Systems Safety Engineer

Sierra Lobo, offers customers a full range of professional and technical capabilities, including Test and Evaluation, Systems Engineering, and Advanced Technologies.  We also develop products and processes related to Cryogenic Fluid and Thermal Management Systems, Densified Propellant Management Systems, and Prototype Extreme Pressure and Temperature Systems.  Our customers include the Department of Defense (DoD), the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Function of Position:

Provides expertise in the establishment, execution, and monitoring of engineering design supporting reactivation and test facility operations. Supports implementation of new test operations and provides continuous safety oversight for ongoing design and readiness for operations across missile, aviation, and weapon-system environments.

Responsibilities:

• Provide evaluations of system safety issues and define adequate safety assessment tests for new and ongoing operations.
• Conduct and document formal safety analyses including:
  • Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
  • Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA)
  • Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP)
  • Software safety analysis for embedded, control, and test-automation systems
  • Comprehensive hazard analyses for test facilities, missile systems, aviation systems, and ordnance
• Evaluate system design, engineering analysis, and operational documents, making recommendations related to safety releases and operational risk.
• Maintain working knowledge of externally imposed safety requirements (DoD, MDA, NASA, OSHA, Army/Aviation safety standards) and assess operational impact.
• Evaluate new test operations, formulate risk assessments, perform hazard assessments, conduct fault tree analyses, inspect test sites, and provide recommendations for improvements.
• Prepare detailed reports for safety analyses, evaluations, and past test-incident investigations.
• Rely on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.

Nature of Position Challenges

• Investigate test incidents with potential safety concerns and prepare formal reports of findings.
• Apply structured methodologies (FMEA, FTA, PHA, HAZOP, software hazard analysis) to identify root causes, contributing factors, and mitigation strategies.
• Provide regulatory compliance evaluations and ensure alignment with operational safety and health agency regulations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required.

Supervisor Guidance:

Works under the general guidance of the IPT Lead or Deputy IPT. Responsible for executing projects within approved work plans and resources.

Supervision of Others:

Provides technical direction to assigned project personnel. Assists management on administrative matters.

Resources Impacted:

Planning and execution of test projects has direct impact on funding, labor resources, and materials.

Qualifications - Required:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Physics, or Chemistry. Alternatives include degrees in other Physical Sciences, Mathematics, or Computer Science.
• 10 years of engineering experience; alternatively, 8 years of engineering experience with a qualifying degree.
• Two years of experience directly related to safety of military systems and ordnance, including:
  • Formulating risk assessments
  • Conducting hazard analyses
  • Performing fault tree analyses
  • Developing safety recommendations
  • Executing structured safety methodologies such as FMEA, PHA, HAZOP, and software safety analysis

Essential Functions of the Position

Physical Requirements

Occasional visual and physical contact with test system hardware and testing of missile or aviation systems. Transportation of notebooks, drawings, forms, sensors, etc. required. Work requires movement between buildings and various work sites within buildings.

Work Environment

Work is accomplished in an office, control room, test facility, weapon system, aviation systems, instrumentation and data reduction/data processing including design.

• Combination of office, industrial, and test facility environments
• Occasional presence in active reactivation zones with elevated safety risks
• Occasional onsite operations with option to work remotely, as appropriate
• Occasional travel may be required; surge or extended travel may be required during critical test phases.

Equipment and Machines Involved

Office and control room equipment includes computers, calculators, electronic instruments, mechanical instruments, and miscellaneous precision devices.

Criticality of Attendance

Work assignments are usually during normal work hours, but overtime can be necessary to support meetings, test schedules, and testing activities. Regular daily attendance is required to maintain team effectiveness.