Senior​/Principal Autonomous Systems Safety Engineer

Job Description Overview

AtkinsRéalis is one of the UK's leading engineering and consultancy organisations, supporting complex programmes across Defence, Aerospace, Nuclear and other highly regulated sectors. As demand for our services grows, we are looking for a Senior/Principal Autonomous Systems Safety Engineer to help deliver safety-critical solutions for autonomous and AI-enabled systems across the defence sector. Previous experience in safety engineering for software-intensive, autonomous or AI-enabled systems is essential;

experience across Land, Maritime, Air or Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (WOME) domains would be beneficial.

As an Autonomous Systems Safety Engineer, you will deliver safety engineering and safety assurance activities across complex autonomous, software-intensive and AI-enabled systems. Working with clients and multidisciplinary teams, you will provide authoritative safety advice, develop robust assurance arguments, and support the safe introduction of autonomy into Defence environments. This role combines deep technical expertise with the ability to communicate clearly, influence decision-making and navigate complex stakeholder environments.

You will help shape future approaches to autonomous systems safety while contributing to capability growth, technical leadership and mentoring across the team.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Leading and supporting the development, maintenance and delivery of Safety Cases, Safety Assessments and assurance arguments for autonomous and AI-enabled systems.
• Managing Hazard Logs and supporting hazard identification, risk assessment and risk management activities, including techniques such as FHA, STPA and Bow Tie Analysis.
• Deriving, allocating and verifying safety requirements throughout the lifecycle of complex autonomous, software-intensive and AI-enabled systems.
• Applying recognised defence safety standards and assurance frameworks, including Def Stan 00-056, Def Stan 00-055 and emerging autonomy and AI assurance approaches.
• Providing strategic and technical leadership as a Subject Matter Expert for autonomous systems safety across programmes and bids.
• Engaging with Defence customers, regulators, assurance bodies and industry working groups to support acceptance and certification.
• Providing safety engineering guidance to systems, software, hardware, integration and data specialist teams.
• Producing clear, robust and well-structured technical reports, safety documentation and client deliverables.
• Supporting business development, capability growth and the mentoring of more junior safety engineers and consultants.

You are an experienced safety professional with strong expertise in software-intensive, autonomous or AI-enabled systems. You can apply sound engineering judgement, communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders, and work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

• Proven experience delivering safety engineering or safety assurance activities within UK Defence, Aerospace or another safety-critical industry.
• Experience developing and maintaining Safety Cases, Safety Assessments, Hazard Logs and assurance arguments in line with recognised defence standards and good practice.
• Strong understanding of hazard identification, risk assessment, risk management and safety requirements methodologies.
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles and their application across the engineering lifecycle.
• Experience working on safety-critical, mission-critical, high-integrity, software-intensive, AI-enabled or autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of UK Defence safety frameworks, including Def Stan 00-056, Def Stan 00-055 and associated assurance expectations.
• Experience supporting certification, assurance or acceptance of safety-critical systems.
• Experience applying or developing assurance approaches for autonomous or AI-enabled systems, including emerging frameworks such as AMLAS, SACE or equivalent.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders, customers, regulators and assurance authorities through clear, evidence-based technical advice.
• Degree qualified, or equivalent experience, in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science or a related STEM discipline.

• Experience with advanced safety analysis techniques such as STPA, SOTIF, FMECA, FTA or equivalent methods.
• Experience developing assurance approaches for uncrewed, robotic or multi-agent autonomous systems.
• Experience applying simulation, modelling, virtual testing or scenario-based assurance for autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of recognised functional safety and safety of intended functionality standards, including PAS 8800, ISO 26262 or ISO 21448.

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