Principal Safety & Reliability Engineer in Cambridge

Ultra PCS is a leading developer of mission and safety critical equipment in the defence and aerospace industry. Our team of experts are at the heart of our success, which is why we are dedicated to fostering a safe working environment and a positive culture where every staff member feels valued and respected. We solve our customers' problems, providing engineering solutions to safety and mission critical challenges in the air and on the ground. Our solutions can be found in the latest military aircraft and vehicles, in civil aircraft, and in unmanned vehicles. We help to ensure our customers get to where they need to be safely, achieve their objectives and keep moving forward.

Ultra Precision Control Systems (PCS) are looking for a Principal Safety and Reliability Engineer to join the Engineering Function. In this role you will develop and support Safety Design in order that both project and statutory requirements are met and to improve the effectiveness of the safety design function within the company. The Ultra PCS Engineering function manages a portfolio of specialist capabilities, generating highly differentiated solutions and products by applying electronic, mechanical, and software technologies in demanding and critical environments to meet customer needs.

• Act as a technical arbiter within the Safety Design Group.
• Write Safety and Reliability plans and perform analysis independently.
• Ensure Safety and Reliability requirements are appropriately decomposed.
• Provide real‑time guidance to the product/system development team.
• Allocate design rigour requirements and explain their application to project team members.
• Make well‑informed decisions that may alter the project course based on experience.
• Serve as the project Safety and Reliability focal point, working closely with the Lead Engineer to define realistic timeframes.
• Work directly with the customer to understand and challenge Safety and Reliability approaches when appropriate.
• Highlight concerns early and produce compelling evidence for design changes.
• Present independently at Design Reviews.
• Support bids and proposals as required by the functional lead.
• Use experience to perform safety and reliability impact analysis on design decisions made by the project team.
• Validate incoming customer Safety and Reliability requirements against applicable standards and raise discrepancies as necessary.

• Extensive in‑depth experience of safety and reliability in aerospace.
• Technically competent to assess and manage technical risk in their area and to present detail and wider impact accurately.
• Able to communicate succinctly and accurately on technical issues with internal and external customers and the team.
• Capable of overseeing and approving other Safety and Reliability engineers’ work.

• Conversant with aerospace safety design and assessment (FMEA, FTA, etc.).
• Conversant with aerospace safety and certification requirements.
• Conversant with SAE ARP4761/4754 standards.
• Conversant with DO160, DO178, DO254.
• Conversant with MIL HDBK 217 reliability calculations and alternatives.
• Conversant with manufacturing techniques used for aerospace electronics.
• Willing to participate in product investigations resulting from aircraft incidents.

• Familiarity with aerospace materials and components.
• Familiarity with aspects of PCB design.
• Familiarity with aspects of EMC techniques.
• Familiarity with system design practice.

• Flexible working within core working hours.
• 25 days holiday (185 hrs) with the option to buy/sell 5 days (37 hrs) plus bank holidays.
• 4 times your annual salary in life assurance.
• Flexible benefits package.
• Pension Scheme – less than 5 years’ service up to 5.5% employer contributions; 5 years’ service+ up to 7.5% employer contributions.
• Sports and social clubs.
• Supportive and friendly working environment with regular team events.

Candidates must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law and be prepared to successfully undertake an appropriate level of UK National Security Vetting according to UK Government National Security Vetting criteria.

Ultra PCS is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity, inclusion, equity and equality. We promote a workplace that welcomes people from all backgrounds and cultures; we do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status and welcome applications from all candidates.