Defence System Safety Engineer: Lead Risk & Safety

Hanwha Defence Australia; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Defence Australia is seeking a System Safety Engineer to lead hazard identification, risk assessments and safety analyses across complex defence programs in Australia. You will develop safety artefacts, support design reviews and embed safety requirements throughout the lifecycle.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, experience in safety-critical industries, knowledge of MIL-STD-882/IEC 61508/ISO 26262, and strong stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience in system safety engineering within defence, aerospace, rail, automotive, or other safety-critical industries.
• Strong understanding of FMEA, FTA, HAZOP and risk assessment methodologies.
• Knowledge of safety standards such as MIL-STD-882, IEC 61508, or ISO 26262.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead hazard identification, risk assessments, and safety analyses across the system lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain safety artefacts including Hazard Logs, Hazard Analyses, and Safety Program Plans.
• Support design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to embed safety requirements.
• Conduct safety investigations, recommend corrective actions, and verify risk controls.
• Provide technical guidance on safety methodologies, standards, and best practice.

Skills

Hazard identification

Risk assessment

Safety analyses

Safety artefacts

Safety Program Plans

Cross-functional collaboration

FMEA/FTA/HAZOP

MIL-STD-882

Defence standards

Stakeholder engagement

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

DOORS

Job description

Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) is a comprehensive defence solution provider, building on the strengths of its portfolio, which includes artillery systems, armoured vehicles, air defence systems, and unmanned ground systems.

We are a subsidiary of Hanwha Corporation which has grown to be the largest and the most influential defence corporation in South Korea.

At HDA our System Safety Engineers play a key role in delivering safe, reliable and mission-ready defence capability. You'll work across complex engineering programs, identifying and mitigating system risks, integrating safety into design activities and supporting compliance with industry and military safety standards. Your expertise will help protect people, assets and operations while contributing to some of Australia's most significant defence projects.

As a System Safety Engineer, you'll:

• Lead hazard identification, risk assessments, and safety analyses across the system lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain safety artefacts including Hazard Logs, Hazard Analyses, and Safety Program Plans.
• Support design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to embed safety requirements.
• Conduct safety investigations, recommend corrective actions, and verify risk controls.
• Provide technical guidance on safety methodologies, standards, and best practice.

What You'll Bring:

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience in system safety engineering within defence, aerospace, rail, automotive, or other safety-critical industries.
• Strong understanding of FMEA, FTA, HAZOP and risk assessment methodologies.
• Knowledge of safety standards such as MIL-STD-882, IEC 61508, or ISO 26262.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and problem-solving skills.

It would be great if you also have:

• Experience supporting Defence acquisition or vehicle development programs.
• Chartered Engineer status or eligibility for CPEng.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS.
• Familiarity with Australian Defence and military engineering standards.

• To be successful in this role, you will need to be eligible to obtain an Australian Government Security clearance up to NV1 (must be an Australian Citizen). Eligibility criteria can be found at http://www.defence.gov.au/agsva

What we can offer you:

• Health & Wellbeing Platform including an Employee Assistance Program

Hanwha Defence Australia looks for people who can embrace our three core values of ‘Challenge, Dedication, and Integrity’ that were established in the spirit of Trust and Loyalty. If you want to work with us on this exciting journey, now is the time to join.

Hanwha Defence Australia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to apply. We also welcome applications from individuals with culturally diverse backgrounds.

We are a proud supporter of the Veterans' Employment Program and welcome the interest of ex-service members, veterans and their families.