Employee Health & Safety Specialist

Role Description

As Gridware’s first dedicated EHS hire, you’ll build the safety programs that protect our employees, contractors, and partners as we scale. You’ll work side by side with R&D, Operations, Field, and Manufacturing teams to meet, and exceed, their safety requirements. You’ll be just as comfortable writing a program from scratch as you are walking around a lab or standing at the base of a utility pole. This role will report into HR

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain Gridware's EHS system from the ground up, starting with California-required programs such as the IIPP, hazard communication, emergency action plans, and workplace violence prevention.
• Partner with field, lab, and R&D teams to develop systems and best practices to progress towards a zero-incident culture.
• Establish electrical safety programs for lab, test, and manufacturing environments (e.g., NFPA 70E, LOTO, energized work permits).
• Manage hazards specific to hardware development and production, including lithium battery handling and storage, solar components, soldering and chemicals, ergonomics, and machine safeguarding.
• Evaluate and manage pre-job hazard assessments and safety performance reviews.
• Run inspections, audits, and risk assessments, and track corrective actions to closure.
• Address seasonal and environmental risks for field crews, such as heat illness prevention, wildfire smoke, and severe weather.
• Ensure compliance with Cal/OSHA, federal OSHA, DOT, and applicable environmental regulations, including hazardous waste and battery, and e-waste handling.
• Deliver onboarding and ongoing safety training for employees in the office, at R&D sites, and in the field, and report EHS metrics (TRIR, DART, near-misses, leading indicators) to leadership.

Required Skills

• 3+ years of EHS experience in electrical utility, hardware manufacturing, electronics, or field construction/services.
• Working knowledge of OSHA/Cal/OSHA standards, with expertise in electrical safety and working at heights.
• Experience writing safety programs, procedures, and job hazard analyses from scratch.
• Strong investigation, auditing, and documentation skills.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work across R&D, Operations, and Field teams.
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving startup where processes are still being built.
• Certifications such as CSP, CHST, or OSHA 30.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with utility or energy-sector safety requirements and contractor platforms (e.g., ISNetworld, Avetta).
• Experience supporting hardware R&D labs or scaling a manufacturing operation.

Physical Requirement and Work Environment

• Field work in outdoor conditions, including hiking and proximity to utility poles, with required PPE.
• Travel up to 10%, including occasional multi-day trips.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs and walk or stand for extended periods.

Additional information

At this time, Gridware is unable to provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this role. We’re only able to consider candidates who are currently authorized to work in the country of employment without visa sponsorship now or in the future.

This describes the ideal candidate; many of us have picked up this expertise along the way. Even if you meet only part of this list, we encourage you to apply!

Benefits

• Health, Dental & Vision (Gold and Platinum with some providers plans fully covered)
• Paid parental leave
• Alternating day off (every other Monday)
• “Off the Grid”, a two week per year paid break for all employees.
• Commuter allowance
• Company-paid training