Technical Director - Safety Engineering in Bristol

Empowering projects in a complex world. Are you ready to play a pivotal technical leadership role supporting one of our most strategically important safety framework partnerships? Join a team where your technical authority directly influences client confidence in complex, mission‑critical systems across the defence sector. At AtkinsRéalis, you’ll be part of a collaborative, inclusive environment where every voice is valued and where flexibility supports how you work best. This role can be based from any of our UK offices however requires regular travel to Bristol.

We welcome professionals with deep experience in safety engineering within defence, an OEM environment, or other highly regulated safety‑critical domains. As a Technical Director – Safety Engineering, you will provide strategic technical leadership, act as a senior engineering authority, and shape the delivery of safety services across land, air, maritime and WOME (weapons, ordnance, munitions and explosives) domains. Your expertise will be central to our re‑competition of a major safety framework and strengthening long‑term partnerships with our most important clients.

Operating at a senior technical level rather than as a line manager, you will guide engineering approaches, assure technical quality, and influence client decision‑making to ensure safety is embedded robustly and proportionately throughout system lifecycles. You will also drive innovation across the business — integrating modern safety methods, model‑based tools, and digital approaches to help us meet emerging regulatory and operational challenges.

Your role:

• Act as a senior technical authority on major defence safety programmes, ensuring engineering rigour, proportionate safety justification, and compliance with relevant standards.
• Shape technical direction and ways of working, representing AtkinsRéalis at industry and specialist forums to influence defence safety thinking.
• Provide technical oversight across complex and highly regulated programmes, ensuring high‑quality safety artefacts and robust assurance outcomes.
• Mentor and guide technical teams (not line manage) to embed consistent, modern, best‑practice safety engineering methods.
• Engage directly with clients and partners, building trusted relationships that support successful delivery and long‑term frameworks.
• Support bid teams and solution development, contributing compelling technical strategies that strengthen our position in major safety re‑competitions.
• Champion digital and innovative approaches to enhance efficiency, assurance and technical excellence across the organisation.

About you:

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Safety, or a related discipline.
• Ideally chartered status with a relevant professional institution (e.g., IMechE, IET, SaRS).
• Significant senior experience within defence, an OEM, or other highly regulated, safety‑critical environments.
• Deep expertise in system safety, safety cases, hazard analysis, ALARP demonstration, regulation, and assurance.
• Demonstrable ability to provide technical direction, influence senior engineering stakeholders, and guide teams on complex programmes.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, with credibility at senior client levels.
• A commitment to developing others technically and contributing to a collaborative, inclusive environment.

Rewards & benefits:

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Security clearance:

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.