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.