Senior Safety Systems Engineer

Nicholas Howard Ltd; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

4 day workweek

Career progression

Job summary

Nicholas Howard Ltd in Bedford seeks a Senior Systems Safety Engineer to join a dedicated defence engineering team, delivering safety-critical programmes and ensuring compliance.

You will lead hazard assessment, develop ALARP strategies, and produce safety cases while supporting IEC 61508, Def Stan standards, and safety legislation across UK, US and EU.

This structured hybrid role offers competitive salary, career progression, and the chance to influence safety decisions on complex systems.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in systems safety within defence or safety-critical engineering.
• Strong knowledge of MOD safety management and ASEMS.
• Experience with IEC 61508, SIL, hazard analysis and ALARP.
• Familiarity with Def Stan 23-015, 07-085 or 59-114.
• Experience with ordnance or defence equipment.
• Understanding of UK, US and European safety legislation.
• Excellent communication and technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review safety designs, specifications and system safety requirements.
• Lead hazard identification, hazard analysis and risk mitigation.
• Develop ALARP strategies and establish acceptable risk criteria.
• Produce safety cases, reports and technical documentation.
• Support IEC 61508 compliance and SIL claims.
• Provide safety management support for hazardous trials.
• Support accident investigations and corrective actions.
• Provide technical guidance to engineering teams and resolve safety challenges.

Skills

Systems Safety

Mod Safety Management

Hazard Analysis

ALARP

IEC 61508 / SIL

Ordnance / Defence

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Nicholas Howard are delighted to be recruiting for a Senior Systems Safety Engineer.

In this role you will join a dedicated engineering team in Bedford, supporting the development and delivery of complex safety critical defence programmes.

You will play an integral role in ensuring systems meet required safety standards, leading on hazard identification, processes, and compliance.

Responsibilities will include:

• Develop and review safety designs, specifications and system safety requirements.
• Lead hazard identification, hazard analysis and risk mitigation activities.
• Develop ALARP strategies and establish acceptable risk criteria.
• Produce safety cases, reports and technical documentation.
• Support IEC 61508 compliance and SIL claims.
• Provide safety management support for potentially hazardous trials.
• Support accident investigations and corrective actions.
• Provide technical guidance to engineering teams and resolve complex safety challenges.

Key experience required:

You will have significant experience in Systems Safety, ideally within defence or another safety-critical engineering environment.

• Strong knowledge of UK MOD safety management, particularly Def Stan 00-056 and ASEMS.
• Understanding of Defence Safety Regulations, ideally Land Safety and Environmental Regulations.
• Experience with IEC 61508, SIL, hazard analysis and ALARP.
• Knowledge of standards such as Def Stan 23-015, 07-085 or 59-114.
• Experience involving ordnance, weapon systems or defence equipment.
• Understanding of UK, US and European safety legislation.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to provide technical leadership.

Security clearance

You must be eligible for UK SC level clearance for this role and due to restrictions must hold UK nationality only – dual nationality not acceptable in

Opportunity:

• Join a specialist engineering team working on complex, safety-critical defence programmes, where your expertise will directly influence system safety, engineering decisions and operational assurance.
• Competitive salary benefits and career progression
• Structured hybrid working
• 4 day working week (37.5 hours completed Mon-Thurs with every Friday off)