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Airworthiness and System Safety Manager/Head of Airworthiness
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
Are you an experienced DAOS signatory with a strong background in defence safety assurance? We’re seeking a capable and collaborative Airworthiness & System Safety Manager to lead and govern airworthiness, system safety, and environmental assurance across our defence engineering projects.
This is a senior-level technical role focused on safety leadership, governance, and stakeholder assurance, rather than hands-on engineering delivery. You will provide oversight and mentoring across multiple business units, ensuring that all safety and regulatory requirements are met. You will also directly advise the Engineering Director on approvals, compliance, and risk trade-offs, making this a key role in our safety and certification landscape.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead DAOS airworthiness activities in accordance with MAA Regulatory Articles (e.g., RAs 1014, 5850).
- Own and develop system safety & environmental assurance frameworks including policies, processes, and artefacts (e.g., SEMPs, Hazard Logs, Safety & Environmental Case Reports).
- Oversee compliance with Defence Standards (e.g., Def Stan 00-55, 00-56) and relevant airworthiness/certification regulations.
- Review and support safety aspects of design across projects, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated.
- Provide governance and sign-off for safety reviews and audits, ensuring project teams are compliant and risks are understood.
- Mentor and coach engineers in safety thinking and assurance approaches; act as a trusted advisor to project teams.
- Support and advise senior stakeholders, including the Engineering Director, on approvals, compliance, and risk balance.
- Contribute to internal training, continuous improvement, and development of safety culture.
Who We’re Looking For
- DAOS Signatory or prior DAOS delegate experience is essential.
- Strong background in Defence or Aerospace, ideally with experience in DE&S, MOD acquisition programmes, or regulated environments.
- Demonstrated capability in system safety leadership, safety case authorship, and independent safety review.
- Confident communicator with the ability to navigate uncertainty, extract relevant information in meetings, and turn it into clear, risk-informed decisions.
- Strategic mindset – someone who can oversee project activity, ensure correct process adherence, and flag concerns at the right level.
- Strong understanding of airworthiness, hazard management, and certification processes.
- Effective coach and influencer – able to challenge, support, and uplift engineering teams with authority and approachability.
- Awareness of environmental impact and sustainability in defence system design.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status is desirable – support available to achieve this if not already held.
- A technical degree is expected (e.g., Aerospace, Systems, Mechanical, or equivalent).
Why This Role Matters
This role is ideal for someone who is not a hands-on engineer, but rather a technical leader, safety governor, and senior communicator – someone who ensures that safety reviews are completed, systems are signed off correctly, and assurance remains robust across all stages of the design lifecycle.
You’ll bring clarity and confidence in complex discussions, helping teams to balance delivery with compliance, and supporting the business in delivering safe, certifiable, and environmentally sound defence systems.
