Senior Systems Safety Engineer

Leidos Inc; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 131,000 - 237,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense is seeking a Senior System Safety Engineer to join a matrixed team supporting a hypersonics development program. You will lead safety analyses, coordinate across IPTs, and deliver hazard tracking and mitigation artifacts per MIL-STD-882E.

The role emphasizes independent work, strong customer interaction, and leadership opportunities within a critical defense program in Huntsville. Candidates with related safety, SE, and risk-management experience are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent degree from an ABET-accredited university with 12+ years of experience or an MS with 10+ years.
• Demonstrated familiarity with MIL-STD-882E and its application to system safety programs.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines for complex defense systems.
• Resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.
• Possess a secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the prime contractor system safety working group and coordinate with the customer and IPTs.
• Develop hazard tracking, mitigation, and regular reporting deliverables.
• Ensure system safety compliance and verify customer needs are met across multiple efforts.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive risk assessment activities (PHA, FHA, SHA, SSA, etc.).
• Coordinate with safety, SE, and program teams to estimate engineering effort (hours).

Skills

System Safety

MIL-STD-882E

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Secret clearance

Team leadership

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree 12+ years or MS 10+ years

Tools

Hazard tracking systems

Model-based systems engineering

Requirement databases

JAMA

CAMEO

JIRA

Job description

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Are you ready for your next career challenge?

Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world's toughest security challenges for customers with "can't fail" missions.

Leidos Defense is seeking a Senior System Safety Engineer to join a matrixed organization of systems engineers, model-based systems engineers, and specialty systems engineers. This Senior System Safety Engineer will primarily support a hypersonics development program, but has the opportunity to support multiple efforts.

These efforts will involve analysis of the systems hardware and software safety to the operator and equipment in accordance with MIL-STD-882, consisting of both classified and unclassified work. The System Safety Engineer will work independently, coordinating with other Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) on these efforts, defining their own tasking derived from customer needs and contractual documents.

Each effort will require different specific safety artifacts including hazard tracking, mitigation, and regular reporting to the customer via deliverables. The Safety Engineer will lead the prime contractor system safety working group both engaging the customer and work hand-in-hand with the program's systems engineering team to ensure system compliance and verify customer needs are met. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on critical defense programs while developing expertise across multiple concurrent efforts.

A candidate with experience in other engineering areas such as Risk Management, Systems Engineering, Human Factors Engineering, and Reliability Analysis will be treated preferentially. Success in this organization often leads to leadership positions in System Safety Engineering, Systems Engineering, and Systems Engineering Integration and Test (SEIT).

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent degree from an ABET-accredited university with 12+ years of experience or an MS with 10+ years.
• Demonstrated familiarity with MIL-STD-882E and its application to system safety programs.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines for complex defense systems.
• Resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.
• Possess a secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference shown to candidates who possess a Master of Science in Safety or System Engineering from an ABET-accredited university, and/or have at least 6 years of direct system safety engineering experience. Preferred candidates will also have experience and/or working knowledge with:

• Familiarity with AR 385-10, AR 385-16, AR 770-3, JSSSEH, and AMCOM 385-17
• Knowledge of Army Safety Board processes and preparation
• Software System Safety Technical Review Panel (SSSTRP) coordination
• Experience conducting hazard analyses (PHA, FHA, SHA, SSHA, O&SHA, EHA, HHA, FTA, FMEA)
• Proficiency with safety tools and databases (e.g., hazard tracking systems, model-based systems engineering, requirement databases) or other tools (JAMA, CAMEO, and JIRA)
• Demonstrated experience effectively leading a team of engineers
• Demonstrated experience accurately estimating the engineering effort (i.e. hours) associated with System Safety Engineering tasks
• INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) certification (ASEP or CSEP)

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: November 2, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range: $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.