Sr. Staff Safety Engineer

AeroVironment, Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking an experienced Senior Staff Safety Engineer to lead system safety activities for unmanned aircraft systems supporting defense and commercial needs.

You will guide analyses, derive requirements, and ensure hazards are identified and mitigated across the program lifecycle. You will collaborate with systems engineering, design, test and program management, present findings at reviews, mentor junior engineers, and drive process improvements in safety tools and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering or science field.
• Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. DoD Secret security clearance.
• Experience leading system safety for unmanned systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead system safety analyses and documentation per MIL-STD-882E.
• Formulate and allocate safety requirements across subsystems.
• Present safety analyses at reviews and coordinate with customers and agencies.
• Mentor junior engineers and improve safety processes and tools.

Skills

System safety analyses

FMECA

Hazard analysis

MIL-STD-882 compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering or related field

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary We are seeking an experienced Senior Staff Safety Engineer to lead system safety activities for a family of Unmanned Systems supporting defense and commercial applications. In this role, you will: Lead system safety analyses and documentation for complex unmanned aircraft systems, including weaponized configurations, in accordance with MIL-STD-882 and related standards. Collaborate with systems engineering, design, integration, test, and program management to ensure safety requirements are properly derived, implemented, and verified and hazards are identified, mitigated, and verified. Represent safety in customer, internal, and external design and safety reviews, presenting safety analyses and recommendations. Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in system safety, mentoring junior engineers and improving safety processes and tools across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the System Safety Program in accordance with MIL-STD-882E (or latest revision), including plans, analyses, tracking, and reporting.
• Plan and perform system safety analyses, including (as applicable): Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA) System Hazard Analysis (SHA) Subsystem Hazard Analysis (SSHA) Software/System-of-Systems safety assessments as needed.
• Perform Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analyses (FMECA) and other reliability/safety-related analyses to support hazard identification and mitigation.
• Derive, allocate, and track safety requirements from top-level system and mission requirements down to subsystems, software, and interfaces.
• Develop and maintain system safety-related documents and deliverables, which may include: System Safety Management Plan (SSMP) or System Safety Program Plan (SSPP) Safety Assessment Report (SAR) Hazard Tracking System / Hazard Log Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP)
• Work closely with design teams to identify and implement design mitigations for identified hazards and verify that mitigations are effective.
• Integrate safety considerations into system architecture, CONOPS, mission threads, and operational procedures.
• Support test planning and execution to validate safety requirements and verify closure of hazard controls, including participation in test readiness reviews and post-test assessments.
• Present safety analyses, findings, and recommendations at technical and program reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, safety boards, and weapon system safety reviews).
• Coordinate and interface with customer safety organizations, weapon system safety boards, fuze/safety boards, and relevant government agencies as required.
• Drive continuous improvement of system safety processes, templates, tools, and training within the engineering organization.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Secret security clearance