Maritime Systems Safety Group Lead

Maritime Systems Safety Group Lead

Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) Hybrid
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team of safety engineers in complex Maritime Defence programmes.
  • Company: Join MBDA, a leading defence organisation supporting the Armed Forces.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave.
  • Other info: Dynamic hybrid working environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on safety engineering in innovative defence projects.
  • Qualifications: Experienced safety engineer with leadership skills and technical expertise.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

Are you an experienced Systems Safety Engineer or Safety Manager looking for your next challenge in Defence? We are looking for a safety engineering leader who combines sound technical judgement with the experience to develop people, influence engineering decisions and help shape how safety is delivered across complex Maritime systems. If you understand that product safety starts with good engineering and are motivated to challenge established approaches and improve how things are done, we would like to hear from you.

Salary Circa £70,000 depending on experience. Dynamic (hybrid) working 2-3 days per week onsite due to workload classification. Security Clearance British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

  • Company Bonus: Bonus of up to 21% of base salary
  • Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
  • Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
  • Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave - enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
  • Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more...
  • Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more.

The opportunity: Join our Safety and Reliability Engineering Department as a Maritime Safety Group Lead, leading a team of safety engineers supporting complex Maritime Defence programmes. This is a role for someone who can bring together technical expertise, people leadership and a broader perspective on the future of safety engineering. You will build on the strengths of the existing team, bringing complementary experience and fresh thinking to help us meet changing engineering demands. As product development accelerates and digital technologies transform the engineering environment, safety engineering must adapt too. You will help the team respond to these changes, improve how we work and ensure that safety remains integral to product design and development.

The Role: You will lead and develop a team of safety engineers while retaining a hands-on technical contribution. Working closely with design teams, systems engineers and other stakeholders, you will apply safety engineering techniques to understand hazards, assess risk and influence the design of complex products. You will prepare and guide the development of hazard analyses, safety cases and supporting technical evidence, applying engineering judgement to determine what is needed to demonstrate that risks have been adequately addressed. You will also help integrate safety engineering into the wider systems engineering process, ensuring that safety informs design decisions rather than becoming an activity focused solely on compliance or documentation. Alongside delivering across multiple projects, you will support the development of your team, encourage constructive challenge and identify opportunities to improve our engineering processes and practices. You will need to balance technical priorities, people development and delivery commitments while helping the function adapt to changing ways of working.

What are we looking for?

  • Experienced safety engineer: A strong background in systems safety engineering, product safety engineering or a related discipline, ideally within Defence or another complex, safety-critical industry.
  • Engineering-led approach: Practical experience applying safety engineering techniques to equipment and systems design, working with design teams to identify hazards, understand failure mechanisms and influence risk-reduction measures.
  • Leadership capability: Experience leading or developing engineers, coordinating workloads and supporting effective delivery across multiple projects.
  • Technical breadth: Knowledge of hazard analysis, functional failure analysis, fault tree analysis, safety cases and supporting evidence.
  • Systems engineering knowledge: An understanding of how safety engineering integrates with system development and product certification, including relevant UK and international standards such as Defence Standard 00-056.
  • Constructive challenge: The confidence to question established approaches, bring complementary expertise and work collaboratively with colleagues to reach sound engineering decisions.
  • Adaptability: An interest in continuous improvement and the ability to respond to rapid development, digital transformation and the effective use of digital technologies in engineering.
  • Communication and judgement: Strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and balance technical risk with programme priorities.
  • Developing others: A commitment to sharing knowledge, mentoring engineers and building a capable, collaborative team.

Qualifications: A relevant engineering degree or equivalent professional experience.

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given. MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom. We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more... We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Maritime Systems Safety Group Lead employer: MBDA Missile Systems

MBDA is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration within the Manufacturing Technical Experts and Producibility team. With competitive benefits such as a generous bonus scheme, flexible working arrangements, and enhanced parental leave, employees are supported in both their professional and personal lives. The company prioritises employee growth through mentorship opportunities and engagement in cutting-edge projects, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the defence sector.

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Contact Details:

MBDA Missile Systems Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Maritime Systems Safety Group Lead

✨Join Engineering Meetups!

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We think you need these skills to ace Maritime Systems Safety Group Lead

Systems Safety Engineering
Safety Management
Technical Judgement
People Leadership
Hazard Analysis
Risk Assessment
Safety Cases Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Maritime Systems Safety Group Lead, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.

Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at MBDA Missile Systems a clear picture of the value you can bring.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to MBDA Missile Systems specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!

Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.

How to prepare for a job interview at MBDA Missile Systems

✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles

Before heading into the interview with MBDA Missile Systems, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!

✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills

Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.

✨Relate Your Experience to the Role

In a full-time role, employers like MBDA Missile Systems want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.

✨Know Your Tools and Software

Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.