Combat System Safety Engineer

About the role

Contribute to the Safety of Mission-Critical Defence Systems

At Saab Australia, we design, integrate and sustain advanced defence systems that support Australia’s sovereign capability and national security.

As our engineering capability continues to evolve, we are seeking a Combat Systems Safety Engineer to join our Systems Engineering Discipline and play a key role in ensuring the safety and integrity of complex, safety-critical systems.

This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of systems safety engineering, contributing to the design, assurance and lifecycle support of advanced defence capabilities.

We work in a fast-paced, demanding, challenging as well as time sensitive environment; we’re diverse, global, resilient, adaptable and agile, therefore the ability to solve problems is critical.

Along with satisfaction & rewards that comes with working for a global defence company, you can expect a generous salary, a range of outstanding benefits & an inclusive working environment.

This position also offers Flexible working options and a 9 Day Fortnight

The Opportunity

As a Combat Systems Safety Engineer, you will be responsible for delivering and leading complex safety engineering activities across the full system lifecycle — from concept and design through to verification and in-service support.

Operating within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, you will apply structured safety engineering principles to identify, assess and mitigate risks, ensuring systems are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.

You will also contribute more broadly across systems engineering activities, working closely with software, hardware, and integration teams to deliver robust, end-to-end engineering outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Safety Engineering & Assurance

• Develop and maintain system safety program plans, processes, and frameworks
• Conduct hazard identification and risk analysis, including:
  • Preliminary Hazard Lists (PHL)
  • Preliminary Hazard Analyses (PHA)
  • System Hazard Analyses (SHA)
• Contribute to the development of:
  • Safety assessment reports
  • Safety case documentation
• Perform safety analysis in support of:
  • Design changes
  • Engineering updates
  • System Problem Reports (SPR)
• Establish and maintain safety requirements, ensuring traceability, verification, and implementation of mitigation controls

Systems Engineering Integration

• Support broader systems engineering activities, including:
  • Translating customer requirements into system-level solutions
  • Contributing to system design and architecture alongside hardware and software teams
  • Developing interface specifications, design documentation, and acceptance criteria
• Apply engineering governance processes relevant to safety-critical defence systems
• Work within engineering toolsets such as:
  • Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) environments
  • Jira for workflow and task management
  • IFS Applications for engineering and configuration management

Verification & Validation Support

• Contribute to the development and execution of verification and validation (V&V) activities
• Support the preparation and review of:
  • Test Acceptance Procedures
  • Test Reports
• Coordinate verification activities, including scheduling, resource identification, and issue resolution

About You

You are a capable and detail-oriented safety or systems engineer with experience working on complex, safety-critical systems, ideally within Defence, aerospace, or similarly regulated industries.

You bring a strong understanding of safety engineering principles and are comfortable operating across both technical delivery and engineering governance environments. You will contribute to building engineering capability within a collaborative team.

Skills & Experience

• Tertiary qualifications in Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline
• Demonstrated experience in safety engineering across complex, software-intensive systems
• Strong capability in:
  • Hazard identification and risk assessment
  • Safety requirements development
  • Safety architecture and design
  • Safety verification and validation
  • Safety case development
• Working knowledge of contemporary safety engineering standards and best practice, including MIL-STD-882
• Experience working within structured engineering lifecycle environments

Desirable:

• Exposure to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Familiarity with engineering governance and configuration management processes
• Experience using tools such as Jira and IFS

As Defence security clearance is required for this role, applicants must be Australian citizens and eligible to obtain and maintain an NV1 clearance.

About us

Saab Australia is a defence, security and cyber solutions provider, specialising in the development and integration of major defence and security systems. For over 30 years in Australia, we have built a reputation for delivering complex systems integration projects that provide proven and advanced capabilities to keep us ahead of today’s challenges.

From combat, communications, security and underwater systems, to mixed reality, cyber security and deployable health solutions, our extensive portfolio of products and services provide high-technology solutions for defence forces and civil industries across the globe.

Apply today to join our crew and deliver solutions with purpose.

Culture and benefits

We employ over 1000 Australians and are committed to fostering a culture of excellence and enriching the employee experience.

By joining Saab, you’ll be a part of a collaborative and supportive organisation, where your professional growth and work-life balance are emphasised.  You’ll work within an innovative and vibrant workplace, while having the opportunity to develop a long-term, fulfilling career.

As a valued team member of Saab Australia, you’ll access a variety of perks and benefits to support you and your family including:

• 6 weeks paid leave each year
• 14% Superannuation
• Free Income Protection Insurance
• Flexible working options
• Access to the Saab shares matching scheme
• Access to MySaab; our online store offering everything from cash back at hundreds of stores to discounts from exclusive partners

For further information about a career at Saab, visit the page adjacent:

https://www.saab.com/markets/australia/careers/saab-life

Applications

Click ‘Apply’ to submit your CV and cover letter in support of your application. Kindly observe that this is an ongoing recruitment process and in exceptional circumstances, the position might be filled before the closing date of the advertisement. We encourage applications as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

By submitting an application to Saab, you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities including, but not limited to:  reference checks, Australian Federal Police check, verification of working rights and qualifications, sanctions screening and a pre-employment medical declaration.

Saab Australia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to apply. We also welcome applications from individuals with culturally diverse backgrounds.

Saab Australia is a nationally recognised Veteran Employer of Choice and welcomes the interest of ex-service members, veterans and their families