Safety Engineer

Ultra Electronics Group; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private medical cover

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension contribution matching

Life assurance

Flexible working hours

Security clearance allowance

Job summary

Ultra Electronics Group in Maidenhead seeks a Senior Safety Engineer for electronic equipment to lead hazard analysis, safety assessments, and FMEA/FMECA. You will influence Cyber UK product design to ensure safety and lifecycle reliability, maintaining hazard logs and safety case structure.

Applicants should have experience in regulated safety-critical environments, with strong ability to mentor teams and coordinate across functions.

Qualifications

• Experience in hazard analysis techniques (PHA, FHA, FTA, ETA).
• Experience developing and maintaining safety cases with structured arguments and evidence.
• Knowledge of Def Stan 00-056, MIL-STD 1629, MIL-HDBK-217F, ARP4761, ARP4754 with pragmatic application.
• Ability to influence engineering decisions in safety-critical contexts.
• Experience in regulated or safety-critical environments (defence, aerospace, rail, nuclear).
• Familiarity with verification and validation (V&V) processes for safety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct requirements and design assessments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate hazards across the product lifecycle.
• Perform safety and reliability analyses (hazard analysis, safety assessments, FMEA/FMECA) to address design weaknesses.
• Integrate safety considerations into engineering decisions to support Cyber UK product development.
• Produce high-quality safety and reliability documentation (planning, compliance, project-specific documents).
• Provide accurate work estimates, identify cost-effective solutions, and deliver work predictably.
• Lead safety reviews and hazard identification sessions, design reviews, and risk assessments with cross-functional teams.
• Interface with customers, regulators, and assurance bodies as required, supporting audits or certification activities.

Skills

Hazard analysis techniques

Safety case development

Defence/airworthiness standards

Stakeholder engagement

Configuration management

V&V for safety requirements

Lead safety reviews

Mentoring juniors

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

DOORS

Enterprise Architect

Job description

Overview

Ultra Intelligence & Communications Cyber (UK) Business is powering decision-making with defense technology. Our Cyber business unit leads in cryptographic and key management solutions, enabling confidential information exchange for customers at tactical and strategic levels. The Safety Engineer for electronic equipment is a senior practitioner responsible for hazard analysis, safety assessment, failure mode analysis (FMEA/FMECA), and influencing Cyber UK product design to ensure safety and reliability throughout the lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct requirements and design assessments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate hazards across the product development lifecycle.
• Perform safety and reliability analyses (hazard analysis, safety assessments, FMEA/FMECA) to address design weaknesses and anomalies.
• Integrate safety considerations into engineering decisions to support Cyber UK product development.
• Produce high-quality safety and reliability documentation (planning, compliance, and project-specific documents).
• Provide accurate work estimates, identify cost-effective solutions, and deliver work predictably.
• Operate with minimal supervision, demonstrating autonomy and technical judgment.
• Generate technical inputs for product-level design reviews and approve significant technical documentation.
• Act as a subject matter expert, guiding wider engineering teams and external stakeholders where appropriate.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Identify and champion process improvements to enhance engineering efficiency and innovation.
• Apply defence and industry standards (Def Stan 00-056, MIL-STD 1629, MIL-HDB 217F, ARP4761, ARP4754) for safety in airborne systems where applicable.
• Maintain the hazard log with hazards, mitigations, and verification activities, ensuring traceability through the lifecycle.
• Define and derive safety requirements with clear traceability from hazards to implementation and verification.
• Support safety case development, including structuring arguments, evidence, and compliance.
• Lead safety reviews and hazard identification sessions, design reviews, and risk assessments with cross-functional teams.
• Ensure safety requirements are verified and validated with test and integration teams.
• Interface with customers, regulators, and assurance bodies as required, supporting audits or certification activities.
• Assess and manage the impact of design changes on system safety; manage configuration and change processes to keep artefacts consistent.
• Promote a strong safety culture within the engineering team and support bid and proposal activities with safety input.

Required Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Highly organised, self-managing, able to handle multiple activities concurrently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Working knowledge of relevant safety standards and regulatory frameworks (Def Stan 00-56, MIL-STD 1629, MIL-HDBK-217F, ARP4761, ARP4754) with pragmatic application.
• Experience in hazard analysis techniques (PHA, FHA, FTA, ETA).
• Experience developing and maintaining safety cases with structured arguments and evidence linked to safety requirements.
• Strong risk management understanding (assessment, mitigation, acceptance).
• Ability to influence engineering decisions in safety-critical contexts.
• Experience in regulated or safety-critical environments (defence, aerospace, rail, nuclear, etc.).
• Understanding of verification and validation (V&V) processes related to safety requirements.
• Awareness of configuration management to align design, documentation, and safety artefacts.
• Clear communication of complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience with version control, change management, and defect tracking systems.
• Strong problem-solving and proactive, self-motivated approach; able to assimilate new information quickly.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills for concurrent activities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across stakeholder levels.

Desirable Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Familiarity with best-practice development processes and lifecycle models in safety-critical environments.
• Experience with CI, automated testing, and DevSecOps for high-integrity systems.
• Experience using requirements and systems engineering tools (DOORS, Enterprise Architect).
• Knowledge of digital electronics and hardware failure modes and interfaces.
• Experience developing military/defence equipment; understanding operational environments and constraints.
• Experience in developing UK High Grade Cryptographic products or other high-assurance secure systems.

Security Clearance and Notice

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance. Due to program requirements, you may need to handle export-controlled material. UK residency requirements apply for certain clearances (e.g., SC and DV) as specified by UK government guidance.

Benefits

• Annual bonus scheme
• Private medical cover
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy 5 extra days)
• Pension contribution matching
• Life assurance
• Flexible working hours, including potential Friday 1pm finish
• Flexible benefits (cycle to work, will writing, and more)
• Security clearance allowance where relevant

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Ultra I&C is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. We support flexible working arrangements wherever possible.

About Ultra

Ultra specialises in application-engineered bespoke solutions for mission-critical, intelligent systems in defence, security, and control markets. We employ over 4,500 people globally and are listed on the London Stock Exchange.