Job Description

Senior Lead Systems Safety Engineer

Company:

Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited

About BDUK
BDUK is a subsidiary of The Boeing Company delivering complex defence programmes across fixed‑wing, vertical lift and digital capability domains. Working with multi‑disciplinary teams and regulated customers, we seek candidates who can help deliver safe, compliant and mission‑capable engineering outcomes.

The Lead System Engineer provides overall technical direction for the delivery of Systems Safety Engineering artefacts and support to BDUK programme and function activities. As the Senior System Safety engineer, the incumbent will report to the Head of Safety, Airworthiness and Speciality engineering and will work closely with the Chief Engineer Product & Service Safety and other technical leads to ensure that System Safety Engineering process and tools are developed and maintained to meet evolving business requirements. The role will also oversee the definition of Systems Safety staff competences and work closely with relevant managers to support the development of staff.

Key responsibilities

• Strategy and planning
  • Support the development and implementation of SSE functional strategy to deliver an effective Global Engineering capability based on a robust, sustainable UK SSE capability.
  • Develop options and implementation plans to deliver the strategy across the engineering function and programmes.
  • Support the Safety Managers in managing and planning technical activity for team workload and future demands.
• Process and documentation
  • Lead the development, authoring and maintenance of System Safety Engineering policies, core processes, work instructions, checklists and tools for use by programmes and governance forums.
  • Provide practical tailoring guidance so programmes can adapt System Safety Engineering in proportion to lifecycle phase, product complexity and regulatory interface.
• Governance support
  • Drive alignment and where, appropriate, integration with Safety Management Systems and Quality Management Systems.
  • Represent Systems Safety Engineering on relevant governance activities.
  • Support formal decision gates and reviews where System Safety Engineering criteria apply.
• Independent assurance & technical oversight
  • Provide Technical leadership to the System Safety Engineering team to ensure best practise is followed
  • Ensure the proactive advice, assist and checking of System Safety Engineering work products by Technical Lead Engineers to ensure technical integrity and first-time quality.
• Competency and capability
  • Define System Safety Engineering roles, associated competencies and training needs; support competency assessments and designation of suitably qualified and experienced personnel.
  • Contribute to development and delivery of System Safety Engineering training and best practice guidance across the Engineering function.
• Metrics, monitoring and continuous improvement
  • Support the definition, collection and analysis of System Safety engineering metrics to provide management visibility, identify trends and drive continuous improvement actions.
• Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
  • Work with programme teams, safety, quality, supplier management and customers to ensure technically compliant solutions and a consistent approach to assurance across programmes and regulatory domains.
  • Facilitate cross‑team coordination to integrate System Safety workstreams with programme delivery.
• Other
  • Provide leadership on System Safety Engineering process and practise and represent System Safety Engineering on process and tools working groups where required.
  • Undertake occasional UK and international travel as needed.

What success looks like

• A respected UK Systems Safety Engineering team that is integrated with Boeing Safety and Airworthiness Global Integration strategy and which is consistently delivering on-time, first time quality system safety products.
• Published and adopted core Systems Safety processes, templates and training materials used by programmes that are integrated with BDUK Process Models.
• Clearly defined System Safety Engineering competencies that support effective staff development plans.
• The provision of timely, authoritative, right-sized System Safety Engineering technical advice
• Clear evidence of competent designation of personnel and reduced programme risk exposure.

Essential qualifications, experience and skills

• Degree in Engineering or equivalent along with appropriate experience of aircraft design, maintenance or operations.
• Previous industry or military experience in the application of current DSA safety policy and requirements.
• Appropriate experience with the use of common safety tools such as Risk Registers, Bow Tie Diagrams, Goal Structuring Notation, hazard databases (such as CASSANDRA), Adelard Assurance and Safety Case Environment.
• Previous industry or military service System Safety Engineering experience
• Experience using metrics to monitor project/status and drive improvement.
• Strong written and verbal communication and stakeholder management skills; ability to translate technical outcomes for senior non‑technical audiences.
• Proficiency with common office productivity tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively with geographically dispersed and multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable qualifications, experience and skills

• Experience of programme assurance in defence or aerospace contexts (flight test, production, sustainment).
• Experience in the application of Def Stan 00-56 safety requirements to product and/or service delivery is extremely desirable
• Experience working within an aviation Safety Management System or comparable regulated sector
• Professional engineering registration (or working toward registration).

Behaviours and attributes

• Collaborative and diplomatic with a practical, action‑oriented mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast‑moving, dynamic environment.
• Attention to detail while retaining the ability to focus on the highest‑value risks and issues.
• Committed to continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.

Employment details

• Role type: Permanent (Full‑time or Part‑time considered)
• Location: BDUK UK sites
• Travel: Some UK and international travel may be required

Language Requirements:

Not Applicable

Education:

Not Applicable

Relocation:

Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.

Security Clearance:

This position requires the ability to obtain a BPSS clearance.

Visa Sponsorship:

Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Contingent Upon Award Program

This position is not contingent upon program award

Shift:

Not a Shift Worker (United Kingdom)