Automotive Safety Executive Search Firm
JRG Partners: Driving Your Safety Leadership Forward
Your Trusted Partner in Automotive Safety Executive Search
As automotive technology accelerates toward autonomous systems, electrification, and connected vehicles, the stakes for safety innovation have never been higher. From ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and crash simulation to regulatory compliance and occupant protection, organizations require visionary leaders who can align safety with performance, innovation, and global standards.
At JRG Partners, we specialize in recruiting top-tier automotive safety executives who understand the evolving landscape of safety systems, software integration, risk mitigation, and emerging safety protocols. Whether you’re a legacy OEM adapting to next-gen mobility or a high-growth EV startup building your safety framework from the ground up, we connect you with leadership talent that ensures your vehicles—and your brand—remain safe, compliant, and future-ready.
With deep industry knowledge and access to elite passive candidates, we help companies stay ahead of regulations, technologies, and consumer expectations.
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Why Choose JRG Partners for Automotive Safety Executive Search?
Hiring for safety leadership demands more than just a technical resume—it requires insight into engineering excellence, regulatory foresight, and cross-functional innovation. Here’s how JRG Partners delivers standout results:
Deep Automotive Domain Expertise
We understand the safety-critical components of automotive systems, from structural engineering to functional safety (ISO 26262), cybersecurity, crash testing, and regulatory strategy. Our focused expertise ensures we target candidates who lead not only with compliance but with innovation.
Access to Passive, High-Caliber Talent
The most impactful safety executives are often fully engaged in critical programs and not actively job-seeking. JRG Partners taps into a vast, curated network of passive candidates—leaders who are shaping the future of mobility safety in OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and cutting-edge startups.
Strategic and Technical Leadership Focus
We assess candidates across both strategic and technical axes—ensuring they can lead teams, innovate under evolving regulations, and embed safety culture across engineering, operations, and product development.
Confidential & Customized Search Process
Your search is conducted with utmost confidentiality and precision. We invest time in understanding your culture, structure, and business goals—ensuring a placement that aligns with both safety performance and organizational growth.
Automotive Safety Executive Search Specializations
JRG Partners’ executive search practice is structured around the evolving demands of the automotive safety industry, targeting leadership talent across key industry segments, organizational types, and functional executive roles. We have a proven track record of placing high-impact leaders who drive innovation, compliance, and safety excellence in dynamic automotive environments.
By Market Segment:
Each area of the automotive industry faces unique safety challenges—ranging from global compliance standards to emerging autonomous technologies. We specialize in identifying executives with targeted experience in the following sectors:
- Electric & Autonomous Vehicles:
Recruiting safety leaders who can navigate the uncharted terrain of self-driving systems, battery safety, software validation, and real-time hazard response protocols. - Traditional OEMs & Tier 1 Suppliers:
Sourcing seasoned professionals with deep knowledge of vehicle safety systems (airbags, braking, crash structures) and extensive experience working within global regulatory frameworks (NHTSA, Euro NCAP, etc.). - ADAS & Software-Defined Vehicles:
Placing executives who oversee development and integration of advanced driver assistance systems, sensor fusion, AI-based safety, and fail-operational architectures. - Connected Vehicles & Mobility Startups:
Identifying safety innovators at the intersection of cybersecurity, data privacy, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. - Testing & Validation Facilities:
Finding lab directors and technical leaders with expertise in crash testing, dynamic simulations, compliance certification, and prototype evaluation.
By Functional Leadership Role:
We secure strategic and technical leaders across all areas of automotive safety, aligning talent with your organization’s product goals, compliance requirements, and innovation agenda:
- Chief Safety Officer / VP of Automotive Safety:
Executive leaders who define global safety strategy, ensure cross-functional alignment, and lead organization-wide safety innovation. - Director of Functional Safety (ISO 26262 / ASPICE):
Experts in safety lifecycle management, HARA/FMEA, software validation, and development of safety-compliant architecture. - Head of Compliance & Regulatory Affairs:
Executives adept in navigating regulatory landscapes, ensuring global certifications, and building relationships with government agencies and safety councils. - Crashworthiness & Vehicle Test Managers:
Engineers and team leads with advanced knowledge of crash simulations, CAE, physical crash tests, NCAP protocols, and structural safety optimization. - Cybersecurity & Safety Systems Integration Leads:
Professionals who bridge functional safety and cybersecurity, ensuring connected systems are both safe and secure.
By Company Type:
JRG Partners customizes its executive search strategy based on the type of automotive organization, taking into account business models, innovation maturity, and technical priorities:
- OEMs (Legacy & New Entrants):
We place safety leaders in both traditional automotive giants and emerging EV manufacturers who are building new safety frameworks aligned with next-generation platforms. - Tier 1 & Tier 2 Suppliers:
We identify executives who can lead component and system-level safety programs—from airbag modules and braking systems to sensors and software. - Autonomous Vehicle & Mobility Startups:
We support fast-growing, agile firms seeking executives who can implement scalable safety practices and regulatory readiness from the ground up. - Testing Labs & Certification Bodies:
We source experts in experimental safety testing, compliance verification, and certification services—ensuring independence, precision, and technical leadership.
Our Proven Executive Search Process for Automotive Safety
Filling a mission-critical safety leadership role isn’t just a hire—it’s a safeguard for your brand, your customers, and your growth trajectory. In an era where Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) form the backbone of active safety systems, leaders must be able to guide innovation and compliance with confidence.
JRG Partners uses a precise, consultative process to ensure the right fit—identifying executives who can drive advancements in Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), oversee integrated Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS), strengthen passive safety systems that protect drivers and passengers, and champion the future of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication.
1. Discovery & Strategic Alignment
We begin with a deep-dive session to understand your organizational structure, strategic priorities, and the technical scope of the role. A comprehensive Position Specification sets the foundation.
2. Market Mapping & Talent Identification
We identify top candidates—often those not visible on job boards—using a mix of proprietary databases, research, and industry referrals.
3. Rigorous Vetting & Technical Interviews
Candidates undergo detailed evaluation for safety certifications, leadership competencies, system design expertise, and cultural fit.
4. Curated Shortlist Delivery
You receive a shortlist of 3–5 high-potential executives, complete with insight on each candidate’s technical skills, leadership style, and key accomplishments.
5. Interview & Offer Facilitation
We manage the end-to-end process—from scheduling and feedback to compensation strategy and offer negotiation.
6. Post-Placement Integration
We maintain ongoing engagement post-hire to ensure seamless onboarding, alignment, and long-term success.
Specialized Recruitment for Automotive Safety Executives Across the U.S.
At JRG Partners, we specialize in identifying and placing top-tier automotive safety executives who ensure your vehicles, systems, and mobility technologies meet—and exceed—the highest standards for safety and compliance. From global OEMs to emerging EV and autonomous vehicle startups, our clients trust us to deliver strategic, discreet, and impactful placements across the safety leadership spectrum.
In an industry that’s rapidly evolving due to electrification, autonomy, connected vehicles, and stringent global regulations, effective safety leadership is no longer optional—it’s mission-critical. Whether you’re launching a new product line, navigating complex compliance landscapes, or leading ADAS innovations, JRG Partners brings deep industry knowledge and access to elite passive talent.
We recruit nationally across major automotive hubs such as Detroit, Columbus, Dallas, San Jose, and Charlotte—each with its own regulatory challenges and technical ecosystems. Our targeted approach ensures that you secure candidates with not just the credentials, but the vision and influence to embed safety into every level of your operation.
From functional safety and crashworthiness to cybersecurity, testing, and regulatory affairs, our placements drive risk mitigation, product excellence, and long-term brand trust. When safety is on the line, trust JRG Partners to deliver leaders who make a measurable impact.
What Our Clients Say About Our Automotive Safety Executive Search Expertise
In today’s automotive landscape, safety leadership is a blend of engineering precision, regulatory expertise, and innovation. Here’s what our clients have to say about partnering with JRG Partners:
Partner With Us for Your Next Automotive Safety Executive Search
Ready to strengthen your safety leadership and ensure compliance, innovation, and public trust?
Connect with JRG Partners today for a confidential consultation about your executive hiring needs. Whether you’re seeking a Chief Safety Officer, Functional Safety Leader, or a Director of Compliance, we’ll help you find the proven experts who understand both the risks and the roadmap.
Let’s build a safety leadership team that drives protection, performance, and progress.
Frequently Asked Questions About Automotive Safety Executive Recruiting
With increasing complexity in automotive engineering and global safety standards, leadership in this field must be both technical and strategic. Below are answers to commonly asked questions about our approach:
Q1: What roles do you specialize in for automotive safety?
We specialize in placing executives across the safety function including:
- Chief Safety Officers
- VPs of Functional Safety (ISO 26262 / ASPICE)
- Directors of Compliance & Regulatory Affairs
- Crash Simulation & CAE Leaders
- ADAS & Active Safety Heads
- Safety Systems Integration Managers
These leaders drive compliance, lead safety innovation, and embed risk management into engineering culture.
Q2: Which types of companies do you recruit for?
Our clients include:
- OEMs (traditional and EV)
- Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers
- ADAS and AV startups
- Test labs and engineering consultancies
- Connected vehicle and cybersecurity firms
Each of these sectors has unique safety leadership needs, and our search strategies are tailored accordingly.
Q3: Do your candidates have regulatory experience?
Yes. Many of our candidates have worked directly with:
- NHTSA, FMVSS, and IIHS (U.S.)
- Euro NCAP and ECE Regulations (Europe)
- CMVSS and other international standards
They often hold certifications in Functional Safety (ISO 26262), ASPICE, and are experienced in homologation, compliance strategy, and validation testing.
Q4: How long does the executive search process typically take?
Most of our searches are completed in 6 to 10 weeks, depending on the complexity of the role and location. For urgent needs, we offer interim safety leadership or accelerated search solutions to maintain momentum during transitions.
Q5: How do you ensure confidentiality during sensitive leadership searches?
Confidentiality is central to our process. We never share client or candidate information without prior consent. Our team operates under strict nondisclosure protocols, ensuring stealth searches, succession planning, or product-sensitive leadership transitions remain discreet and secure.