Lead Autonomous Systems Safety Engineer - AI & Defence

AtkinsRéalis; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Senior/Principal Autonomous Systems Safety Engineer to deliver safety engineering and assurance for autonomous, software-intensive and AI-enabled systems in defence contexts.

You will shape safety arguments, manage hazard logs, and apply Def Stan 00-056/055 with AMLAS/SACE-like approaches while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with clients and multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering safety engineering or safety assurance activities within UK Defence, Aerospace or another safety-critical industry.
• Experience developing and maintaining Safety Cases, Safety Assessments, Hazard Logs and assurance arguments in line with recognised defence standards and good practice.
• Strong understanding of hazard identification, risk assessment, risk management and safety requirements methodologies.
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles and their application across the engineering lifecycle.
• Experience working on safety-critical, mission-critical, high-integrity, software-intensive, AI-enabled or autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of UK Defence safety frameworks, including Def Stan 00-056, Def Stan 00-055 and associated assurance expectations.
• Experience supporting certification, assurance or acceptance of safety-critical systems.
• Experience applying or developing assurance approaches for autonomous or AI-enabled systems, including emerging frameworks such as AMLAS, SACE or equivalent.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders, customers, regulators and assurance authorities through clear, evidence-based technical advice.
• Degree qualified, or equivalent experience, in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science or a related STEM discipline.

Responsibilities

• Leading and supporting the development, maintenance and delivery of Safety Cases, Safety Assessments and assurance arguments for autonomous and AI-enabled systems.
• Managing Hazard Logs and supporting hazard identification, risk assessment and risk management activities, including techniques such as FHA, STPA and Bow Tie Analysis.
• Deriving, allocating and verifying safety requirements throughout the lifecycle of complex autonomous, software-intensive and AI-enabled systems.
• Applying recognised defence safety standards and assurance frameworks, including Def Stan 00-056, Def Stan 00-055 and emerging autonomy and AI assurance approaches.
• Providing strategic and technical leadership as a Subject Matter Expert for autonomous systems safety across programmes and bids.
• Engaging with Defence customers, regulators, assurance bodies and industry working groups to support acceptance and certification.
• Providing safety engineering guidance to systems, software, hardware, integration and data specialist teams.
• Producing clear, robust and well-structured technical reports, safety documentation and client deliverables.
• Supporting business development, capability growth and the mentoring of more junior safety engineers and consultants.

Job description

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Senior/Principal Autonomous Systems Safety Engineer to deliver safety engineering and assurance for autonomous, software-intensive and AI-enabled systems in defence contexts.

You will shape safety arguments, manage hazard logs, and apply Def Stan 00-056/055 with AMLAS/SACE-like approaches while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with clients and multidisciplinary teams.