Safety Systems Manager – UK Defence
Location: Bristol
A leading UK defence organisation delivering advanced, mission-critical systems across Air, Land, and Maritime domain are seeking an experienced Safety Systems Manager to play a key role in ensuring the safety, compliance, and assurance of complex defence systems throughout their lifecycle.
The Role
As Safety Systems Manager, you will lead and manage safety activities across multiple defence programmes, ensuring compliance with UK Defence safety regulations and standards. You will work closely with engineering teams, programme management, customers, and regulatory authorities.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead system safety management across air, land, and maritime platforms
* Develop and maintain Safety Management Plans (SMPs) and safety cases
* Ensure compliance with UK MOD safety standards (e.g. JSP 430, JSP 454, Defence Safety Authority requirements)
* Conduct and oversee hazard identification, risk assessment, and mitigation activities
* Manage safety assurance throughout the full system lifecycle (concept to disposal)
* Provide safety leadership to multi-disciplinary engineering teams
* Interface with customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies
* Support bids, proposals, and programme reviews with safety input
Essential Experience & Skills
* Proven experience in a Safety Systems / System Safety Management role
* Strong background working on UK Defence programmes
* Experience across Air, Land, and/or Maritime domains
* In-depth knowledge of UK defence safety regulations and standards
* Experience producing and approving safety cases and safety documentation
* Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Desirable
* Chartered Engineer or working towards professional registration
* Experience with prime defence contractors or MOD programmes
* Knowledge of relevant DEF STANs and functional safety standards
* Experience supporting complex, safety-critical systems
What’s on Offer
* Opportunity to work on high-impact defence programmes
* Collaborative and technically challenging environment
* Competitive salary and benefits
* Long-term career development and progression opportunities
Security Clearance:
Candidates must be eligible for UK security clearance due to the sensitive nature of the work.