Rockwell Automation

Senior Research Engineer - Safety

Prague, Czech Republic Full time

Rockwell Automation is a global technology leader focused on helping the world’s manufacturers be more productive, sustainable, and agile. With more than 28,000 employees who make the world better every day, we know we have something special. Behind our customers - amazing companies that help feed the world, provide life-saving medicine on a global scale, and focus on clean water and green mobility - our people are energized problem solvers that take pride in how the work we do changes the world for the better.

We welcome all makers, forward thinkers, and problem solvers who are looking for a place to do their best work. And if that’s you we would love to have you join us!

Job Description

Join Rockwell's Advanced Technology Lab and help shape the future of industrial safety. Your work will make automation smarter and safer for people everywhere.

Advanced Technology is the corporate-level research lab tasked with a) identifying, b) assessing, c) developing, and d) transitioning advanced industrial automation and information technologies to support and influence future strategic goals.

You will solve engineering problems across multiple fields, including electrical, firmware, software, and systems. You will assess emerging technologies and help create technology roadmaps. You'll work with business development, leadership, and other teams.

To be successful you will perform prototyping and demonstrations to support assessment and technology transition. You will collaborate with business and resource technologists as a subject matter expert (SME) to support new product development and advantageous enhancements to existing products. You will shape the future of industrial safety and influence global standards

You will report to the RESEARCH LAB MANAGER, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY and have a hybrid schedule working in Prague, Czechia.

We value diverse perspectives and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply—even if you don't meet every requirement.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Lead research strategy and set technical direction for functional/dynamic safety.
  • Mentor junior researchers and guide interdisciplinary teams.
  • Influence technology roadmaps and business strategy.
  • Define and promote best practices for safety protocols and architectures with a focus on protocol and hardware simplification, response time and availability improvements, toolkits, simplified user experience, operation, and standardization.
  • Perform literature reviews, hands-on prototyping, experimentation, demonstration, and documentation to support assigned work.
  • Identify and document intellectual property.
  • Represent Rockwell in internal and external committees, including international standards boards.

The Essentials - You Will Have:

  • Master's degree in one of the following: Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics, Physics, Applied Physics, or Engineering Physics
  • 8+ years of relevant experience in functional safety research or engineering.
  • Published research, patents, or contributions to standards.
  • Demonstrated leadership in different disciplined projects.
  • Legal authorization to work in Prague, Czech Republic.
  • Proficient in written and spoken technical English

The Preferred - You Might Also Have:

  • 5+ years post-doctoral or equivalent industrial research experience.
  • Experience influencing international safety standards and leading technical committees.
  • Established expertise in functional/dynamic safety.
  • Proficiency in statistics and probability analysis.
  • 3+ years of experience in design to IEC 61508, IEC 61784-3, IEC 62061, IEC 61511, IEC 61513, IEC 62279, ISO 26262, or a similar functional safety standard.
  • Experience with Ethernet and IP-based automation protocols (e.g., EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, OPC UA, or equivalent) and deterministic, real-time communications.
  • 3+ years of experience implementing CIP Safety, PROFIsafe, Functional Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE), AS-Interface Safety at Work, OPC UA Safety, or similar.
  • Experience in the following areas: Dynamic Safety, responsive collaboration cobots, safety laser scanners/radar/lidar/range cameras, safety in/using machine learning/artificial intelligence, driverless vehicles.
  • 3+ years of experience in software-based safety encoding and safety RTOS methods.
  • Proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as Python, Julia, Matlab, R, JavaScript, Java, C#, C / C++, Go, Rust.
  • Proficiency with PLCs and with IEC 61131-3 languages (e.g., ladder logic and structured text).
  • Early-stage technology development and transfer experience.
  • Demonstrated focus on relationships and collaboration and ability for abstract thought.
  • Experience in front-end technology development and product opportunity identification.
  • Demonstrated project management skills/PMP.
  • Experience with published papers, conference presentations, business engagement experience.
  • Proficient in spoken and written Czech.

What We Offer:

Our benefits package includes …

  • Volunteer Paid Time off available after 6 months of employment for eligible employees
  • Company volunteer and donation matching program – Your volunteer hours or personal cash donations to an eligible charity can be matched with a charitable donation.
  • On-demand digital course library for professional development
  • Comprehensive mindfulness programs with a premium membership to Calm
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Personalized wellbeing programs through our OnTrack program

... and other local benefits!

If you're passionate about advancing safety technology and influencing industry standards, we'd love to hear from you.

At Rockwell Automation we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this or other roles.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-AJ1

Rockwell Automation’s hybrid policy aligns that employees are expected to work at a Rockwell location at least Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays unless they have a business obligation out of the office.