Lead System Safety Engineer — Defense Autonomy

Anduril-1; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking experienced System Safety Engineering leaders to join our rapidly growing Costa Mesa, CA team. You will develop and implement robust safety frameworks, guiding product teams through the System Safety lifecycle from concept through design, qualification, production, and field deployment.

Your deep knowledge of FHA, FTA, SCFTA, and FMECA will help shape risk mitigation strategies and foster a safety culture across the organization.

Qualifications

• B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in System Safety Engineering, with at least 1 year in a leadership role
• Proven track record building, scaling, and managing technical teams of 5+ engineers for complex advanced programs
• Strong background in safety analysis techniques, including FTA, FHA, SCFTA, and FMECA.
• Extensive knowledge of MIL-STD-882E, JSSSEH or other relevant safety standards.
• Experience with safety-critical hardware and software systems in the defense or aerospace industry, with a preference for Weapon Systems
• Experience setting up a System Safety Engineering framework for a product or program, including early stage Design for Safety and Hazard Analysis experience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to influence cross-functionally at all levels
• Strategic thinking with ability to balance hands-on technical work with management responsibilities
• Eligibility to pursue and maintain a U.S. security clearance, as required

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the performance of a team of System Safety Engineers, providing technical guidance and mentorship on system safety principles, best practices, and artifact development.
• Manage resource allocation and capacity planning to support multiple concurrent programs, and drive recruiting efforts to maintain growth trajectory.
• Conduct performance management, career development planning, and succession planning.
• Develop and implement tailored System Safety program plans aligned with MIL-STD-882E and the needs of Anduril and its customers.
• Define and communicate the System Safety organization's vision, goals, and framework to standardize development efforts across the business and integrate safety processes across all stages of product development.
• Oversee and review complex safety analyses, including FHA (Functional Hazard Analysis), Fault Tree, SCFTA (Safety Critical Functional Thread Analysis), and SAR (Safety Assessment Report).
• Develop system safety requirements and collaborate with design teams to implement safety solutions.
• Support Milestone Reviews such as PDR, CDR, and TRR representing System Safety.
• Liaise with customers, regulatory bodies, and internal stakeholders on safety-related matters.
• Drive continuous improvement in System Safety processes and methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with relevant military and industry safety standards.
• Contribute to proposal efforts and support business development activities, as required.
• Provide management-level reporting and communications on team performance, program status, and strategic initiatives.

Skills

System Safety Engineering

Leadership

Safety Analysis

Communication

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Relyence

Teamcenter

Confluence

JAMA

Cameo

JIRA

Job description

Anduril Industries is seeking experienced System Safety Engineering leaders to join our rapidly growing Costa Mesa, CA team. You will develop and implement robust safety frameworks, guiding product teams through the System Safety lifecycle from concept through design, qualification, production, and field deployment.

Your deep knowledge of FHA, FTA, SCFTA, and FMECA will help shape risk mitigation strategies and foster a safety culture across the organization.