Job summary
Airworthiness and System Safety Manager
Bristol (Hybrid - typically 2-3 days/week on site)
Key skills required for this role
Airworthiness
Important
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Job description
Airworthiness and System Safety Manager
Bristol (Hybrid - typically 2-3 days/week on site)
Clearance: SC required (BPSS to start acceptable) - British Nationals only - no dual nationalities due to SUKEO/ITAR constraints
Do you have DAOS signatory experience and a proven track record of delivering safety-led design in defence environments?
We're seeking a highly capable Airworthiness and System Safety Manager to drive system safety, airworthiness, and environmental assurance within our defence engineering projects.
This is a critical technical role that requires deep expertise in Defence Standards, DAOS certification, and safety leadership. While the role has no direct reports, you'll play a vital coaching and governance function across multiple business units and directly advise the Engineering Director on approvals and risk balance.
Key Responsibilities
1. Lead DAOS-related airworthiness activity in accordance with MAA Regulatory Articles (e.g., RAs 1014 & 5850)
2. Develop and govern safety & environmental engineering policies, processes, and artefacts (SEMPs, Hazard Logs, SECRs)
3. Drive best practices in compliance with Def Stan 00-55/56 and other regulatory frameworks
4. Actively lead and review safety design across projects
5. Support project teams through design reviews, safety audits, and risk assessments
6. Act as a technical mentor to engineers, guiding safe design and delivery principles
7. Advise senior stakeholders on approvals, compliance, and risk trade-offs
8. Contribute to internal training and safety culture development
9. Occasional travel to Engineering Services Ltd (approx. quarterly)
What We're Looking For
10. DAOS signatory or prior delegate experience is essential
11. Solid Defence/Aerospace background, ideally including DE&S or MOD acquisition exposure
12. Hands-on experience leading and reviewing safety cases and design safety analysis
13. Confident advising senior stakeholders (including Engineering Directors) on airworthiness and approvals
14. Strong grasp of system safety principles, hazard management, and certification standards
15. Ability to coach, challenge and influence teams across business units
16. An environmental mindset and awareness of sustainability considerations in system design
17. Chartered Engineer (CEng) is desirable - support available to achieve
18. Skilled in balancing project delivery with compliance and risk
Why This Role?
19. Key position with strategic influence - shape safety and airworthiness across the business
20. Hybrid, flexible working with emphasis on trust and effectiveness
21. No line management, but strong technical leadership and mentoring responsibility
22. Potential for growth, based on project and bid opportunities (no guaranteed pathway, but clear scope)
23. Help shape a growing organisation's future airworthiness and safety posture
This is not a checkbox role - it's about taking ownership, providing assurance, and embedding safe, compliant, and forward-thinking design in mission-critical environments.
Ready to take the lead? Apply today or message us directly.
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