Software Safety Engineer

Actalent; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 96,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Software Safety Engineer in Houston, TX to ensure safety-critical software and systems for space applications. The role focuses on analyzing software architecture, mitigating hazards, and embedding safety requirements into designs for radiation-prone environments.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, support verification/validation activities, and deliver clear safety analyses and recommendations to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience in software safety and assurance.
• Hands-on experience with space systems, including human spaceflight domain.
• Strong understanding of software architecture and safety implications.
• Ability to read and interpret software code for safety concerns and hazards.
• Experience with human-rated space systems and their safety requirements.
• Proficiency with C++ in software quality assurance and safety activities.
• Experience performing risk-based analysis for software-intensive systems.
• Experience conducting hazard analyses at system and software levels.
• Experience in system-level safety analysis and integrating software safety requirements.
• Familiarity with safety processes, standards, and best practices.
• Ability to perform safety-focused code reviews and identify hazards.

Responsibilities

• Conduct system-level safety analyses and embed safety requirements into software and designs.
• Perform hazard analyses focused on software architecture to prevent or mitigate failures.
• Assist in defining safe computer control strategies for critical operations.
• Participate in design reviews and safety meetings with cross-disciplinary teams.
• Coordinate with systems, software, safety, avionics, and design engineers to verify safety requirements.
• Develop verification strategies to ensure safety of software in radiation-prone space environments.
• Prepare technical documentation and present safety findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Software safety

Space systems

Software architecture

C++ proficiency

Hazard analysis

Code reviews

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication skills

Risk-based analysis

Safety reviews

Human spaceflight

Safety standards

Tools

C++

Job description

Job Title: Software Safety Engineer

The Software Safety Engineer ensures that complex space systems operate safely by embedding robust safety requirements into software and system designs. This role focuses on analyzing software architecture and control strategies for human spaceflight and space systems, identifying and mitigating hazards, and ensuring that safety-critical software behaves reliably in radiation-prone environments. The engineer collaborates closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, supports verification and validation activities, and communicates safety analysis findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conduct system-level safety analyses that incorporate historical, industry, and recommended safety requirements and attributes into software and overall system designs.
• Perform safety and hazard analyses focused on software architecture and design implementation to ensure safe operation and to prevent, mitigate, or recover from error and failure propagation within the system.
• Assist in defining safe computer control strategies for critical system operations, particularly in human spaceflight and space environments.
• Participate in system design and verification/validation activities with a strong emphasis on software safety during safety reviews, working groups, engineering panels, and technical interchange meetings.
• Coordinate closely with systems engineering, test, and verification and validation (V&V) personnel to ensure that safety-critical software requirements are verified and tested with an appropriate level of rigor.
• Collaborate with system, software, safety, avionics, and design engineers to develop and refine requirements that support safe software operation in radiation-prone space environments.
• Identify critical items within the system and work with technical engineers to develop verification strategies that ensure overall system safety.
• Provide technical support during design reviews, test campaigns, and verification activities, offering safety-focused feedback and recommendations.
• Prepare clear technical documentation, reports, and presentations that explain safety analyses, findings, and recommendations for peers, leadership, and external partners.
• Communicate analysis progress, status, risks, and potential safety issues to stakeholders and management in a timely and transparent manner.
• Apply innovative and forward-thinking approaches to incorporate automation and support future development in software safety processes and tools.
• Review and interpret software code to identify safety concerns, ensure compliance with safety requirements, and support risk-based analysis and hazard mitigation.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of experience in software safety, with a focus on safety analysis and assurance.
• Hands-on experience with space systems, particularly those used in human spaceflight or related domains.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, including the ability to assess architectural decisions from a safety perspective.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret software code for safety implications, including identifying potential hazards and failure modes.
• Experience with human spaceflight systems or human-rated space systems and their safety requirements.
• Proficiency with C++ in the context of software quality assurance and software safety activities.
• Demonstrated experience performing risk-based analysis for software-intensive systems.
• Experience conducting hazard analyses at the system and software levels.
• Experience in system-level safety analysis, including integration of software safety requirements into overall system safety.
• Experience in software safety, including familiarity with safety processes, standards, and best practices.
• Experience performing code reviews with a focus on safety, risk, and hazard identification.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering teams, including systems, software, safety, avionics, and design engineers.
• Strong communication skills for presenting technical safety findings and status updates to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working on human spaceflight programs or projects involving human-rated space systems.
• Exposure to software quality assurance practices in safety-critical environments.
• Familiarity with safety considerations specific to radiation-prone environments, such as those encountered in space.
• Experience contributing to or leading technical interchange meetings, safety reviews, and engineering panels.
• Ability to develop innovative approaches for automation and continuous improvement in software safety processes.
• Experience preparing comprehensive safety documentation, including analysis reports, hazard logs, and technical presentations.
• Comfort working in a growing function where processes and tools may need to be developed or refined over time.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $90.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision; Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital; 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available; Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents); Short and long-term disability; Health Spending Account (HSA); Transportation benefits; Employee Assistance Program; Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave).

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Houston, TX.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.