Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to ensure safety in complex airborne systems and manage product safety activities.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a leader in advanced radar and targeting systems.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and opportunities for international travel.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on safety in cutting-edge aerospace technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in airborne design assurance and safety management required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with innovative engineers and strong customer relationships.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
Leonardo has an exciting opportunity for a Sector Chief Safety Engineer, with experience of airborne design assurance using ARP4754A/4761, RTCA DO-254, and/or DO-178C. You will lead a team of system safety professionals to deliver complex products, in conjunction with Systems Engineering, that are safe, secure and highly reliable. The position is within Advanced AESA Radar, one of the three delivery sectors within Leonardo’s Radar and Advanced Targeting Systems (RATS) Line of Business (LoB).
The target application areas in the sector include Mission Management Systems, Airborne Fire Control Radar and a range of modular Surveillance Radar products, deployed on a wide range of crewed and uncrewed airborne systems, addressing specific challenges such as flight certification of DO-365/366 Detect and Avoid Systems. You will be responsible, through your team, for managing the Product Safety and Environmental Impact of the Sector’s product portfolio, via implementation of the Leonardo Electronics UK Business Unit’s Product Safety and Environmental Impact Management System (PSEIMS).
This includes responsibility for the monitoring and development of the capability (SQEP) of your team, accountable to the Head of Product Safety for the Line of Business. Your accountabilities will include delivery of safety programmes within the Sector to cost and schedule, supporting the Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) throughout the Product Lifecycle, including business winning.
The key accountability is ensuring that processes, plans and people are sufficient to achieve Military and/or Civil Type certification, while applying innovative technologies such as AI/ML, Autonomy, Multicore processors, IMA, MBSE and Agile methods. The Sector Chief Safety Engineer also forms part of the independent assurance function, dependent on experience achieving delegated board signatory for Product Safety, supporting Certificates of Design (CoD) and Declarations of Design and Performance (DDPs).
The RATS LoB is located in Edinburgh and Newcastle and occasional travel will be requested to other locations within the UK and Internationally. You will work closely with supportive, talented and innovative engineers across the Engineering delivery disciplines, contributing to the continual improvement of the Engineering Capability of the Leonardo Electronics UK Business Unit, whilst building strong relationships with our customers and partners.
What you will do
- Accountable to the Head of Product Safety for RATS, working closely with Head of Engineering Products within the Sector, to satisfy the regulatory requirements of airborne systems, including Mission Critical and Flight Safety Involved systems; often with demanding Product Security requirements.
- Lead the Engineering Management and delivery of System and Product safety activities across the sector, working closely with Systems Engineering.
- Provide independent Safety Management Specialist input to adjacent sectors within the LoB.
- Provide independent assessment of safety through Product Design Reviews.
- Participate in Product Safety Panels as a specialist advisor in the management and resolution of Product Safety and Product Environmental incidents.
- Ensure that the data associated with Sector Product Safety incidents in the Company corrective action management system is correct and up to date.
- Provide the focus for the provision of independent specialist guidance and information on best practices, standards and legislation.
- Promote the specialism and Safety Culture within the business.
- Participate in internal and external standards working groups and with academic partners covering Development Standards and Acceptable Means of Compliance using various established and emerging standards.
- Promote continual improvement of the Product Safety and Environmental Impact Management System.
What we are looking for
- Demonstrable and relevant experience analysing complex systems from a Product Safety and Product Environmental Impact Management perspective.
- Demonstrable and relevant experience of being able to define and implement an appropriate safety strategy.
- Ability to obtain delegated board signatory for Product Safety.
- Demonstrable experience using a range of safety tools and techniques.
- Experience of one or more of the following: Accepted certification of a software product to RTCA/DO-178C Level C through all Certification Reviews (SOIs); Accepted certification of a firmware product to RTCA/DO-254 Level C through all Certification Reviews (SOIs); Functional decomposition and assignment to item level of DALs under the auspices of SAE ARP 4754.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coach and develop others.
- Ability to obtain SC security clearance and work within UKEO and US ITAR TAA restrictions.
- Experience of working with a variety of internal and external stakeholders of varying seniorities.
- Capability to identify and direct improvements to complex technical and business processes.
- A passion for promoting and improving the safety and security of complex systems.
It would be nice, but not essential, if you had:
- Chartered Engineer status.
- A 2:1 or higher in a relevant engineering or science-based honours degree.
- Awareness of Information Security.
- Working knowledge of one or more of the following: Current generation SRAM FPGAs and Firmware Design Methods, Tools and Languages; Current generation Model Driven Engineering with auto-coding and applicable software standards for airborne or adjacent hi-reliability sectors; Functional domain architectures for partitioning complex systems implementing multiple mutually non-interfering functions.
- Experience with any of the following tools: Microsoft Office Tools; SAP; Siemens Teamcenter; Cameo System Modeller; IBM DOORS.
Sector Chief Safety Engineer (AAR) employer: Leonardo
Contact Detail:
Leonardo Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sector Chief Safety Engineer (AAR)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their safety standards and recent projects. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your responses. Focus on articulating your experience with safety management and complex systems clearly and confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Leonardo and contributing to our innovative projects.
We think you need these skills to ace Sector Chief Safety Engineer (AAR)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Sector Chief Safety Engineer role. Highlight your experience with airborne design assurance and relevant safety standards like ARP4754A/4761, DO-254, and DO-178C. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about safety engineering and how your background makes you a perfect fit for our team. Don’t forget to mention any innovative technologies you've worked with, like AI/ML or Agile methods.
Showcase Your Team Leadership Skills: As a Sector Chief Safety Engineer, you'll be leading a team. Make sure to highlight any previous leadership roles or experiences where you successfully managed projects or mentored others. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and guide their teams!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo
✨Know Your Standards
Familiarise yourself with ARP4754A, DO-254, and DO-178C. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these standards in your previous roles, especially in relation to airborne design assurance. This shows you’re not just knowledgeable but also practical in your approach.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Sector Chief Safety Engineer, you'll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, particularly in high-stakes environments. Highlight your ability to mentor others and promote a safety culture within your team.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Be prepared to discuss specific challenges you've faced in product safety and how you overcame them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, focusing on your analytical skills and decision-making process.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
Don’t just wait for questions; engage with your interviewers. Ask insightful questions about their current projects or challenges they face in product safety. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company is the right fit for you.
