2015 Engineering Leader Under 40: Carl-Johan Roos, 34

Functional Safety Officer; Emerson Process Management, Rosemount Division; Shakopee, Minn.; M.Sc. Electrical & Computer Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology; MS Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; MBA, University of Gothenburg

By Amanda Pelliccione, Project Manager and Director of Research September 17, 2015

Carl-Johan Roos, 34
Functional Safety Officer; Emerson Process Management, Rosemount Division; Shakopee, Minn.
M.Sc. Electrical & Computer Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology; MS Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; MBA, University of Gothenburg

Roos was one of the driving forces behind a new standard for overfill prevention—API 2350: Overfill protection for storage tanks in petroleum facilities—which has been a major safety contribution to the industry. He has committed to establishing it as the globally recognized standard by developing tools such as webinars, books, brochures, checklists, and a microsite, along with face-to-face education of thousands of users, insurance companies, regulators, and other stakeholders around the world. Roos has built-up a global overfill prevention business with unique competency based on thousands of installations. This know-how is now used in a customer-centric approach where Emerson provides the global process industry with not only the equipment, but also with solutions and lifecycle services compliant with functional safety standard IEC 61511 to minimize the overfill risk. Traditionally, mechanical switches have been used for overfill prevention. Roos has led the extension of modern level measurement technologies (e.g., radar) into safety-critical applications. He has contributed significantly to product achievements at his company, including taking safety to the next level by introducing the world’s first SIL 3 radar level gauge, reducing installation costs considerably through a patented two-in-one radar level gauge, and introducing new proof-testing technologies, such as verification reflectors. Outside of work, Roos is a fanatic floorball player, which can be described as hockey but without the ice and the skates. He and his wife—who also works for Emerson—have two sons, ages 9 months and 3 years old.