up and running operations for offering multi-level tokenized real estate investment possibilities,
- Start-up preparations, establishing a real estate investment trust (REIT)
- Communication with SEC, technology provider selection, etc.
Armin Wehrle
Last position:
Interims Head of Functional Safety & R&D Processes at SEMIKRON Danfoss GmbH & Co KG
- Planning and coordination of all safety activities and organizational development to meet the requirements of ISO 26262 and IEC 61508
- Process development according to Automotive SPICE™ and ISO 26262
- Establishment and technical leadership of the CoC Functional Safety Management and coordination and responsibility of safety activities across all projects (ASIL C and ASIL D)
- Stakeholder management and alignment with OEMs, DIA/RASIC coordination
- Steering of staff on developing functional safety and relevant work products for safety evidence
- Planning, coordination, monitoring and progress analysis of work package creation and action tracking
- Planning and execution of safety assessments and audits for internal sub-projects and external suppliers
- Creation of the safety plan and support in creating work packages for the safety case
- Conducting FMEAs, FMEDAs and FTAs
- Coordination, development and execution of safety training
- Resource and deployment planning, budget planning and controlling
- Planning, tendering, contracting and coordination of temporary external support services
- Interdisciplinary planning and coordination of activities in functional safety management according to ISO 26262
- Conducting ASPICE™ maturity assessments and deriving process improvements based on the standard requirements
- Planning, coordination and creation of the safety assurance documentation
- Central point of contact for functional safety for all organizational levels as well as NBs, OEMs and suppliers
- Reporting to the division manager
Goran Popovic
Last position:
Test Manager/Test Analyst at Festo/ Questax GmbH
Coordinate and execute system tests, system requirements reviews and creation of system/SW use/test cases
Organize requirements
Create test specification
Create use and test cases
Manage project/tests in Codebeamer and MS Teams
Analyze error impact, link defects and communicate to developers
Review system requirements versus system test cases and link them
Perform simulations with FAS/REST API
Perform system and safety tests
Technologies and tools: CAN, MODBus, Ethernet, PLC, ProfiDriv; Codebeamer ALM; Scrum; Kanban; SAFe; MS Office 365; MS Teams; Git; GitLab CI/TeamCity; Batch; FAS; WireShark; Python; Enterprise Architect EA; ChatGPT; MS Copilot
Robert Poljak
Last position:
Independent Risk & Safety Management Expert
- Safety concepts: high-level safety philosophies, active & passive fire protection philosophies and HSE management plans
- Project & engineering management
- Explosion protection & area classification (ATEX)
- Active and passive fire protection system design
- Evacuation & escape route planning
- Lead risk assessment workshops (HAZID, HAZOP and SIL)
- Fire & explosion risk assessments (FERA) and quantitative risk assessments (QRA)
Arne Hendricks
Last position:
Embedded Fullstack Developer at IoT / Infrastructure Automation Sector
- Analysis of legacy codebase and identification of architectural issues, implementing improvements in coordination with the Product Owner.
- Development of clean, efficient, and fully documented code following established software engineering practices and standards.
- Analysis of Erlang components in backend and device layers to provide recommendations for ensuring stable system operation.
- Setup and optimization of CI/CD pipelines on client infrastructure, including testing, debugging, and certificate management quality assurance.
- Participation in planning, design, and implementation of epics and stories according to Product Owner specifications.
- Technical consultation for Product Owner regarding Erlang codebase management and best practices.
- Collaboration with Product Owner, Scrum Master, and development team to ensure timely delivery of features.
- Elixir & Phoenix + PostgreSQL
- Erlang
- IoT
- CI/CD
- Git
- Agile/Scrum
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- Frontend (VueJS)
- Embedded Devices
Ould Aly Isselmou
Last position:
Functional Safety Assessor at VW
- Pre-assessments and review of functional safety status for ADAS ECUs and body controller components
- Conduct functional safety audits
- Review the functional safety status of the E3 1.2 in a pre-assessment
- Document interviews
- Document findings and generate internal reports
Methods:
- ISO26262
- Automotive SPICE Level 2, 3
- Agile methods, SAFe
Tools:
- DOORS
- Enterprise Architect
- JIRA & Confluence
- IQ-FMEA
- Isograph
Matthias Wissen
Last position:
Embedded Software Developer at Schaffarzyk Hardware & Software
Development of the embedded firmware for a smart wearable to capture vital signs with smartphone connectivity:
- Architecture and implementation of the complete embedded firmware
- Connecting and processing various sensors for vital data collection
- Implementing BLE communication for the smartphone app
- Optimizing power consumption and battery life for wearable operation
- Technologies: BLE, Embedded C/C++, sensors, low-power design, Git, nRF52840, GCC, Azure
Bernhard Trier
Last position:
Risk Management/ISO26262 at Delta
- FTA analysis and TSR of SW and HW according to ISO 26262 requirements
- FMEDAs of HW according to ISO 26262 requirements
- P-FMEA and optimization of electronics manufacturing in Bangkok, Thailand
Daniel Carton
Last position:
Founder & Managing Director at BotCraft GmbH
- Building the company with a focus on connectivity for IIoT and Industry 4.0, iRPA/process automation, advanced robotics and smart systems, sensors and services
- Project management and software architecture for IoT gateway development (since 2020) with protocol translation, IT/OT convergence and GRC
- Developing RPA bots for automating and monitoring industrial processes with an agent-based AI approach (since 2020)
- Implementing unsupervised clustering and anomaly detection for time series data in big data streaming pipelines (since 2021)
- Introducing a Docker-based release train for OTA updates with DevSecOps and CI/CD (since 2018)
Stephan Johne
Last position:
Responsible CRA Risk Analysis - Moderator (Cyber Resilience Act, Cyber Security) at DEUTA-Werke Bergisch Gladbach
Risk analyses according to CRA for E/E systems with safety levels SIL2 and SIL3 according to IEC61508 & EN 50126 ff. in the rail sector, Role: Responsible CRA Risk Analysis - Moderator
Yoav Netzer
Last position:
Freelance Software Architect at Freelance Consultant
- Various small consultations, e.g. concepts and arcitectures.
- Updating my Matlab, Linux, IPv6, Cyber-Security, C++ (up to 23) and Python skills.
Mirko Haucke
Last position:
Cybersecurity Manager at Joynext GmbH
Cybersecurity for RTCU project for the Stellantis Group.
The management of cybersecurity was strongly criticized by the customer Stellantis, questioning competence. Requirements were missing or incomplete, the architecture for cybersecurity controls was non-existent, and documentation such as cybersecurity plans and concepts were incomplete and formally incorrect.
- Building customer trust and de-escalation
- Sprint planning with the customer based on SAFe
- Task-force management
- Switching planning and control to an agile approach
- Review and update of cybersecurity documents
- Communication and problem solving with suppliers, particularly Rolling Wireless and Autocrypt
- Internal workshops and coordination across various hierarchy levels from developers to CTO
- Coordination of work packages and implementation across locations in Dresden, Ningbo, and Oborniki
- Reporting and support of cybersecurity audits
- Coaching of Joynext cybersecurity managers
- De-escalation of critical customer issues
- Acceleration of requirement creation and release by a factor of 5
- Timely provision of 3rd party components
- Reduction of vulnerability management effort by factor 3
- Creation of cybersecurity documents conformant to existing standards
- Technologies and Methods: V-Modell, ASPICE, IREB, ISTQB, Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, PMP, IPMA, BPMN 2.0, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Jira, Confluence, Siemens Polarion, Dependency Track
Phani Meher Ganti
Last position:
Fusa Expert at HOLON GmbH
- Act as the primary point of contact and lead FuSa activities in accordance with ISO 26262 and SOTIF for L4 AD shuttle
- Establishment of processes, guidelines, procedures and templates related to functional safety in accordance with ISO 26262 and SOTIF
- Item definition, safety goal definitions of L4 AD shuttle with regards to ADS ECU domain namely perception, trajectory planning and execution
- Carry out HARA and STPA for different domains of L4 AD shuttle
- Evaluate the nominal and degraded performance under edge-case conditions
- Define functional safety requirements and allocate them to system, hardware, and software levels
- Implementation and evaluation of safety concepts (FSC and TSC) with respect to fail operational, fail safe strategies and architectures as part of the overall system requirements
- Develop and maintain safety cases and associated work products, ensuring ASIL D compliance
- Independent review of safety analyses including advice for creation, cooperation in, and maintenance of FTAs, FMEA, FMEDA etc.
- Coordinate safety activities and measures with internal and external stakeholders, and other relevant parties with reference to DIA
- Support project teams in the creation of work products in accordance with the safety life cycle in relation to system, software and hardware development
- Implementation of an effective SMS in accordance with EU 2022/1426
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using IEC 61508
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
21 years
Position duration
2.2 years
Positions per freelancer
16
Top business areas
Product Development, Quality Assurance, Project Management
Top industries
Manufacturing, Automotive, Information Technology
Certification focus areas
Quality Assurance, Product Development, Operations
Bachelor's degree or higher
100%
Master's degree or higher
64%
Doctorate
7%
Certifications per freelancer
2
Most common languages
German, English, Spanish
Speak two or more languages
100%
Based on our profile pool as of 30 Aug 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this technology in Germany are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range.
Average rates of experts in Germany using IEC 61508
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 30 Aug 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
About the technology
What IEC 61508 covers
IEC 61508 is the core functional safety standard for electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic systems. It defines how safety-related functions are specified, designed, verified, and maintained across the full lifecycle. Companies use it when they need controlled risk reduction, traceable evidence, and clear safety cases.
Where it is used
- Industrial automation and machine control
- Process plants and safety instrumentation
- Sensors, actuators, and safety controllers
- Embedded systems in safety-critical equipment
- Assessment work for suppliers and integrators
IEC 61508 often sits behind sector standards such as IEC 61511 or ISO 26262. Strong specialists know how to translate system hazards into safety requirements and evidence that stands up in reviews.
What strong specialists do
Good IEC 61508 professionals connect engineering detail with process discipline. They write and review safety concepts, support SIL allocation, guide verification and validation, and keep requirements, tests, and decisions aligned. They also know how to work with hardware, software, and systems teams without losing the audit trail.
When companies bring in freelance help
Freelance expertise helps when a project needs a fresh review, a short-term gap fill, or support for a certification package. It also helps when teams must update legacy systems, close documentation gaps, or prepare evidence for an independent assessment. In Germany, this is common on cross-site industrial projects where English and German documentation both matter.
Ecosystem and adjacent skills
IEC 61508 work usually touches hazard analysis, risk assessment, failure modes, test strategy, and lifecycle documentation. Many specialists also know model-based engineering, embedded software, industrial communication, SCADA, and safety hardware design. Searchers may also use the terms functional safety or EN 61508 when looking for the same expertise.
How to judge fit
The right expert can explain SIL decisions, trace each safety requirement into design and test evidence, and spot missing assumptions early. They should be comfortable with reviews, supplier data, validation plans, and safety manuals. For German teams, it helps if they can collaborate smoothly on-site or remotely and produce clear technical documents in the expected working language.
Frequently asked questions
Need clarity? These are the questions we hear most often about IEC 61508.
IEC 61508 is used to define and control safety functions in electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic systems. Companies apply it to equipment and control logic where a failure could create risk to people, assets, or the environment. It gives a lifecycle approach for requirements, design, verification, validation, and maintenance.
IEC 61508 is the generic functional safety standard that many later standards build on. IEC 61511 focuses on the process industry, while ISO 26262 targets road vehicles. A strong specialist understands when the generic rules apply directly and when a sector standard adds extra detail.
A strong IEC 61508 specialist usually knows hazard analysis, risk assessment, SIL allocation, verification, validation, and safety documentation. Useful adjacent skills include embedded software, hardware reliability, industrial control systems, and test planning. In many projects, the best fit is someone who can bridge engineering and compliance work.
A IEC 61508 engagement works best when the scope is clear: system boundary, safety goals, target SILs, existing design material, and current gaps. If those inputs are incomplete, the expert may first need to help define the safety concept or review assumptions. The more traceable the starting point, the faster the work moves.
Much of IEC 61508 work can be done remotely, especially document review, safety case preparation, and test evidence checks. On-site time becomes more useful when the specialist needs access to hardware, lab setups, production teams, or legacy controls. For projects in Germany, a hybrid setup is common when teams are spread across sites.
Look for clear thinking, traceability, and practical experience with the full safety lifecycle. A good IEC 61508 expert can explain why a SIL target was chosen, how it is supported by design and tests, and where residual risk still exists. Weak work usually shows up as vague claims, missing evidence, or documents that do not align.
No. IEC 61508 covers hardware, software, and the overall system process. Software is important, but the standard also asks for failure analysis, architectural constraints, verification, validation, and long-term maintenance. The best specialists understand how these parts fit together.
Many search for IEC 61508 using broader terms like functional safety or the German and European form EN 61508. Some also look for help with SIL, safety lifecycle work, or safety case documentation. A strong specialist will recognize these terms and map them to the same underlying need.
The average hourly rate of freelancers in Germany who have used IEC 61508 in their recent projects is 111 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 888 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers in Germany who have used IEC 61508 in their recent projects, 100% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 64% hold at least a Master's degree, and 7% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers in Germany who have used IEC 61508 in their recent projects have 21 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.2 years.
The most common languages among freelancers in Germany who have used IEC 61508 in their recent projects are German (100%), English (93%), and Spanish (21%).
The most common industries among freelancers in Germany who have used IEC 61508 in their recent projects are Manufacturing (93%), Automotive (86%), and Information Technology (57%).
The most common business areas among freelancers in Germany who have used IEC 61508 in their recent projects are Product Development (100%), Quality Assurance (100%), and Project Management (79%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used IEC 61508
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg Request a free demo
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
