Software System Safety Engineer

Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 122,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition discount (75%)

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Penn State University’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) seeks a Software System Safety Engineer to support the development and certification of Navy software systems. You will work with software developers, systems engineers, and Navy stakeholders to identify hazards and mitigate software risks across the system lifecycle.

ARL is a DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes transitioning military members. The role may include software development and testing tasks as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience with software-intensive or mission-critical systems.
• Ability to analyze software requirements, designs, interfaces, and tests to assess risks.
• Strong systems-thinking and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Cross-functional collaboration across software, systems, test, and engineering teams.
• Excellent technical communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Support software safety activities across the system lifecycle.
• Assess software contributions to hazards using established safety processes.
• Evaluate software requirements, designs, and test results from a safety perspective.
• Collaborate with developers and engineers to implement safety requirements.
• Support safety analyses and certification per MIL-STD-882E/JSSSEH guidance and program needs.
• Engage with safety leads and government engineers to support Navy certification.
• Develop technical safety documentation and hazard tracking.
• Participate in reviews, safety groups, and certification activities.
• Investigate anomalies and software-related safety concerns.

Skills

Software safety

System safety

Safety analysis

Requirements analysis

Systems thinking

Technical communication

MIL-STD-882E/JSSSEH

Education

Bachelor’s Degree — Engineering or Science

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

We are seeking a motivated and technically strong Software System Safety Engineer to join the Embedded Software Department at ARL at Penn State. This position supports the development and certification of software-intensive Navy systems. The successful candidate will work closely with software developers, systems engineers, government safety engineers, and Navy stakeholders to identify, assess, and mitigate software contributions to system hazards. The engineer will support programs throughout the system lifecycle, helping develop the analyses, technical evidence, and documentation required to support Navy safety certification and approval activities. Depending on program needs and individual experience, the position may also include opportunities to contribute directly to software development, integration, testing, and technology transition activities.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You Will:

• Support software safety activities throughout the system lifecycle
• Assess software contributions to system hazards using established system safety processes and methodologies
• Evaluate software requirements, designs, architectures, interfaces, and test results from a safety perspective
• Collaborate with software developers and systems engineers to implement and verify software safety requirements
• Support software safety analyses and certification activities in accordance with MIL-STD-882E, JSSSEH guidance, and program-specific requirement
• Work with internal safety leads, government Principals for Safety, and NUWC safety engineers to support Navy certification and approval efforts
• Develop technical safety documentation and support hazard tracking activities
• Participate in technical reviews, safety working groups, and certification-related engagement
• Support investigation of anomalies, failures, and software-related safety concerns
• Contribute to software development, integration, testing, and troubleshooting activities as program requirements and individual expertise align

Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research, development, testing, and evaluation activities to solve complex scientific and engineering challenges supporting Department of Defense sponsors and national security missions
• Investigate, evaluate, and apply established and emerging engineering principles, scientific methodologies, and advanced technologies to develop innovative technical solutions
• Plan, perform, and lead analytical studies, modeling and simulation, laboratory experimentation, field testing, and prototype demonstrations to validate engineering concepts and system performance
• Design, develop, integrate, analyze, and evaluate complex hardware, software, embedded systems, sensors, communications systems, electromechanical systems, or other mission-critical technologies within assigned technical disciplines
• Apply systems engineering principles throughout the project lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture definition, design trade studies, integration, verification, validation, risk management, and configuration management
• Develop experimental plans, test procedures, data collection methodologies, and performance metrics; analyze results to identify technical issues, validate assumptions, and recommend design improvements
• Support development of advanced prototypes and transition technologies from research concepts into operational capabilities for government sponsors
• Prepare technical reports, engineering analyses, research publications, white papers, proposals, briefings, and sponsor deliverables documenting research methods, technical findings, and program status
• Present technical information and research results to sponsors, program managers, technical review boards, and other internal and external stakeholders

Required Skills/Experience areas include:

• Working with software-intensive or mission-critical systems
• Ability to analyze software requirements, designs, interfaces, and test results to assess technical risks and system behavior
• Demonstrated systems-thinking and analytical problem-solving skills
• Collaborating with software, systems, test, and engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle
• Strong technical communication and documentation skills, including the ability to present technical information to engineering and customer stakeholders

Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:

• Software-intensive or safety-critical systems
• Software safety, software quality assurance, verification and validation, software testing, systems engineering, or system safety
• MIL-STD-882E and the Joint Software Systems Safety Engineering Handbook (JSSSEH)
• Past success supporting hazard analyses, risk assessments, or safety certification activities
• Developing or reviewing software requirements and verification evidence
• Working with government customers and technical review boards
• Past success supporting Navy, DoD, or other mission-critical programs
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required

Your working location will be will be fully on-site located in State College, PA.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor’s Degree - Engineering or Science 14+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor’s Degree - Engineering or Science 5+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $121,704.00 - $231,000.00.

Salary Structure- Information on Penn State’s salary structure

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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