Senior Systems Safety Engineer, Ordnance and Weapon Systems
Based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire | On-site Monday and Tuesday, more when the work needs it
Salary from £42,500 to £53,000 + Pension, Bonus, 4-day working week
You’ve signed off safety on kit that is designed to go bang, and you know the difference between a safety case that gets read and one that gets filed.
If that’s you, and you’re ready to be the go-to safety authority on ordnance and weapon systems, this is worth five minutes.
The role
You’ll lead the safety work on complex defence systems, from first principles risk criteria through to the safety case the customer and the range will actually accept. You’ll direct a small team, challenge designers early, and keep programmes moving to critical dates.
What you’ll be doing
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Producing and reviewing safety cases and safety documentation to Def Stan 00-056, for MOD customers and test and operational ranges
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Running hazard identification and hazard analysis, choosing the right techniques for the system in front of you
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Building ALARP strategies you can defend, and working with designers on mitigations that remove or control the hazard
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Supporting IEC 61508 functional safety work, including the evidence behind SIL claims
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Managing safety for potentially hazardous trials
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Setting safety requirements for systems, support equipment and facilities
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Directing team members, and joining accident investigations to find causes and corrective actions
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Balancing safety requirements against cost and design, so programmes get a safe system and a sensible one
What you’ll need
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Proven systems safety or weapons safety experience, ideally in defence, with hands-on ordnance exposure
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Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in a related discipline, or equivalent experience/combined education
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Working knowledge of UK MOD safety management, including Def Stan 00-056 and ASEMS
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Functional safety experience, for example IEC 61508 and SIL derivation and compliance
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Comfort with UK, US and EU safety legislation
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Experience with the safety toolsets common to the discipline
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Clear written and spoken communication, since your safety cases will be read by people who matter
Nice to have
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Def Stan 07-085, 23-015 or 59-114 (weapon integration and land certification)
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Experience developing acceptable risk criteria from first principles
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Safety experience in rail, nuclear or aerospace, alongside defence exposure
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A reputation as the person colleagues go to when the safety argument gets difficult
Eligibility
Due to security clearance requirements, you must hold sole British citizenship
Interested, even slightly?
You don’t need to be job hunting. If this sounds like the kind of work you’d want, send me a message for a confidential, no-obligation chat. No CV needed to start.
