System Safety & Risk Assurance Engineer (Contract)

Gravitics Inc; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Gravitics Inc. in Seattle is seeking a contract role responsible for evaluating off-nominal conditions, influencing spacecraft architecture, and driving system-level trades across performance, mass, safety and reliability.

You will ensure modular structures and pressurized spacecraft meet human-rated flight criteria for government and commercial programs, collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and test teams, and leading or supporting safety reviews throughout development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering or a related STEM field.
• 5+ years of direct experience in systems engineering, system safety, reliability engineering, or mission assurance in space systems.
• Deep understanding of structural integrity, pressure vessels, leak paths, or human-rating safety frameworks (NASA-STD-8719.13 ).

Responsibilities

• Hazard & Failure Analysis: lead FHA, FTA, and FMECA activities.
• Human-Rating & Pressurized Systems Safety: own hazard analysis for high-pressure systems and ECLSS.
• Fault Management (FDIR): develop fault-protection concepts across flight software, avionics, and operations.
• Cross-Functional System Integration: collaborate to translate safety objectives into verifiable requirements.
• Verification & Testing: define verification plans via hardware-in-the-loop testing and simulations.
• Root Cause & Anomaly Resolution: participate in FRBs and analyze test anomalies and waivers.

Skills

Hazard analysis

System safety

Failure analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Execution mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Systems Engineering or related STEM

Tools

Jama

Jira

Confluence

NX/Simcenter

Job description

About Gravitics

At Gravitics, we're not exploring space—we're building it. We're creating the infrastructure for a thriving space economy, enabling humanity to flourish beyond Earth. Our vision is bold, but we're not just dreamers; we're doers. We design and manufacture large-scale orbital structures that enable commercial operations while meeting the requirements of defense and government missions.

About the Role

(This is a contract role.)

In this role, you will be responsible for evaluating off-nominal conditions, influencing spacecraft architecture, and driving system-level trades across performance, mass, safety, and reliability. Crucially, you will ensure our modular structures and pressurized spacecraft meet the rigorous criteria required for human-rated flight profiles and government/commercial space program delivery.

Core Responsibilities

• Hazard & Failure Analysis: Lead and support spacecraft system safety assessments, including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA).
• Human-Rating & Pressurized Systems Safety: Own hazard analysis and safety compliance for high-pressure systems, structures/mechanisms, and Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) required for human habitation.
• Fault Management (FDIR): Develop and refine fault-protection concepts including fault detection, isolation, containment, recovery, safing, and mission-recovery strategies across flight software, avionics, and operational segments.
• Cross-Functional System Integration: Collaborate with Chief Engineers, Manufacturing, and Integration & Test teams to translate safety and mission assurance objectives into verifiable technical requirements.
• Verification & Testing: Define and execute verification plans for hazard controls and fault-protection requirements through hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, simulations, and fault injection.
• Root Cause & Anomaly Resolution: Lead or participate in Failure Review Boards (FRBs), analyzing testing anomalies, waivers, deviations, and operational constraints for safety and mission impacts.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or a related technical STEM field.
• Experience: 5+ years of direct experience in systems engineering, system safety, reliability engineering, or mission assurance within space system development.
• Domain Expertise: Deep technical understanding of structural integrity, pressure vessels, leak paths, or human-rating safety frameworks (e.g., NASA-STD-8719.13 or military range requirements).
• Execution Mindset: Comfortable navigating technical ambiguity, balancing engineering rigor with rapid product manufacturing and testing cadences.
• U.S. Person Status: Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual to conform to U.S. space technology export regulations (ITAR/EAR).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with life-support (ECLSS) systems, active thermal loops, or human-tended space station docking mechanisms.
• Familiarity with requirements and engineering configuration tracking systems (e.g., Jama, Jira, Confluence, or NX/Simcenter environment pipelines).
• Direct experience handling commercial launch licensing approvals (FAA-AST) or working alongside commercial space station operators (e.g., Axiom Space, U.S. Space Force).

Travel Requirements

This position requires approximately 10–20% travel to support business needs, including visits to company facilities, customer sites, industry events, and team meetings. Travel frequency may vary based on business priorities and project requirements.

Compensation and Benefits

This position will initially be engaged as a contract (1099) role, with the opportunity to transition to a regular full-time employee based on business needs and performance. Compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will vary depending on relevant experience, qualifications, and demonstrated skills.

Upon successful conversion to full-time employment, the selected candidate may become eligible for Gravitics' comprehensive employee benefits package, which includes company equity, medical benefits, a 401(k) retirement plan, and other employee programs, subject to applicable plan terms and company policies.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Gravitics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

Salary Range: $65 USD - $90 USD