Airworthiness and System Safety Manager

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

Lead DAOS-related airworthiness activity in accordance with MAA Regulatory Articles (e.g., RAs 1014 & 5850)
Develop and govern safety & environmental engineering policies, processes, and artefacts (SEMPs, Hazard Logs, SECRs)
Drive best practices in compliance with Def Stan 00-55/56 and other regulatory frameworks
Actively lead and review safety design across projects
Support project teams through design reviews, safety audits, and risk assessments
Act as a technical mentor to engineers, guiding safe design and delivery principles
Advise senior stakeholders on approvals, compliance, and risk trade-offs
Contribute to internal training and safety culture development
Occasional travel to Engineering Services Ltd (approx. quarterly)

What We're Looking For

DAOS signatory or prior delegate experience is essential
Solid Defence/Aerospace background, ideally including DE&S or MOD acquisition exposure
Hands-on experience leading and reviewing safety cases and design safety analysis
Confident advising senior stakeholders (including Engineering Directors) on airworthiness and approvals
Strong grasp of system safety principles, hazard management, and certification standards
Ability to coach, challenge and influence teams across business units
An environmental mindset and awareness of sustainability considerations in system design
Chartered Engineer (CEng) is desirable - support available to achieve
Skilled in balancing project delivery with compliance and risk

Why This Role?

Key position with strategic influence - shape safety and airworthiness across the business
Hybrid, flexible working with emphasis on trust and effectiveness
No line management, but strong technical leadership and mentoring responsibility
Potential for growth, based on project and bid opportunities (no guaranteed pathway, but clear scope)
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.

Know someone who fits this? Share the role

Save this vacancy without amending this text to generate an automated job advert within 2 minutes