Systems Safety Engineer, Senior

Canvas; Eglin Air Force Base (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Canvas, based at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, seeks a senior System Safety professional to lead hazard analysis, risk assessment, and development of safety artifacts for complex armament systems. The role requires delivering high-level safety guidance, influencing safety policy, and ensuring mission readiness through robust risk management.

The candidate will interact with engineering, T&E, logistics, cybersecurity, and operations teams to embed safety throughout the acquisition lifecycle,

Qualifications

• Define, plan, implement, and manage system safety programs.
• Experience in system safety methods for electronic, electro-mechanical, and mechanical armament systems.
• Knowledge of safety standards and risk assessment processes in DoD programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead System Safety Program activities providing senior technical guidance on hazard analysis and risk assessment.
• Oversee development and validation of system safety artifacts (SSHA, SAR, OSHA, hazard logs).
• Provide senior recommendations supporting Air Force approvals and risk-acceptance decisions.
• Mentor junior engineers in system-safety methodology and acquisition best practices.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Clear communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Independent problem solving

Professional judgment

Education

Bachelor of Science in a relevant discipline

Master of Science in a relevant discipline

Tools

MIL-STD-1316

AFI 63-104 Aircraft Stores Compatibility Certification

PESHE / System Safety Plans

Job description

• Lead System Safety Program activities providing senior technical guidance on hazard analysis, risk assessment, and system safety requirements.
• Oversee the development, review, and validation of system safety artifacts (e.g., SSHA, SAR, O&SHA, hazard logs, risk-tracking documentation).
• Perform high-complexity evaluations of OEM safety assessments, identifying analytical errors, validating probability models, and ensuring risks are accurately characterized—mirroring demonstrated duties such as detecting flawed OEM Risk Reduction Safety Assessments and correcting probability-based risk rankings.
• Deliver senior-level recommendations that support Air Force operational approvals, safety-policy decisions, and risk-acceptance processes.
• Provide expert safety oversight for developmental and operational test events, ensuring ground tests, flight tests, interoperability tests, and reliability tests incorporate correct safety constraints and mitigations.
• Review T&E plans, procedures, and results for safety impacts and ensure alignment with program safety objectives and Air Force standards.
• Fulfill PWS-directed security requirements, including classified-material handling, SCI product management, and vault-access operations—as reflected in documented system-safety roles.
• Maintain strict compliance with PWS security and information-protection requirements (classified product tracking, SCI event support, and secure-facility procedures).
• Advise program leadership on safety risks and requirements across technology maturation, design reviews, test readiness, fielding decisions, sustainment activities, and configuration changes.
• Represent the program office in high-visibility technical reviews, safety boards, and briefings to senior stakeholders.
• Partner with engineering, T&E organizations, configuration management, OEM partners, logistics, cybersecurity, reliability engineering, and operational units to ensure safety considerations are embedded throughout the acquisition process.
• Guide and mentor junior engineers in system-safety methodology, Air Force policy, and acquisition best practices.

Duties Include, But Not Limited To

• Lead System Safety Program activities providing senior technical guidance on hazard analysis, risk assessment, and system safety requirements.
• Oversee the development, review, and validation of system safety artifacts (e.g., SSHA, SAR, O&SHA, hazard logs, risk-tracking documentation).
• Perform high-complexity evaluations of OEM safety assessments, identifying analytical errors, validating probability models, and ensuring risks are accurately characterized—mirroring demonstrated duties such as detecting flawed OEM Risk Reduction Safety Assessments and correcting probability-based risk rankings.
• Deliver senior-level recommendations that support Air Force operational approvals, safety-policy decisions, and risk-acceptance processes.
• Provide expert safety oversight for developmental and operational test events, ensuring ground tests, flight tests, interoperability tests, and reliability tests incorporate correct safety constraints and mitigations.
• Review T&E plans, procedures, and results for safety impacts and ensure alignment with program safety objectives and Air Force standards.
• Fulfill PWS-directed security requirements, including classified-material handling, SCI product management, and vault-access operations—as reflected in documented system-safety roles.
• Maintain strict compliance with PWS security and information-protection requirements (classified product tracking, SCI event support, and secure-facility procedures).
• Advise program leadership on safety risks and requirements across technology maturation, design reviews, test readiness, fielding decisions, sustainment activities, and configuration changes.
• Represent the program office in high-visibility technical reviews, safety boards, and briefings to senior stakeholders.
• Partner with engineering, T&E organizations, configuration management, OEM partners, logistics, cybersecurity, reliability engineering, and operational units to ensure safety considerations are embedded throughout the acquisition process.
• Guide and mentor junior engineers in system-safety methodology, Air Force policy, and acquisition best practices.

Minimum Required Qualifications

Clearance: Secret w/ SCI eligibility

Education and Years of Experience: Bachelor of Science in relevant discipline and 5 years of relevant experience OR Master of Science in relevant discipline and 3 years of relevant experience

Technical Skills

• Ability to define, plan, implement, and manage comprehensive system safety programs.
• Expertise in system safety engineering methods for electronic, electro-mechanical, and mechanical armament systems.
• Knowledge of guidance and control systems, weapons fuzing, suspension and release equipment, and associated test equipment. Strong understanding of design requirements, hazard identification, and system safety implications.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements, specifications, and standards related to system safety, testing, operations, and logistics.
• Experience supporting test, flight, and operational readiness activities.
• Proficiency conducting or reviewing system safety analyses and supporting design trade-off decisions.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate safety-critical configuration changes.
• In-depth knowledge of DoD munitions safety regulations and approval processes (e.g., USAF Nonnuclear Munitions Safety Board, USN Weapon Systems Explosive Safety Review Board).
• Familiarity with applicable standards such as MIL-STD-1316.
• Knowledge of AFI 63-104 Aircraft Stores Compatibility Certification requirements.
• Experience developing and interpreting systems-safety-related acquisition documentation, including Systems Engineering Plans, System Safety Analyses, PESHE, and Life Cycle Sustainment Plans.

Interpersonal Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Effective collaboration in multidisciplinary IPT environments
• Ability to work independently on complex, ambiguous technical problems
• Professional judgment and decision-making in support of senior leadership

Additional Information

Location: On-site, Eglin AFB, FL

Travel: 10%