System Safety Consultant

Charge Robotics is a startup building large-scale robotic systems to install utility-scale solar. We're seeking an experienced safety professional to help us develop comprehensive, efficient workplace safety programs for our robotic construction system operating in our East Bay HQ. This is a part-time consulting engagement combining onsite safety support with protocol development and validation.The work:Phase 1: Initial Safety System DevelopmentConduct comprehensive risk assessment of our robotic construction system including conveyor systems, autonomous robotic arms, pneumatic actuators, high-voltage systems, and material handling operationsReview and improve existing safety infrastructure (E-stop zones, pressure pad systems, gate interlocks, fall protection, barriers/guarding)Design end-to-end safety protocols for multi-zone E-stop system, lockout/tagout procedures for complex mechanical/electrical/pneumatic systems, and loading/unloading operations with heavy equipmentDevelop Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) templates and task-based risk assessment methodology for routine and non-routine operationsCreate training materials and conduct initial team safety trainingPhase 2: Safety Monitoring & Protocol Updates (~5 hrs/week ongoing)Weekly onsite visits to observe operations, identify new hazards, and verify protocol complianceUpdate safety protocols as system evolves and new equipment/processes addedInvestigate incidents and near-misses, provide recommendationsConduct quarterly safety system audits and documentation reviewsSupport team with incident response and OSHA compliance questionsReview design changes for safety implications before implementationYou bring:CSP (Certified Safety Professional) certification with 8+ years experience in manufacturing or industrial automation environments — ideally with robotic systems, automated manufacturing, or large-scale material handlingFamiliarity with machine guarding, lockout/tagout for complex systems, OSHA standards, and industrial robot safetyUnderstanding of pinch points, crush hazards, automated machinery risks, and other functional safety conceptsProven ability to design and implement practical processes for fast-moving, resource-constrained environmentsWhat success looks like in ~3 months:Safety systems and protocols that enable safe work with minimal disruption to rapid pace of building + testingTeam members who are comfortable communicating about hazards, know the safety system in detail, follow protocols consistently, and feel empowered to speak upClear documentation for a compliant, scalable safety framework that grows with our product and teamA strong and high-agency culture of safety and safety communicationLogistics:Part-time consulting arrangement: heavier lift for first 4 weeks, then ~5 hrs/week ongoingAt least some regular onsite time at our San Leandro, CA facilityCompensation: $200+/hour depending on safety + robotics expertise and relevant experienceAbout Charge: Charge Robotics is a Series A startup building robots that build solar farms.Demand for new solar projects is booming (1 ⁄ 5 of all the solar that exists in the US was installed last year!), but today’s construction companies can’t keep up due to limited labor resources.We thought this was insane, so we started working on robots to directly address this bottleneck and speed up the world’s transition to renewables.We’re MIT-founded and backed by top generalist and climate tech investors, including Lux Capital and Y Combinator (S21). Read more about Charge in the news and see a video of our system in the field here.