Position SummaryThe System Safety Engineer supports the full lifecycle of aerospace system development by identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and ensuring compliance with industry safety standards. In this role, you will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to integrate safety into system architecture, design decisions, verification activities, and certification documentation. You will ensure that safety considerations are addressed proactively and rigorously from concept through delivery.
Key Responsibilities- Lead system safety analyses, including Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA), System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA), and Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA).
- Develop and maintain safety requirements, and ensure they are traced through design, implementation, and verification.
- Support system architecture and design reviews, providing safety input and identifying potential hazards early in development.
- Prepare safety documentation such as System Safety Program Plans (SSPP), Hazard Tracking System (HTS) entries, and Safety Assessment Reports (SAR).
- Collaborate with systems, mechanical, electrical, software, and avionics engineering teams to integrate safety into design solutions.
- Evaluate design changes for safety impact and ensure appropriate mitigations are implemented.
- Participate in verification and validation activities, including test planning, test witnessing, and analysis of results for safety compliance.
- Ensure compliance with aerospace safety standards, including MIL-STD-882, ARP4761, ARP4754A, NASA system safety guidelines, and relevant FAA/EASA certification requirements.
- Support risk management activities, including identification, tracking, and communication of safety risks to leadership and project stakeholders.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of safety processes, tools, and methodologies within the organization.
Required Qualifications- U.S. person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) as defined by ITAR, as required for compliance with federal contracting regulations.
- Fluency in English, with the ability to speak, read, and write at a professional level.
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Strong understanding of hazard analysis techniques, safety modeling, and risk assessment methodologies.
- Experience with industry standards such as MIL-STD-882E, ARP4761, ARP4754A, or NASA system safety processes.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, system architectures, and technical specifications.
- Proficiency with requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama) and safety analysis tools.
Preferred Qualifications- Active U.S. government security clearance (Secret or higher), or the ability to obtain and maintain one.
- Professional certification such as Certified System Safety Professional (CSP), Associate System Safety Professional (ASSP), or equivalent.
- Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Safety Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience supporting military, NASA, or human spaceflight programs, including crashworthiness, crew survivability, or occupant protection systems.
- Familiarity with DO-178C, DO-254, or software safety standards such as MIL-STD-882E software safety tasks or NASA-STD-8739.8.
- Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools such as Cameo/MagicDraw or SysML.
- Experience with fault tree analysis and reliability tools (e.g., Isograph, ReliaSoft, or similar).
- Experience supporting airworthiness certification or qualification activities with FAA, EASA, or DoD authorities.
Benefits- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Company paid life and disability insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Paid time off and paid company holidays
- Tuition assistance and professional development support
- Reimbursement for professional certifications and memberships (e.g., System Safety Society)
Physical Requirements and Work Environment- Work is primarily performed in an office and laboratory environment in Tempe, Arizona, with extended periods of sitting and computer use.
- Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds, such as test equipment or documentation.
- Occasional travel to customer sites, test facilities, or supplier locations may be required, which may include domestic travel by air or ground.
- May be required to witness testing in industrial or test-range environments, which may involve noise, hearing protection, and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Ability to access controlled or restricted areas, subject to security and export-control requirements.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.
