Lead System Safety Engineer

Lead System Safety Engineer - Warhead Qualification
Energetics Technology Center (ETC)
Location: 4445 Indian Head Highway, Indian Head, MD 20640

The Energetics Technology Center (ETC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and engineering organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Indian Head, Maryland. ETC works with government, industry, and academia to develop, mature, test, and transition technologies that address critical defense needs. Its work spans energetic materials, warheads and fuzing, propulsion, modeling and simulation, data and digital engineering, test and evaluation, manufacturing modernization and automation, industrial-base support, and technology transition.

ETC is seeking a full-time Lead System Safety Engineer to own day-to-day safety planning and qualification support for warheads, fuzing, and energetic subsystems for Department of War customers. The engineer will develop and execute the system safety plan, direct the safety test and analysis strategy, maintain the safety case, and align warhead safety qualification with the broader weapon system qualification effort.

This position is the lead technical partner to the government Principal for Safety. The engineer will prepare the analyses, plans, evidence, review packages, recommendations, and issue resolutions needed for government decisions; represent the program in working-level reviews; and coordinate design, test, systems engineering, and qualification teams. Final approval, formal risk acceptance, and signature authority remain with designated government officials.

This is a full-time onsite position based at ETC's Indian Head office and customer facilities. Work at laboratory and field-test locations may be required. Occasional travel and work outside normal business hours may be necessary to support tests and review boards. Remote work flexibility may be available based on program and customer requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and document the program system safety plan, including scope, roles, hazard analyses, safety requirements, verification methods, review gates, deliverables, and an integrated schedule for warhead qualification.
• Lead safety test planning with test and system qualification teams: define test objectives, configurations, hazard controls, instrumentation needs, acceptance criteria, data products, and the evidence needed to close safety requirements.
• Direct hazard identification and analysis, risk assessment, mitigation selection, safety requirements allocation, verification, and tracking of open hazards across design, integration, test, production, and transition.
• Own the safety documentation baseline, including hazard logs, safety assessment reports, compliance and requirements traceability matrices, risk registers, test plans and reports, and configuration-controlled review packages.
• Plan and lead technical preparation for applicable reviews, including WSESRB, FISTRP, SSSTRP, AFSRB, and other service or program-specific safety boards; present evidence and resolve findings and action items.
• Work with design, fuzing, energetic materials, test, reliability, and systems engineers to resolve safety issues, define mitigations, and assess the safety impact of design or configuration changes.
• Lead the integration of MIL-STD-2105 hazard assessment and insensitive munitions test results, fuze and ignition safety evaluations, environmental test data, and system-level qualification evidence into the warhead safety case and review packages.
• Lead investigation of anomalies and incidents, document root causes and corrective actions, and update the safety case, qualification plan, and review schedule accordingly.
• Advise the government Principal for Safety on technical findings, residual risks, decision options, unresolved actions, and readiness for formal review and approval.
• Direct and mentor safety engineers; coordinate supplier and subcontractor safety deliverables, test evidence, and corrective actions against the integrated safety and qualification plan.

Required Education:

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related technical field. A master's degree in a relevant engineering or safety discipline is preferred.

Experience Level:

Minimum of 7 years of relevant system safety, ordnance safety, weapons qualification, or related engineering experience; 10 years or more with technical leadership in warhead or munition safety is preferred.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• U.S. citizenship and current possession of, or eligibility to obtain and maintain, a U.S. Secret security clearance. Higher-level clearance or program-specific access may be required for certain assignments.
• Experience developing and defending safety analyses and qualification evidence for warheads, munitions, fuzing, energetic subsystems, or comparable defense systems.
• Working knowledge of system safety methods, hazard tracking, risk acceptance processes, requirements traceability, and configuration control.
• Apply MIL-STD-882 system safety methods and, as applicable to the program, MIL-STD-2105 hazard assessment tests, MIL-STD-1316 fuze safety, MIL-STD-1901 ignition system safety, and MIL-STD-331 fuze and ignition component tests.
• Experience preparing and defending system safety plans, hazard analyses, safety assessment reports, test plans, and qualification packages before government customers and review boards.
• Ability to reconcile subsystem safety evidence with system-level test, verification, and qualification plans.
• Strong technical writing, presentation, organization, and judgment, including the ability to communicate open risks without overstating closure.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience supporting WSESRB, FISTRP, SSSTRP, AFSRB, or other applicable weapons and fuze safety review boards.
• Experience with insensitive munitions, environmental qualification, explosive safety, fuze safety, and root-cause or corrective-action processes.
• Experience leading safety engineers or supplier deliverables and supporting a government Principal for Safety or equivalent decision authority.

What We Offer:

Technical leadership in defense R&D, warhead safety, and qualification programs, along with flexible work schedules, generous paid time off and holidays, employer-paid medical, dental, and vision options, tuition assistance, life and disability coverage, and a 401(k) plan with an immediate Safe Harbor employer match.

Compensation:

Compensation at ETC is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, and applicable employment laws. The estimated salary range for this positionis based on full time status.

Estimated Salary Range
USD $91,000.00 - USD $225,000.00 /Yr