Sr. Staff Safety Engineer

Worker Type

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 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

• Bachelors 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.
• 8 years of relevant safety and/or weapons system safety experience.
• Travel up to 15% to support customer meetings design reviews integration and test events.
• Demonstrated experience applying MIL-STD-882E (or later) in a defense or aerospace environment including planning and execution of hazard analyses and tracking of mitigations.
• Hands-on experience with:
  • Hazard analyses (e.g. PHA FHA SHA SSHA).
  • FMECA or similar reliability/safety analysis methods.
  • Authoring and maintaining safety documentation such as:
    • System Safety Management/Program Plan (SSMP/SSPP)
    • Safety Assessment Reports (SAR)
    • Hazard Logs / Hazard Tracking System
    • Environmental / Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) or equivalent.
• Experience presenting system safety content and artifacts at technical and program reviews (e.g. SRR PDR CDR TRR safety boards).
• Experience working in a collaborative multidisciplinary engineering environment and effectively communicating safety-related issues risks and mitigations to engineering leadership and program stakeholders.
• Ability to perform in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment where small teams share broad responsibilities.
• Strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet program and company objectives.
• Excellent problem-solving analytical interpersonal and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in Systems Engineering Mathematics Computer Science/Engineering Electrical Engineering Aerospace Mechanical Engineering or related field from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Current active U.S. DoD Secret clearance or higher.
• Experience with UAVs / UAS and/or weaponized unmanned systems.
• Experience with weapon system safety including:
  • Participation in weapon system safety boards fuze boards and/or rocket motor safety boards.
  • Familiarity with MIL-STD-1316 (Safety Criteria for Fuze Design) and MIL-STD-1901 (Safety Criteria for Fuze- and Initiation-System-Design).
• Experience with software safety including software hazard analysis and coordination with software engineering teams to implement and verify safety mitigations.
• Familiarity with DO-178C (and related guidance such as ARP4754A/ARP4761) including safety-driven determination of software levels and evidence required to support airworthiness or certification.
• Familiarity with AMCOM 385-17 (System Safety in Army Materiel Acquisition) and its application to Army aviation and weapon system safety programs including support to Army safety and weapon system safety boards.
• Experience with other safety-related standards and disciplines such as:
  • Reliability Availability and Maintainability (RAM) analyses.
  • Human factors / human-systems integration considerations as they relate to safety.
• Experience with requirements management and MBSE tools (e.g. Jama Cameo) to ensure traceability between hazards safety requirements design mitigations and verification evidence.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant)

• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk hear and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Clearance Level

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer including but not limited to the location the role and associated responsibilities a candidates work experience education/training and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironments determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironments business requirements. A U.S. person according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder) or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical dental vision 401K with company matching a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isnt for everyone. We hire the curious the relentless the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We dont just build defense technologywe redefine whats possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S. AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air land sea space and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonianbut were not building history were building whats next.

If youre ready to build technology that matterswith speed scale and purposetheres no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer including disability/veterans. AeroVironment Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race sex color religion national origin age disability protected veteran status genetic datasexual orientation gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR