Safety Engineering Manager (Systems Engineer)

London
1 day ago
Create job alert

Safety Engineering Manager - Autonomous & AI Systems

Location: London (Hybrid - 3 days in office)

Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time

About the Company

I'm working with a rapidly expanding technology start-up at the forefront of building safety solutions for autonomous and AI-driven systems. The company's software provides a critical "trust layer" to ensure that autonomous platforms operate safely, predictably, and meet regulatory standards across high-demand sectors like aerospace, robotics, and advanced mobility.

With secured projects and growing demand, the company is scaling quickly and looking for people who are passionate about shaping the future of autonomous systems. This is a chance to make a real impact in a fast-moving, innovative environment where you'll have significant ownership and visibility.

The Role

This is a key leadership position, where you'll take charge of safety engineering for their highly complex autonomy and AI assurance products. You will work directly with cross-functional teams to ensure the safety and certification of products from the ground up, playing an essential role in the delivery of safe and high-performance autonomous systems.

With this company's rapid growth, you'll have the opportunity to influence safety practices, define safety standards, and shape processes as the company scales. You'll be involved in high-level decision-making and mentor the team to ensure that safety remains at the forefront of development.

Key Responsibilities

Lead safety analyses (HAZOP, FHA, FTA, FMECA) for autonomous systems and components.
Develop and define safety requirements, safety cases, and architectures for safety-critical systems.
Ensure compliance with applicable safety standards and certification requirements (e.g., DO-178C, DO-254, ISO 26262, IEC 61508, and AI/robotics-specific guidelines).
Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams (systems, software, hardware, ML) to integrate safety considerations throughout the product lifecycle.
Support safety reviews, audits, and certification processes, and engage with regulators and independent certification bodies.
Continuously improve internal safety processes, tools, and standards.
Lead, mentor, and develop junior engineers and peers in the safety engineering discipline.

Candidate Profile

Degree (BSc/MSc/PhD) in Safety Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline with a focus on safety-critical systems.
Proven experience delivering safety-critical systems, ideally in aerospace, robotics, autonomous systems, automotive, or other regulated industries.
Strong expertise in safety engineering methods and tools (FHA, FTA, HAZOP, FMECA, safety case development).
Deep understanding of safety-critical software and hardware standards (DO-178C, DO-254, ISO 26262, IEC 61508).
Familiarity with emerging safety standards for AI/robotics (ISO/IEC TR 24028, IEEE P7009) is highly advantageous.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to make pragmatic decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent communication skills, with experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
Comfortable in a start-up environment where you'll need to be flexible, proactive, and ready to step up as needed.

Why Join?

Immediate Impact: You'll join a growing start-up in a rapidly evolving industry and play a key role in shaping safety standards for autonomous systems.
Ownership & Visibility: This is a high-visibility role, where you'll have direct input into the company's safety engineering practices and influence key decisions.
Collaborative Environment: You'll be working with a passionate, motivated team that values ownership, curiosity, and progress.
Hybrid Working: Flexible working with a requirement for just three days in the office.
Growth Potential: The company is scaling quickly, so there will be opportunities to grow, take on more responsibility, and develop your career.
Competitive Benefits: Salary sacrifice pension scheme, EV car scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, and more.

If you're excited about safety-critical systems and want to be part of a fast-growing, high-impact company, please get in touch.

Contact Coral at DCS Engineering

DCS Recruitment and all associated companies are committed to creating a working environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, gender identity, disability, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, age, or nationality

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Safety Engineering Manager (Systems Engineer)

Engineering Manager

Principal Electrical Engineer

Principal Electrical Engineer

Software Engineering Senior Manager

Quality Manager (Aerospace)

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How Many Space Industry Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a UK Space Job?

If you’re pursuing a career in the space industry — whether that’s spacecraft engineering, mission operations, space software, satellite systems, ground segment integration or space data analytics — it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tools, platforms and technologies mentioned in job adverts. One role wants experience with CAD and FEA software. Another asks for experience with GNSS simulation. A third mentions mission scheduling tools, RF link analysis suites, Python, C++, continuous integration — and it seems there’s always another acronym to learn. With so much listed, many candidates fall into the trap of thinking they must master every tool under the sun before they’ll be taken seriously. Here’s the honest truth most UK space hiring managers won’t say out loud: 👉 They don’t hire you because you’ve heard of every tool — they hire you because you can apply the right tools to solve real space problems, explain your reasoning clearly, and deliver results. Tools matter, but they always serve a purpose: achieving mission goals, improving reliability, reducing risk, delivering data, or enabling collaboration. Tools are enablers — not trophies. So how many tools do you actually need to know to get a space job? The answer is much fewer and far more strategic than you might think. This article breaks down: what tools employers really expect which ones are core across most space roles which ones are role-specific how to present your tool proficiency on your CV and in interviews

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Space Sector Job Applications (UK Guide)

The space industry is one of the most exciting and multidisciplinary sectors in technology and engineering today. Whether you’re applying for roles in spacecraft design, aerospace systems, robotics, satellite communications, mission operations, payload engineering, space software, ground systems, or scientific research, your application must quickly show hiring managers that you are relevant, technically credible and ready to deliver. In the UK space jobs market — spanning organisations from startups to defence primes, agencies, research labs and commercial constellations — hiring managers do not read every word of your CV. They scan applications rapidly, often making a judgement about whether to read further within the first 10–20 seconds. This guide breaks down exactly what hiring managers look for first in space sector applications, how they assess CVs and portfolios, why specific signals matter, and how you can position your experience to stand out on www.ukspacejobs.co.uk .

The Skills Gap in UK Space Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

The UK space sector is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing high-tech industries in the world. From Earth observation and satellite communications to space robotics, launch systems and deep-space exploration, the breadth of opportunity is enormous. The UK Government’s ambition to capture a significant share of the global space economy has driven investment, policy support and a wave of innovative companies — both established and start-up. Yet despite strong academic programmes and a pipeline of graduates with relevant degrees, employers in the UK space sector consistently report a persistent problem: Many graduates are not prepared for real-world space industry jobs. This is not a matter of intelligence or motivation. Rather, it reflects a growing skills gap between what universities are teaching and what employers actually need from space professionals. In this article, we’ll explore why that gap exists, what universities are doing well, where they fall short, what employers want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build thriving careers in the UK space sector.