Principal Safety Consultant - Weapons

Gold Group; Kingswood; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Gold Group is seeking a Principal Safety Engineer to lead safety engineering for complex weapons, ordnance, munitions and explosives programmes in the UK defence sector. The role covers the full lifecycle, shaping safety strategy and delivering robust assurance evidence.

You will own hazard management, drive FHA/Physical Hazard Analysis, mentor engineers, and influence design and trials with senior customers and stakeholders. The position requires SC clearance and Bristol hybrid working.

Qualifications

• Substantial safety engineering experience (roughly 10+ years) within defence or other safety‑critical environments.
• Proven track record developing SMS, SMPs, and Safety Case Reports.
• Strong capability in hazard log creation, structure, and assurance.
• Experience performing FHA and Physical Hazard Analysis.
• Ability to lead technical packages, engage customers, and articulate safety issues clearly.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement proportionate Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Safety Management Plans (SMP) for complex weapons programmes.
• Produce Safety Case Reports (SCRs) and evidence to show risks are understood and controlled to ALARP.
• Create and maintain hazard logs with traceability from hazards to controls and evidence.
• Lead FHA and Physical Hazard Analysis, guiding design and trials decisions.
• Mentor junior and mid‑level engineers and conduct rigorous peer reviews.

Skills

SMS & SMPs

Safety Case Reports

Hazard Logs

FHA

Physical Hazard Analysis

Stakeholder Engagement

Leadership & Mentoring

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Principal Safety Engineer

UK Defence / Weapons Systems

UK Citizenship required

Location: Bristol (Hybrid/Flexible - Onsite approx. 1 day every 2 weeks)

Position Type: Permanent

Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 + Benefits

Start Date: ASAP

Security Clearance: Active UK Security Clearance (SC) required

Role Overview

An exceptional opportunity for a Principal Safety Engineer to take a leading role in the safety engineering of complex weapons and Ordnance, Munitions, and Explosives (OME) programmes. Working across the full system lifecycle, you will shape safety strategy, lead hazard analysis, construct robust safety arguments, and provide clear assurance evidence to customers and senior stakeholders. In this role, you will be trusted to apply your domain expertise with autonomy while benefiting from the support of a collaborative, close-knit team of safety and systems engineering specialists.

What You'll Achieve

• Lead Safety Delivery: Define and implement proportionate Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Safety Management Plans (SMP) for complex weapons programmes.
• Develop Compelling Safety Arguments: Produce Safety Case Reports (SCRs) and supporting evidence that clearly demonstrate risks are understood and controlled to ALARP.
• Own Hazard Management: Create, structure, and maintain comprehensive hazard logs with clear traceability from identified hazards through to controls, evidence, and residual risk.
• Influence Design & Trials: Lead Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA) and Physical Hazard Analysis, ensuring safety considerations shape core engineering and trials decisions.
• Provide Technical Leadership: Guide customers and engineering teams, conduct rigorous peer reviews of safety outputs, and mentor junior and mid-level engineers.

What You'll Bring

• Experience: Substantial safety engineering experience (typically ~10+ years) within defence or another complex, safety-critical environment.
• Safety Management Systems: Proven track record developing SMS, SMPs, and Safety Case Reports.
• Hazard Log Ownership: Strong capability in hazard log creation, structure, management, and overall assurance.
• Analysis Techniques: Practical experience undertaking Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA) and Physical Hazard Analysis.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The confidence to lead technical packages, engage key customers, and articulate complex safety issues clearly.

Desirable Skills & Knowledge

• Direct weapons safety experience and working knowledge of Ordnance, Munitions, and Explosives (OME).
• Experience producing, evaluating, or reviewing Trials Safety Assessments.
• Familiarity with relevant safety and integrity standards such as ARP4761 and/or IEC 61508 (alongside core standards like Def Stan 00-056).

Qualifications, Working Pattern & Clearance

• Education: Engineering degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Security Clearance: Current active UK Security Check (SC) clearance is required.
• Location & Flexibility: Hybrid working model with periodic travel to secure facilities in Bristol (approximately once every two weeks for meetings and security sensitive activity).

Why Join Our Team?

Join a growing, high-calibre engineering consultancy where senior engineers are given the trust and autonomy to lead, influence client strategy, and shape project delivery. You will work on technically demanding, high-profile weapons programmes, gain broad experience across varied assignments, and enjoy clear scope to progress your career while mentoring the next generation of safety professionals.