Principal Software Safety Consultant

ZipRecruiter; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy is seeking a Principal Software Safety Consultant to drive safety-critical projects within defence and aerospace sectors. This role entails leadership responsibilities and requires expertise in software safety and team development, providing an opportunity for growth in a dynamic environment with competitive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual performance bonus

25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays

Company pension scheme

Optional private medical insurance

Life insurance

Bike to Work scheme

Ongoing training and development support

Professional institution membership fees covered

Qualifications

• Degree in Software Engineering or relevant professional qualifications required.
• Chartered status or nearing membership in a recognized professional institution preferred.
• Experience in software safety engineering consultancy, especially in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical authority on software safety for all programs.
• Lead development of software safety strategies and policies.
• Mentor and develop team members in software safety practices.

Skills

Software Safety Engineering

Project Management

Client Engagement

Team Leadership

Technical Oversight

Education

Degree in Software Engineering or Systems Safety

Chartered status or working towards it

Job description

Job Description

Principal Software Safety Consultant

Location: Hybrid (Bristol office + Remote Working)

Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary Range: £70,000 - £90,000 + Benefits (see end of page)

Clearance Required: Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance

We are actively recruiting for an experienced Software Safety Consultant that is keen to take on a leadership role in high-impact, safety-critical projects.

Maybe you are a Senior or Principal Software Safety Consultant now and looking for a role where you are the group’s leader, this would be a great match if so.

We're looking for a dynamic and technically proficient Principal Software Safety Consultant to drive innovation, lead team growth, and deliver expert consultancy across defence, aerospace, and critical systems sectors.

This is a mix of Technical Software Safety Engineering and also team management and business growth.

Why This Role?

This is a rare opportunity within a rapidly growing, expert-led independent Safety Engineering focused consultancy.

This is not the kind of place where you will feel like a small fish in a big pond, you will have responsibility and autonomy in this role.

Key Responsibilities:

Software Safety Leadership:

• Act as the technical authority on software safety across all programmes and client engagements
• Lead the development of software safety strategies, policies, and methodologies
• Provide technical oversight for project delivery, ensuring safety assurance meets defence and industry standards

Capability & Team Development:

• Define and implement training plans, recruitment strategies, and subcontractor engagement
• Mentor and line manage team members, building a high-performance culture in software safety

Business Development:

• Support bid and proposal development, providing technical insight and review
• Collaborate with the business development team to identify new opportunities and client needs.
• Cultivate long-term client relationships and establish the business as a leader in software safety that can be relied upon to deliver.

Project Oversight:

• Lead delivery of software safety assessments, audits, and technical documentation
• Oversee risk identification, mitigation, and control throughout project lifecycles
• Ensure all deliverables meet regulatory, client, and internal quality standards

Qualifications & Experience:

• A relevant degree and/or professional qualifications in Software Engineering or Systems Safety
• Chartered status or working towards membership with a recognised professional institution
• Proven track record in delivering software safety engineering consultancy, ideally in the UK.
• Experience in client engagement, and cross-functional project management is desirable

Flexible Working & Benefits:

• Hybrid working (Bristol office + remote flexibility)
• Competitive salary + annual performance bonus
• 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays
• Company pension scheme
• Optional private medical insurance (post-probation)
• Life insurance
• Bike to Work scheme
• Ongoing training and professional development support
• Professional institution membership fees covered

Should I Apply?

This role is ideal for a senior software safety engineer, technical lead, or consultant seeking a move into a more strategic, leadership-driven position. If you’re passionate about defence safety standards, developing people, and contributing to safety-critical programmes — this is a role you should apply for !