Associate Safety Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary Range: $96,757 - $120,000

The System Safety Team is responsible for the comprehensive execution of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and AWIIL System Safety Programs, spanning System Safety, Flight Safety, and Ground Safety disciplines.

As a System Safety Engineer, you will provide vital technical and analytical support to the Government System Safety Lead. You will ensure both developmental and fielded programs successfully accomplish their system safety milestones in strict accordance with DODI 5000.2 series Instructions, Service-specific instructions, MIL-STD-882, and unique International Partner requirements.

This role involves conducting independent technical analyses, reviewing prime contractor data, assessing fleet/test safety risks, and directly supporting airworthiness and operational safety certifications.

Essential Job Functions

Risk Assessment & Hazard Mitigation: Conduct independent analyses of contractor engineering data to identify, assess, and mitigate safety risks for both test and fleet aircraft. Author formal risk assessments to support the command's risk acceptance and airworthiness certification processes.

Engineering Evaluations: Perform technical safety evaluations of change requests, variance requests, deficiency reports, action requests, and test reports. Scope includes complex aircraft systems: electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, fuel, avionics, flight controls, environmental control systems (ECS), egress, weapon integration, secondary power, propulsion, and software interfaces.

Working Group & Board representation: Organize, facilitate, and actively participate in joint assemblies, including System Safety Groups (SSG), System Safety Working Groups (SSWG), and Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs). Develop specialized technical data packages to support explosive and LASER safety review boards.

Inter-Agency Liaison: Act as a critical information conduit between the Program Office safety team, prime contractors, supporting Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) within AWIIL, and external military/partner organizations.

Flight Clearance Support: Support the flight clearance process for all system users by compiling and presenting up-to-date safety data, tracking open hazards, and highlighting engineering concerns directly to flight clearance boards.

Mishap & Incident Investigation: Analyze and investigate fleet mishaps, incidents, failures, and associated flight data to identify root causes and implement corrective hazard controls.

Safety Documentation & Tooling: Coordinate periodic government reviews of prime contractor safety products (including Mishap Plans). Author safety point papers, trade studies, and system safety program plans. Build and maintain safety management databases and fault-tree models.

Required Skills:

Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.

Bachelor's degree with 8+ years in Aviation Safety and Aircraft Accident/Mishap Investigation. High school diploma/GED plus 16+ years of Aviation Safety and Aircraft Accident/Mishap Investigation experience, or Associate's-level (AA/AS/Technical school) plus 10+ years Aviation Safety and Aircraft Accident/Mishap Investigation experience.

Technical Software Proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Access, Project) and system safety modeling tools (e.g., Isograph Fault Tree Plus).

Must have an active security clearance and maintain one for the duration of employment.

Must be able to work onsite - This position is not remote work eligible.

Must be willing and able to work after hours/weekend support for patching and maintenance as needed.

Possess professionalism, courtesy, high moral character, and integrity.

Excellent communication skills and able to liaison with outside agencies and ability to work independently.

Desired Skills:

Flight Experience: Practical aircraft flight experience (military or civilian pilot/crew).

Military Background: Direct experience working within military aviation commands, NAVAIR structures, or defense acquisition program offices.