Lead Systems Safety Engineer

Cirrus Selection Limited; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 21%

Pension up to 14%

Healthcare cash plan

Flexible working

Job summary

Cirrus Selection Limited is seeking a Lead Systems Safety Engineer to head a team on complex maritime defence programmes. Based in Bristol with hybrid working, you’ll influence safety early in design and mentor engineers.

You’ll lead hazard analyses, develop safety cases to Def Stan 00-056, and push for real risk reduction. Strong people leadership and hands-on analytics are essential.

The role offers a strong package with a bonus up to 21%, a generous pension, healthcare, and flexible working.

Qualifications

• Solid track record in systems safety engineering or product safety engineering in defence or safety-critical sectors
• Hands-on hazard analysis, fault tree analysis, functional failure analysis, hazard log and safety case experience
• Working knowledge of Def Stan 00-056 or comparable safety standard
• Experience leading, mentoring or coordinating other engineers
• Ability to challenge designers and programme leads while balancing risk and delivery
• Engineering degree or equivalent professional experience

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and allocate work across a team of safety engineers covering multiple maritime programmes
• Produce and guide hazard analysis, functional failure analysis and fault tree analysis
• Build safety cases to Def Stan 00-056 and determine necessary evidence to show risk is ALARP
• Work with designers to understand failure mechanisms and drive real risk reduction
• Embed safety engineering into the systems engineering lifecycle and product certification
• Question current processes and improve how the team works as digital engineering changes development pace

Skills

Team leadership

Hazard analysis

Functional failure analysis

Fault tree analysis

Safety case development

Def Stan 00-056 knowledge

Risk assessment

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Def Stan 00-056

Maritime defence standards

Job description

Lead Systems Safety Engineer

Based in Bristol | Hybrid, 2 to 3 days on site

Salary Circa £70,000 + bonus up to 21%

Some safety engineers write the safety case. The best ones change the design.

If that’s you, and you’re ready to lead a team of systems safety engineers on complex maritime defence programmes, this is worth five minutes.

The role

You’ll lead and develop a team of safety engineers while keeping your hands on the technical work. You’ll sit alongside design and systems engineering teams, making sure safety shapes decisions early, not as paperwork at the end.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading, mentoring and allocating work across a team of safety engineers covering several maritime programmes
• Producing and guiding hazard analysis, functional failure analysis and fault tree analysis
• Building safety cases to Def Stan 00-056, and using your judgement on what evidence is genuinely needed to show risk is ALARP
• Working with designers to understand failure mechanisms and push through real risk reduction
• Embedding safety engineering into the systems engineering lifecycle and product certification
• Questioning how things are done today, and improving how the team works as digital engineering changes the pace of development

Why it’s worth a look

The brief is unusually clear: safety should influence the product, not just document it. You’ll have the backing to challenge established approaches and a genuine say in how the function evolves.

The package is strong too. Bonus of up to 21%, pension up to 14% combined, healthcare cash plan, and flexible working is welcomed.

What you’ll need

• A solid track record in systems safety engineering or product safety engineering, in defence or another safety-critical sector (rail, nuclear, aerospace and marine all count)
• Hands-on hazard analysis, fault tree analysis, functional failure analysis, hazard log and safety case experience
• Working knowledge of Def Stan 00-056 or a comparable safety standard
• Experience leading, mentoring or coordinating other engineers
• The confidence to challenge designers and programme leads, and balance technical risk against delivery
• An engineering degree, or equivalent professional experience

Nice to have

• Maritime or naval defence systems experience
• Exposure to international standards such as MIL-STD-882 or IEC 61508
• Formal line management experience
• A real interest in how digital engineering tools change safety assurance

Eligibility

Due to security clearance, you will need to be a current British citizen, or a dual national who holds British citizenship.