Machine Safety Specialist

Machine Safety & Risk Assessment Engineer – Contract 

Employment Type: Fixed-Term / Project-Based Contract 
Rate: Up to $50 USD per hour, dependent on experience 
Travel: Flights, accommodation, per diem and approved travel expenses provided 
Deployment Duration: Typically 1–2 weeks per assignment 

Role Overview

We are seeking experienced Machine Safety & Risk Assessment Engineers to support a growing program of machinery, automation and material-handling safety projects across the USA and Mexico. 

The role will support short-duration client deployments involving machinery risk assessments (MRA), operational risk assessments, machine safety compliance reviews and onsite validation & verification (V&V). 

Projects will cover a diverse range of industrial and automated equipment, including printing and production machinery, material-handling systems, conveyors, automated equipment, airport ground-support equipment, loading systems, transfer equipment and prototype machinery. 

The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently within operational facilities, engaging with engineering and operations teams, inspecting machinery and producing technically robust risk-assessment documentation. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Conduct onsite machinery and equipment risk assessments.
• Identify mechanical, electrical, functional, ergonomic and operational hazards.
• Evaluate risks associated with normal operation, setup, maintenance, cleaning, fault recovery and foreseeable misuse.
• Review existing machine guarding and safeguarding arrangements.
• Assess emergency-stop systems, interlocks, access controls, safety devices and other protective measures.
• Review machinery against applicable client requirements, recognized standards and regulatory requirements.
• Support the development and completion of formal Machinery Risk Assessments (MRAs).
• Conduct operational risk assessments considering interaction between equipment, operators, maintenance personnel and the surrounding workplace.
• Identify risk-reduction measures and recommend practical engineering and administrative controls.
• Review OEM documentation, drawings, manuals, specifications and existing risk-assessment information.
• Support assessment of modified, prototype or locally developed machinery.
• Participate in discussions with OEMs, integrators, engineering teams, site operations and EHS representatives.
• Produce clear findings, photographs, evidence and technical notes during site assessments.
• Support preparation of professional client reports, risk registers and corrective-action recommendations.
• Conduct onsite Validation & Verification activities following completion of risk assessments and implementation of corrective actions.
• Verify that identified safeguards and risk-reduction measures have been implemented and are functioning as intended.
• Document outstanding gaps and provide evidence-based close-out recommendations.
• Work in accordance with client site safety requirements and project procedures. 

Typical Equipment / Projects 

Assignments may include assessments of: 

• Automated and semi-automated machinery
• Industrial printing equipment
• Embroidery and textile machinery
• Conveyors and material-handling systems
• Transfer belts and loading equipment
• Dock and loading systems
• Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
• Airport material-handling equipment
• Shaker / vibratory equipment
• Pallet and container handling systems
• Automated packaging and fulfilment equipment
• Prototype or locally engineered machinery
• Modified machinery and existing installations 

Technical Knowledge 

Candidates should have practical knowledge of machinery safety and risk assessment methodologies. Experience with some or all of the following would be advantageous: 

• ISO 12100 – Machinery Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction
• ISO 13849 – Safety-Related Parts of Control Systems
• IEC 62061 – Functional Safety of Machinery
• ANSI B11 machinery safety standards
• OSHA machinery and workplace safety requirements
• NFPA 70 / NFPA 79
• Lockout/Tagout and hazardous energy control
• Machine guarding and safeguarding principles
• Safety circuits, interlocks, light curtains, scanners and emergency-stop systems
• Functional safety concepts including PL / SIL
• Validation and verification of machine safety controls 

Specific training can be provided where candidates have strong machinery, controls, automation or industrial safety experience. 

Candidate Requirements 

Essential: 

• Relevant experience in machinery safety, industrial safety, automation, controls, engineering or risk assessment.
• Experience working within manufacturing, logistics, automation, warehousing, material handling or similar industrial environments.
• Ability to identify hazards and recommend practical risk-reduction measures.
• Strong technical report-writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with engineers, technicians, operations personnel and client stakeholders.
• Comfortable working independently during short-duration site deployments.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally, typically for 1–2 weeks at a time.
• Ability to communicate professionally in English.
• Appropriate passport and immigration/travel authorization for the countries in which assignments will be undertaken. 

Desirable: 

• CMSE – Certified Machinery Safety Expert or equivalent.
• TÜV Functional Safety qualification or similar.
• Engineering, EHS or machinery-safety qualification.
• OSHA 30 or equivalent safety qualification.
• Previous machinery risk-assessment experience.
• Experience with automated fulfilment or distribution facilities.
• Experience with robotics, conveyors, automated material handling or industrial controls.
• Experience conducting machine safety V&V activities.
• Spanish and/or Portuguese language capability. 

Deployment Model 

This position is intended to support a flexible pool of specialist resources capable of undertaking short-term project deployments. 

Assignments will typically consist of: 

Pre-Deployment 
Review available equipment documentation, drawings, existing assessments and project requirements. 

Onsite Assessment 
Attend the client facility to inspect equipment, observe operations, engage with relevant stakeholders and gather evidence required for the assessment. 

Assessment & Reporting 
Support completion of the MRA / operational risk assessment, document identified hazards and define appropriate risk-reduction recommendations. 

Validation & Verification 
Where required, return to site following implementation of corrective actions to verify that safeguards and risk-reduction measures have been implemented appropriately. 

What We Provide 

• Competitive hourly rate up to $50 USD/hour.
• Per diem during applicable deployments.
• Flights and required project travel.
• Hotel / accommodation.
• Approved ground transportation and travel expenses.
• Project-specific technical guidance and documentation templates.
• Opportunity to support multiple industrial and automation projects across North America. 

The role is suited to technically capable professionals who enjoy short-duration international deployments and working directly with advanced industrial, automation and material-handling systems.