Automotive manufacturing
10 functional safety (ISO 26262) experts
These ten professionals have led automotive functional safety work at vehicle makers and suppliers, in roles from functional safety manager to global head of functional safety. A reader can learn how companies run ISO 26262 functional safety work from the inside.
Professionals to explore
01—10Felix Gelfenbein
LinkedInExperience: Functional Safety Manager · Continental
Functional Safety Manager at Continental since October 2004, and in Functional Safety Management at Continental since January 2012. The profile describes a hardware engineer with 20 years of experience in functional safety and electrical circuit development who defines requirements, tests and architecture according to ISO 26262 (IEC 61508) and defines processes according to ASPICE and ISO 26262.
Himanshu Surana
LinkedInExperience: Functional Safety Lead · Ford Motor Company
Former Functional Safety Lead at Ford Motor Company (2023–2026), where the profile says this person led the functional safety domain for the complete vehicle platform and managed a team of 4 FSEs running the concept phase, including HARA, safety goals, FTA and functional safety concepts. Former Functional Safety Manager (India Head) at Sensata Technologies (2021–2023).
Kevin He
LinkedInExperience: Function Safety Manager · GEELY
Former Function Safety Manager at GEELY (2017–2018) and former System Architect and Function safety manger at Continental (2015–2017); Safety Expert Function Safety Manager at Huawei since November 2018. The profile lists work as an L2/L3/L4 auto-driving safety manager in a tier 1, as chassis domain functional safety team leader at an OEM, and on the Geely-Volvo FSM process.
Lisa Clark
LinkedInExperience: Global Director Functional Safety · Veoneer
Former Global Director Functional Safety (2020–2023) and Sr. Functional Safety Manager (2019–2020) at Veoneer, and former Functional Safety Manager at Sensata Technologies (2016–2018). Global Director Product Safety & Security at Magna Electronics since June 2023. The profile says this person has introduced functional safety into the development processes and culture of multiple companies and contributed to the second edition of ISO 26262.
Mithil Detroja
LinkedInExperience: Functional Safety Manager · ZF Group
Functional Safety Manager at ZF Group since April 2023 and former Functional Safety and Cyber Security Engineer there (2021–2023). The profile says the role covers analysing and assessing customer safety requirements (ASIL A–D), identifying safety-critical functions and close coordination with OEMs throughout development. Former Functional Safety System Test Engineer at Continental (2019).
Rahul Patel
LinkedInExperience: Functional Safety Manager · ZF Group
Functional Safety Manager at ZF Group since November 2022 and former Functional Safety Expert there (2019–2022). The profile says the work includes development of an electric beam for electric pickup trucks and creating functional safety plans and resource planning to fulfil the ISO 26262 standard.
Robin Auer
LinkedInExperience: Functional Safety Manager · BorgWarner
Functional Safety Manager at BorgWarner since May 2022, where the profile says this person is the functional safety manager for HV battery systems for commercial vehicle applications and is responsible for functional safety manager process development. Former Functional Safety Manager at EDAG Group (2019–2022).
Siddharth Mulay
LinkedInExperience: Senior Manager, Functional Safety · Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies
Senior Manager, Functional Safety at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies since April 2026, former Manager, Functional Safety at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies (2024–2026) and former Manager, Functional Safety at Rivian (2023–2024). The profile says this person spearheads the propulsion and dynamics functional safety domain at Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies.
Sujeet Gaikwad
LinkedInExperience: Senior Manager - Functional Safety · FORVIA HELLA
Senior Manager - Functional Safety at FORVIA HELLA since May 2022 and former Functional Safety Manager there (2017–2022). The profile describes this person as head of product safety and cyber security at FORVIA Hella India and as functional safety manager for EPS, BCM, ADAS and energy management products such as BMS and DCDC.
Tariq Aslam Buchh
LinkedInExperience: Light Vehicle Global Head of Functional Safety · Dana Incorporated
Former Light Vehicle Global Head of Functional Safety (2023–2025) and Senior Engineering Manager (2023–2025) at Dana Incorporated, and former "Engineering Hardware Manager. Power Electronics Brake ECUs and ISO 26262 Management" at ZF Group (2018). The profile mentions establishing Functional Safety as an organizational competency.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's position in the supply chain to your question: someone at a vehicle maker suits questions about vehicle-level hazard analysis and setting safety goals for suppliers, while someone at a supplier suits questions about meeting customer safety requirements for a component or subsystem. Also ask which systems they covered, since battery, powertrain, chassis and driver assistance work raise different safety problems.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you run hazard analysis and risk assessment, and how did you settle ASIL disagreements with customers or suppliers?
- 02How did you build a functional safety team and process when the organization was new to ISO 26262?
- 03What did your safety case and confirmation reviews look like, and what did assessors push back on most?
Reaching functional safety (ISO 26262) experts
How can I contact one of these functional safety (ISO 26262) experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Continental, Ford Motor Company and GEELY, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach functional safety (ISO 26262) experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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