Senior System Safety and Environmental Engineer (IAS)

Thales; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Half day Fridays

Annual leave with buy-up

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Life cover

Employee assistance program

Discount schemes

Gym discounts

Job summary

Thales in Belfast is seeking a Senior System Safety & Environmental Engineer to lead safety strategy across complex defence programmes. You will drive hazard analyses, define safety requirements and guide risk reduction from concept to certification and deployment.

The role involves leading safety-critical hardware and programmable elements, with SC clearance ensured. Hybrid/onsite work, relocation support, and a chance to influence the design of next‑generation airspace protection systems are

Qualifications

• Proven academic background in Engineering or Science; Chartered Engineer status or professional membership desirable.
• Proven experience leading Safety Engineering activities within regulated programmes.
• Experience in hazard analysis, risk assessment and safety case development.
• Knowledge of safety-critical systems engineering and programmable elements; SILs/DALs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver all Safety & Environmental Management activities within project teams.
• Conduct hazard identification, hazard analysis and risk assessment.
• Influence multidisciplinary teams with evidence-based safety arguments for certification.
• Ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards and governance processes.
• Plan and manage Safety & Environmental work packages and generate assurance evidence.

Skills

Safety Engineering

Hazard Analysis

Safety Case Development

SILs/DALs

Defence Standards

Education

Engineering or Science degree

Job description

Location: Belfast, United Kingdom

Senior System Safety & Environmental Engineer (IAS)

Known internally as System Safety & Environmental Engineer

Based in Belfast, 4.5 days/week onsite, with travel. Other: permanent, full-time, for eligible candidates, relocation support can be provided.

Help shape the safety of next-generation defence technologies, ensuring mission-critical systems are safe, compliant and certifiable throughout their lifecycle.

What the role has to offer

• Lead safety strategy on complex, mission-critical programmes – operate at a principal level, providing technical leadership and influencing the safety assurance approach across some of the UK's most advanced defence systems
• Shape safety across the entire system lifecycle – from concept and architecture through to certification, in-service support and disposal, you'll have a unique opportunity to influence product development end-to-end and leave a lasting impact on system design
• Drive innovation in a rapidly evolving environment – join a growing business delivering next-generation capabilities at pace, where you'll tackle complex safety challenges, mentor others and help define the future of systems safety engineering within Thales

Our Opportunity

As a Senior System Safety & Environmental Engineer, you'll ensure Thales products achieve certification, meet stringent safety standards and perform safely in operational environments. You'll lead hazard analysis, define safety requirements and drive risk reduction activities across complex engineering programmes. From concept and design through to verification, certification and deployment, you'll provide technical leadership on safety-critical hardware and programmable elements, influencing engineering decisions and developing compelling safety cases backed by robust assurance evidence. Your work will directly enable the delivery of safe, compliant and trusted solutions for our customers.

We're seeking candidates with a strong Systems Safety Engineering background, ideally with experience in software safety assurance. While software safety expertise is highly desirable, we are also keen to hear from experienced Safety Engineers from aerospace, defence or other highly regulated industries.

Building a Future, we can all trust.

Integrated Airspace Protection Systems (IAS) - our main purpose is to protect and defend. We provide rapid integrated solutions for detection, coordination, fire control, engagement and support. We cover three sectors: Surface Attack & Air Defence (UK), Air Defence (International) and Air Operations & Services as well as Space.

What we offer you

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees’ wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Main Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver all Safety & Environmental Management (S&EM) activities within integrated project teams, ensuring compliance with the IAS Safety Management System and the effective assurance of safety-critical programmable elements
• Conduct hazard identification, hazard analysis and risk assessment activities, defining robust safety and environmental requirements across system performance, design, integration, interfaces and verification activities
• Influence multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders, developing clear, evidence-based safety arguments that ensure S&EM requirements are understood, implemented and maintained throughout the product lifecycle
• Champion compliance with relevant safety and environmental standards, legislation, policies and governance processes, acting as a trusted subject matter expert and promoting best practice across IAS programmes
• Plan and manage S&EM work packages, including estimating engineering effort, producing high-quality hazard analysis reports and safety cases, and generating the assurance evidence required to support certification and customer confidence

About You

At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.

Ideal Experience & Skills

• Proven academic background in Engineering or Science, supported by relevant safety training and professional development; Chartered Engineer status or professional institution membership is highly desirable
• Proven experience leading Safety Engineering activities within complex, highly regulated engineering programmes, delivering risk reduction, compliance and successful project outcomes
• Demonstrated expertise in hazard analysis, risk assessment and safety case development, creating robust safety arguments and assurance evidence to support certification
• Proven knowledge of safety-critical systems engineering, including the development and assurance of programmable elements and the application of SILs, DALs and related assurance methodologies
• Demonstrated understanding of product safety standards, legislation and environmental management principles, including experience applying Defence Standard 00-055 and associated standards
• Acquired capability to apply a whole-life systems engineering approach, influencing design decisions and supporting products from concept through to certification and in-service operation

Ready to influence the safety of some of the world's most advanced defence systems? Join Thales and play a key role in delivering the next generation of safe, compliant and mission-ready technology.

Security Clearance Requirement

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

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