Advanced Systems Safety Engineer

Vertical Aerospace; Bristol; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading electric aircraft manufacturer in Bristol seeks an Aircraft Safety Engineer to join its team. In this role, you will be responsible for conducting safety assessments for various critical systems. You will collaborate with engineers to ensure safety requirements are integrated throughout the design process. The ideal candidate holds a degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and has experience in safety-critical systems. Benefits include generous holiday, company bonuses, and a share scheme.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus bank holiday

5 extra days holiday

Company performance-based bonus

Company Share Scheme

Company Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience designing or developing safety-critical systems.
• Strong track record in performing aircraft or system-level safety assessments.
• Working knowledge of aircraft certification standards.

Responsibilities

• Carry out safety assessments for systems such as Flight Controls.
• Help develop elements of the aircraft safety case.
• Contribute to certification planning activities related to safety.

Skills

Safety analysis techniques

Communication skills

Collaborative mindset

Proficiency in safety analysis techniques

Education

Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Fault Tree Analysis

Reliability analysis

Job description

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take‑off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky. We won’t realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner‑level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

What to Expect

You’ll be part of our growing Aircraft Safety team, working across both aircraft and systems levels. Reporting to the Principal System Safety Engineer, you’ll be responsible for delivering critical safety assessments and helping to shape our approach to safety throughout the engineering organisation. This is a high‑impact role where you’ll collaborate closely with design, systems, test, and compliance teams to ensure safety is at the core of our aircraft development.

What You’ll Do

• Carry out safety assessments including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHAs), Preliminary System Safety Assessments (PSSAs), and System Safety Assessments (SSAs) for systems such as Flight Controls, Actuation, and Battery Management.
• Perform supporting analyses such as Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Common Mode Analysis (CMA), Particular Risk Assessments (PRA), and Zonal Safety Assessments (ZSA).
• Help develop and substantiate elements of the aircraft safety case in line with certification and operational needs.
• Define safety requirements and ensure they are captured, communicated, and tracked with design and integration teams.
• Collaborate with engineers across disciplines to raise awareness of safety considerations and embed them in our product.
• Contribute to certification planning activities related to safety.
• Continuously improve our safety processes, tools, and documentation.

Qualifications

• A degree or higher qualification in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a related engineering field.
• Experience designing or developing safety‑critical systems.
• Strong track record in performing aircraft or system‑level safety assessments, especially for flight control, actuation, or battery systems.
• Working knowledge of aircraft certification standards and processes.
• Proficiency in safety analysis techniques and tools such as Fault Tree, STPA, or Reliability analysis.
• Practical experience with ARP4754A/B and ARP4761/A.
• Ability to produce safety documentation to support certification.
• Familiarity with regulations like SC VTOL.2510 or 23.1309.
• Great communication skills and a collaborative mindset.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience working on eVTOL, UAM, or rotorcraft platforms.
• Understanding of model‑based systems engineering (MBSE), cyber‑safety, or safety management systems.
• Familiarity with RTCA DO‑178C and DO‑254.

Our people matter – we’re not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.

Benefits

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday.
• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell).
• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership.
• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits.
• Award‑winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand).
• Company performance‑based bonus – rewarding company and individual performance.
• Company Share Scheme – open to every Vertical employee.
• Company Pension Scheme – 5% and we match it.
• Breakfast on us, every day.

We may just be the hardest job you’ve ever had, but we’re confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.