Senior Systems Safety Engineer

Cirrus Selection; Ampthill; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Bonus

4-day work week

Job summary

Cirrus Selection Limited is seeking a Senior Systems Safety Engineer to lead safety across ordnance and weapon systems, based in Ampthill. You’ll direct a small team, drive safety cases from first principles to acceptance by customer and range, and ensure programmes stay on critical dates with practical mitigations.

You’ll also shape hazard analyses, ALARP strategies, and compliance with Def Stan 00-056, ASEMS, and IEC 61508, contributing to a safe, cost-effective system in the defence domain.

Qualifications

• Experience leading safety work on defence systems.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Knowledge of UK MOD safety management (Def Stan 00-056, ASEMS).
• Functional safety experience (IEC 61508, SIL).

Responsibilities

• Producing and reviewing safety cases and safety documentation to Def Stan 00-056 for MOD customers and test ranges.
• Running hazard identification and hazard analysis, choosing techniques for the system.
• Building ALARP strategies and working with designers on mitigations.
• Supporting IEC 61508 functional safety work, including evidence behind SIL claims.
• Managing safety for potentially hazardous trials.
• Setting safety requirements for systems, support equipment and facilities.
• Directing team members and joining accident investigations for root causes.
• Balancing safety requirements against cost and design to deliver a safe and sensible system.

Skills

Systems safety

Weapons safety

Communication

Team leadership

Hazard analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Def Stan 00-056

ASEMS

IEC 61508

Job description

Senior Systems Safety Engineer, Ordnance and Weapon Systems

Based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire | On-site Monday and Tuesday, more when the work needs it

Salary from £42,500 to £53,000 + Pension, Bonus, 4-day working week

You’ve signed off safety on kit that is designed to go bang, and you know the difference between a safety case that gets read and one that gets filed.

If that’s you, and you’re ready to be the go-to safety authority on ordnance and weapon systems, this is worth five minutes.

The role

You’ll lead the safety work on complex defence systems, from first principles risk criteria through to the safety case the customer and the range will actually accept. You’ll direct a small team, challenge designers early, and keep programmes moving to critical dates.

What you’ll be doing

• Producing and reviewing safety cases and safety documentation to Def Stan 00-056, for MOD customers and test and operational ranges
• Running hazard identification and hazard analysis, choosing the right techniques for the system in front of you
• Building ALARP strategies you can defend, and working with designers on mitigations that remove or control the hazard
• Supporting IEC 61508 functional safety work, including the evidence behind SIL claims
• Managing safety for potentially hazardous trials
• Setting safety requirements for systems, support equipment and facilities
• Directing team members, and joining accident investigations to find causes and corrective actions
• Balancing safety requirements against cost and design, so programmes get a safe system and a sensible one

What you’ll need

• Proven systems safety or weapons safety experience, ideally in defence, with hands-on ordnance exposure
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in a related discipline, or equivalent experience/combined education
• Working knowledge of UK MOD safety management, including Def Stan 00-056 and ASEMS
• Functional safety experience, for example IEC 61508 and SIL derivation and compliance
• Comfort with UK, US and EU safety legislation
• Experience with the safety toolsets common to the discipline
• Clear written and spoken communication, since your safety cases will be read by people who matter

Nice to have

• Def Stan 07-085, 23-015 or 59-114 (weapon integration and land certification)
• Experience developing acceptable risk criteria from first principles
• Safety experience in rail, nuclear or aerospace, alongside defence exposure
• A reputation as the person colleagues go to when the safety argument gets difficult

Eligibility

Due to security clearance requirements, you must hold sole British citizenship