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System Safety Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania (NOW HIRING)

$170K - $201K/yr

POSITION SPECIFICS We are seeking a motivated and technically strong Software System Safety Engineer to join the Embedded Software Department at ARL at Penn State. This position supports the ...

The System Safety Engineer will operate across the entire lifecycle of undersea systems development, from concept formulation to design, build, and test. The candidate will develop in-depth knowledge ...

Spang & Company has an opening for a Safety Engineer at its corporate office in Pittsburgh, PA. This position will provide leadership and oversight for all domestic environmental, health, and safety ...

Spang & Company has an opening for a Safety Engineer at its corporate office in Pittsburgh, PA. This position will provide leadership and oversight for all domestic environmental, health, and safety ...

The Safety Engineer position at Franjo Construction ( www.franjoconstruction.com ) will include the opportunity to share Franjo Construction's belief of "A Culture Built Around Safety" are words that ...

Spang & Company has an opening for a Safety Engineer at its corporate office in Pittsburgh, PA. This position will provide leadership and oversight for all domestic environmental, health, and safety ...

The Safety Engineer position at Franjo Construction ( www.franjoconstruction.com ) will include the opportunity to share Franjo Construction's belief of "A Culture Built Around Safety" are words that ...

The Safety Engineer is expected to exhibit appropriate safety knowledge, and be able to apply the fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of their environmental, health, and safety training.

The Safety Engineer position at Franjo Construction ( ) will include the opportunity to share Franjo Construction's belief of "A Culture Built Around Safety" are words that are brought to life every ...

We are seeking an experienced Safety Engineer for our First Quality Retail Services facility ... Participate in the development, implementation, and maintaining of the Safety Management System ...

Develop and sustain systems to drive compliance, fatality prevention and injury reduction. * Act as key health and safety liaison with location manufacturing, maintenance & engineering departments to ...

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System Safety Engineer information

See Pennsylvania salary details

$33

$67

$85

How much do system safety engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for system safety engineer in Pennsylvania is $67.05, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54.47 and $79.28 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a system safety engineer?

System Safety Engineers are professionals responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with complex systems to ensure they operate safely and reliably. They analyze potential hazards, design safety protocols, and work closely with engineering teams to implement safety standards throughout the lifecycle of a product or system. Their work is critical in industries such as aerospace, automotive, defense, and energy, where system failures can have significant consequences. System Safety Engineers often use specialized tools and methodologies, such as hazard analysis and risk assessment, to support safety and regulatory compliance.

What does a system safety engineer do?

A system safety engineer helps to develop, refine, and update safety protocols and software that controls a large system and ensures that even if aspects of the system fail, it does not put the entire system at jeopardy. For example, if a subsystem on a spaceship fails, your duties as a system safety engineer are to determine how to make sure that it does not affect other systems or endanger the critical life support systems. Systems safety engineering is essential in a wide range of fields, from civil engineering and aeronautics to software and hardware engineering and power plant systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a system safety engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a System Safety Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, risk assessment, and safety analysis, usually supported by a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with safety-critical standards (such as MIL-STD-882 or ISO 26262), hazard analysis tools, and systems modeling software is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in cross-functional teams. These skills are essential to proactively identify and mitigate risks, ensuring the safe and reliable operation of complex systems.

What are some common challenges system safety engineers face when working on multidisciplinary projects?

System Safety Engineers often work with cross-functional teams that include design, operations, and software professionals. A key challenge is ensuring that safety requirements are clearly communicated and integrated throughout all phases of system development. Balancing safety goals with project constraints like budget and timeline can also be demanding, as can managing the documentation and verification processes across different engineering disciplines. Success in this role requires strong collaboration and communication skills, as well as a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating potential safety hazards.

What is the difference between System Safety Engineer vs Reliability Engineer?

AspectSystem Safety EngineerReliability Engineer
Required CertificationsISO 26262, MIL-STD-882, PE licenseSix Sigma, Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
Work EnvironmentManufacturing, aerospace, automotive, defenseManufacturing, aerospace, electronics, energy
Employer & Industry UsageSafety-critical systems, risk mitigationProduct durability, failure analysis

While both roles focus on system performance, the System Safety Engineer emphasizes identifying and mitigating safety risks in complex systems, often working with safety standards and compliance. The Reliability Engineer concentrates on ensuring product reliability and longevity, analyzing failure modes and improving system durability. Both roles are vital in safety-critical industries but serve distinct functions in system development and maintenance.

Are system safety engineers in demand?

System safety engineers are in demand across industries such as aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing due to increasing safety regulations and complex systems. They often require knowledge of safety standards like ISO 26262 or MIL-STD-882 and may need certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP). The role is expected to grow as safety becomes a higher priority in technology development.

What job categories do people searching System Safety Engineer jobs in Pennsylvania look for?

The top searched job categories for System Safety Engineer jobs in Pennsylvania are:

What cities in Pennsylvania are hiring for System Safety Engineer jobs?

Cities in Pennsylvania with the most System Safety Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to System Safety Engineer jobs in PA?

For System Safety Engineer jobs in PA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various System Safety Engineer job openings in Pennsylvania as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 96% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,455 per year, or $67 per hour.

$170K - $201K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
  • CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
  • If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

We are seeking a motivated and technically strong Software System Safety Engineer to join the Embedded Software Department at ARL at Penn State. This position supports the development and certification of software-intensive Navy systems. The successful candidate will work closely with software developers, systems engineers, government safety engineers, and Navy stakeholders to identify, assess, and mitigate software contributions to system hazards. The engineer will support programs throughout the system lifecycle, helping develop the analyses, technical evidence, and documentation required to support Navy safety certification and approval activities. Depending on program needs and individual experience, the position may also include opportunities to contribute directly to software development, integration, testing, and technology transition activities.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You Will:

  • Support software safety activities throughout the system lifecycle

  • Assess software contributions to system hazards using established system safety processes and methodologies

  • Evaluate software requirements, designs, architectures, interfaces, and test results from a safety perspective

  • Collaborate with software developers and systems engineers to implement and verify software safety requirements

  • Support software safety analyses and certification activities in accordance with MIL-STD-882E, JSSSEH guidance, and program-specific requirement

  • Work with internal safety leads, government Principals for Safety, and NUWC safety engineers to support Navy certification and approval efforts

  • Develop technical safety documentation and support hazard tracking activities

  • Participate in technical reviews, safety working groups, and certification-related engagement

  • Support investigation of anomalies, failures, and software-related safety concerns

  • Contribute to software development, integration, testing, and troubleshooting activities as program requirements and individual expertise align

Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:

  • Conduct independent and collaborative research, development, testing, and evaluation activities to solve complex scientific and engineering challenges supporting Department of Defense sponsors and national security missions

  • Investigate, evaluate, and apply established and emerging engineering principles, scientific methodologies, and advanced technologies to develop innovative technical solutions

  • Plan, perform, and lead analytical studies, modeling and simulation, laboratory experimentation, field testing, and prototype demonstrations to validate engineering concepts and system performance

  • Design, develop, integrate, analyze, and evaluate complex hardware, software, embedded systems, sensors, communications systems, electromechanical systems, or other mission-critical technologies within assigned technical disciplines

  • Apply systems engineering principles throughout the project lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture definition, design trade studies, integration, verification, validation, risk management, and configuration management

  • Develop experimental plans, test procedures, data collection methodologies, and performance metrics; analyze results to identify technical issues, validate assumptions, and recommend design improvements

  • Support development of advanced prototypes and transition technologies from research concepts into operational capabilities for government sponsors

  • Prepare technical reports, engineering analyses, research publications, white papers, proposals, briefings, and sponsor deliverables documenting research methods, technical findings, and program status

  • Present technical information and research results to sponsors, program managers, technical review boards, and other internal and external stakeholders

Required Skills/Experience areas include:

  • Working with software-intensive or mission-critical systems

  • Ability to analyze software requirements, designs, interfaces, and test results to assess technical risks and system behavior

  • Demonstrated systems-thinking and analytical problem-solving skills

  • Collaborating with software, systems, test, and engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle

  • Strong technical communication and documentation skills, including the ability to present technical information to engineering and customer stakeholders

Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:

  • Software-intensive or safety-critical systems

  • Software safety, software quality assurance, verification and validation, software testing, systems engineering, or system safety

  • MIL-STD-882E and the Joint Software Systems Safety Engineering Handbook (JSSSEH)

  • Past success supporting hazard analyses, risk assessments, or safety certification activities

  • Developing or reviewing software requirements and verification evidence

  • Working with government customers and technical review boards

  • Past success supporting Navy, DoD, or other mission-critical programs

  • Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required

Your working location will be will be fully on-site located in State College, PA.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 14+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as R&D Engineer - Systems (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 5+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None

ARL's purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC).FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website atwww.arl.psu.edu.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $121,704.00 - $231,000.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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About Pennsylvania State University

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Pennsylvania State University, often referred to as Penn State, is a major, public, research-intensive university located in University Park, PA, US. This esteemed institution serves as an important player within the education industry, offering a plethora of academic programs across various disciplines. The university was founded in 1855 with the mission to provide quality education, advanced research, and service to society. Penn State holds firmly to values of integrity, respect, and excellence, fostering a diverse and inclusive community. The university is renowned for its research productivity and its high-ranking programs in areas like engineering, business, and education. One notable achievement of the institution is its designation as a "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity," demonstrating its commitment to scholarship and discovery.

Industry

Education

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

University Park, PA, US

Year founded

1855

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