Job description for Safety Engineer

Are you inspired by advanced, complex, and high-volume engineering programmes, with an aspiration to work on some of the world’s largest and most complex engineering projects? If so, we are seeking Safety Engineers to ensure the safety and reliability of cutting-edge defence systems.

As a Safety Engineer, you will mainly focus on the application of safety management through established policies processes tools and techniques. These rewarding roles involve leading safety initiatives, enabling rapid local decision-making, and providing timely feedback. You will provide expert advice on acquisition safety strategy, policy, and solutions, ensuring safe engineering design and development. This includes managing project safety risks throughout the lifecycle to deliver safe and suitable products, systems, and services to Front Line Commands.

Based on your skillset you will be assigned tasks against operational and business needs. These tasks may be in support of Land, Air, Maritime, Weapons, Digital, Logistics, Communications, Sensors or Space, products, systems or services.

As one of our Safety Engineers, you’ll use your exceptional communication and influencing skills to build strong working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, to obtain and relay information critical to these projects.

At DE&S, we are passionate about professional development and welcome applications from those who hold or are currently working towards their Chartered or Incorporated Engineering professional registration. If you have not yet pursued this DE&S will support your ongoing professional development, to enable successful CENG/IENG registration.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

Please also note that some of these roles are only open to sole UK nationals.

What you’ll be doing

As one of our Safety Engineers you will work to establish, implement, and maintain appropriate acquisition safety management through the application of defence acquisition safety policies  and sub-ordinate regulation and departmental policy. Your responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Identifying and analysing hazards and contributing to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring that these are adequately documented and managed
• Working with colleagues at all levels to ensure compliance with relevant UK and EU legislation and regulations, MOD regulations and DE&S Policy
• Providing informed safety advice to decision makers through project safety panel
• Producing, reviewing, endorsing, and making recommendations on acceptance of safety artefacts
• Developing, managing, and maintaining effective acquisition safety management systems
• Developing and maintaining project safety assurance plans, monitoring compliance, and ensuring that safety assurance evidence is gathered and assessed for safety case preparation
• Supporting the development and maintenance of policy and process to satisfy the DE&S corporate standards for acquisition safety
• Overseeing the management of contractual aspects to ensure safety requirements are captured and the management of contractors who perform safety activities

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Hold a relevant HNC (i.e. Level 4 or higher) qualification in a relevant engineering discipline OR have equivalent relevant experience.
• Have demonstrable experience using a range of safety tools and techniques, to provide advice and guidance on complex projects, e.g. Hazard Log Management; Hazard Identification; Risk Assessment and ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) justifications.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Complies with System Safety Requirements (Practitioner)
• Adoption of Safety Risk Management (Practitioner)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,200, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,094 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writingfor best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.