Safety Engineer

Searchability NS&D; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Searchability NS&D is assisting a leading UK Defence organisation in South West London to recruit a Principal Safety Engineer. The role leads safety assurance across naval Platform Management Systems, ensuring targets are met through robust design, with 2–3 days onsite and eligibility for UK SC clearance.

You will direct HAZOP, FFA, FTA and ALARP activities, produce safety documentation, and mentor junior engineers while coordinating with systems, hardware and software teams.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience within a safety engineering environment.
• Experience leading technical safety activities.
• Knowledge of IEC 61508 and Def Stan 00-056.
• Experience with safety assurance of COTS PE-based systems and/or high-integrity software.
• Strong understanding of hardware and software failure modes.
• Experience with FMECA, FTA, FFA and hazard identification.
• Experience with risk assessment and ALARP justification.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• UK SC clearance eligibility or ability to obtain clearance.
• Degree/HND/HNC in Engineering/Safety Management or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety activities across hardware, software and firmware systems.
• Develop safety activities and work schedules to meet programme milestones.
• Lead HAZOP, FFA, FTA, FMECA and LOPA activities.
• Lead safety audits, design reviews and safety committee meetings.
• Produce high-quality technical safety documentation.
• Develop and support ALARP justifications and risk assessments.
• Mentor and support junior safety engineers across teams.

Skills

Leading safety activities

Technical safety leadership

IEC 61508 / Def Stan 00-056 knowledge

FMECA / FTA / FFA / hazard ID

ALARP risk assessment

UK SC clearance eligibility

Mentoring safety engineers

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Degree, HND or HNC in Engineering/Safety Management

Job description

• South West London – 2/3 days onsite per week
• UK SC clearance required / ability to gain SC
• Compressed fortnight – every other Friday off

ABOUT THE CLIENT

Our client is a leading UK Defence organisation developing and supporting mission-critical software and systems used across multi-domain environments, including the Royal Navy. Working at the forefront of sovereign defence technology, their teams deliver complex systems that support critical naval operations across both surface ships and submarines.

Due to continued growth and development of their safety engineering capability, they are looking for a Principal Safety Engineer to lead safety assurance activities across the design, development and maintenance of naval Platform Management Systems.

THE PRINCIPAL SAFETY ENGINEER ROLE:

As a Principal Safety Engineer, you will lead safety assurance activities across the development and support of complex naval Platform Management Systems, ensuring safety requirements and targets can be achieved through robust system design.

You will lead safety analysis and assurance activities, influence engineering design decisions and present complex safety arguments to internal and external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading safety activities across hardware, software and firmware systems
• Developing safety activities and work schedules to meet programme milestones
• Leading HAZOP, FFA, FTA, FMECA and LOPA activities
• Leading safety audits, design reviews and safety committee meetings
• Producing high-quality technical safety documentation
• Developing and supporting ALARP justifications and risk assessments
• Analysing hardware and software failure modes, causes and effects
• Working closely with systems, hardware, software, ILS, project management, customer and supplier teams
• Mentoring and supporting junior safety engineers
• Keeping up to date with relevant safety standards, legislation and best practice

PRINCIPAL SAFETY ENGINEER ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• Relevant experience within a safety engineering environment
• Experience leading technical safety activities
• Knowledge of IEC 61508 and Def Stan 00-056
• Experience with safety assurance of COTS PE-based systems and/or high-integrity software
• Strong understanding of hardware and software failure modes
• Experience with FMECA, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Functional Failure Analysis (FFA) and hazard identification
• Experience with risk assessment and ALARP justification
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Degree, HND or HNC in Engineering, Safety Management or a related discipline
• Able to obtain UK SC security clearance