Vlad Chalapco

Functional Safety & Cyber Security Expert

Lead Functional Safety Expert with 7+ years of experience steering ISO 26262 and ISO 21434 compliance for major OEMs like Audi and Hero MotoCorp.

I specialize in a "hands-on lead" approach—managing safety teams and Tier-1 suppliers while performing deep-dive technical work, including complex safety analyses (FMEA, FMEDA, FTA) and the development of safety architectures for electric powertrains, BMS, and high-performance computing platforms.

What I can do best

Full-Lifecycle Functional Safety Management (ISO 26262): Leading safety activities from concept through to SOP, including the creation of Safety Cases.
Specialized Technical Consulting: Providing deep-dive expertise for specific systems such as High-Performance Computing (HCP), Electric Powertrains, and Battery Management Systems (BMS).
Process Definition, Mentoring & Training: Defining corporate FuSa processes and templates, and providing expert-level mentoring & training to junior safety engineering teams.
Advanced Safety Analyses: Moderating and executing critical qualitative and quantitative analyses—including FMEA-MSR, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and FMEDA—to identify failure modes and verify diagnostic coverage.
Cybersecurity & FuSa Integration: Supporting Cybersecurity departments in creating Threat Analysis and Risk Assessments (TARA) according to ISO 21434 to ensure safety-security alignment.
Tier-1 Supplier Safety Management: Coordinating with suppliers to align Development Interface Agreements (DIA), reviewing supplier work products, and ensuring compliance with OEM safety goals.

Professional Experience

2022 - Present

Lead Functional Safety Expert / Hero Tech Center Germany

OEM Functional Safety Manager for electric motorbikes (Powertrain, Energy Management, Lighting, Online Remote Update)
Coordinated FuSa activities, managed an internal safety team, and led the FuSa Tier-1 development for vehicle control units and battery management systems
Created FuSa work products (Impact Analysis, Safety Plan, Item Definition, HARA, FSC, TSC, FMEA, FMEDA)
Supported the Cybersecurity department in understanding the various risks for the creation of TARAs, according to ISO 21434
Definition of FuSa processes and templates
Development of the test strategy for safety goals and validation of Fault Tolerance Time Intervals (FTTI)

2023 - 2025

Functional Safety Expert Consultant / CARIAD SE (Volkswagen Group)

Led and mentored junior team members in the creation of various FuSa artifacts (TSC, FSC, FMEA, FTA, Item Definition, HARA, Confirmation Review, Impact Analysis, Safety Case)
Functional Safety Manager for high-voltage management and remote repair functions
Coordinated the FuSa release for a high-performance computing system (HCP5) for the VW Premium Platform Electric (PPE)
Conducted reviews for work products on system and SW level (Safety Plan, Traceability, DIA, SW Architecture, Impact Analysis, Safety Case)
Reviewed verification strategies and their execution, including safety methods

2019 - 2022

Functional Safety Manager / AUDI AG

OEM Functional Safety Manager (ISO 26262): Rear Light, Seat Adjustment, Central Locking, Child Safety Lock, Windows, Sunroof, Trailer Connection Device
Co-created TARAs for various items according to ISO 21434 (Cybersecurity)
Developed: Item Definition, HARA, Functional Safety Concept, Validation concept
Coordinated the component development with Tier 1 suppliers (DIA, Safety Plan, TSC Reviews, FMEA, FTA, Verification Reports)
International Trainee Program: Audi Functional Safety, e-tron GT Project Management, Bentley Functional Safety, Audi Sport Marketing

2019

Functional Safety Engineer / Bentley Motors Ltd

FuSa Management for the High Voltage and Low Voltage Energy Management functions
Conducted tests and controllability assessments.

2018 - 2019

Functional Safety Engineer / Silver Atena GmbH

Developed a Functional Safety Concept for seat adjustment in an autonomous driving project.
Creation of Hazard Analysis & Item Definition for LISB (Li-Ion Starter Battery) and RECW (Rear End Collision Detection)
Created a Delta Analysis between ISO 26262:2011 & ISO 26262:2018
Created validation plans for MSR (engine drag torque control) and seat adjustment controls
Performed an Impact Analysis for ABS with slope-dependent control functions

Education

2017-2018

Aerospace Engineering, Imperial College London

Attended Imperial College London, where I earned an M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering, developing a rigorous analytical foundation in complex system modeling and computational methods. Gained expert knowledge in high-stakes safety and reliability through advanced engineering principles, now applied to lead ISO 26262 and ISO 21434 compliance within the automotive industry.

2015

Mech. Engineering, University of Melbourne (Exchange semester)

Attended the University of Melbourne for an exchange semester, where I advanced my technical expertise in Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics.

2012-2016

Automotive Engineering, University of Stuttgart

Attended the University of Stuttgart, where I gained a deep technical command of vehicle dynamics and core automotive systems. Developed the practical engineering and problem-solving skills required to lead functional safety activities across complex electric powertrains and battery management systems.

Certifications

Automotive Functional Safety Expert - SGS-TÜV Saar
Automotive Cyber-Security Professional - SGS-TÜV Saar
FMEA Specialist - AIAG - Automotive Industry Action Group
Prototype driver B - Audi Driving Academy

Technical skills

Requirements Management: DOORS, Codebeamer (advanced)
Safety Analyses: APIS IQ FMEA, Isograph FTA (advanced)
Task Management: JIRA (advanced)
Programming: MATLAB, FORTRAN (advanced)
CFD Tools: OpenFOAM, ANSYS (advanced)
Office Tools: Microsoft Office (advanced)

Case Study

ASIL C Battery Management System (BMS)

Objective: Develop a safety-compliant Energy Management system for a high-performance electric motorcycle, targeting ASIL C classification under ISO 26262:2018.

Concept Phase: Authored the Item Definition and conducted the hazard analysis and risk assessment (HARA) to identify the safety goals, safe states and fault tolerant time intervals. Derived the Functional Safety Concept (FSC) to establish high-level functional safety requiremetns.

System design: Developed the Technical Safety Concept (TSC) and detailed the technical safety requirements (TSRs). Defined the Fault Handling Time Intervals (FTTI) for the safety relevant elements of the battery management system.

Safety Analysis: Moderated the FMEA-MSR, leading cross-functional teams to identify failure modes their effects. Proposed and integrated specific safety mechanisms, including redundant voltage sensing and independent hardware-cutoff paths.

Validation & Testing: Proposed the validation strategy for the safety goals, working in strong collaboration with the cell engineer. Validated the safety limits and the FTTIs for the proposed battery.

Languages

German (Native)
English (Fluent)
Romanian (Native)
French – Basic A1/A2
Chinese – Basic A1/A2