Systems Safety Engineer

Founded in 1918, Kearfott Corporation, a global Aerospace and Defense supplier for over 100 years, is a leader in the design and manufacture of precision motion control products and inertial navigation components. Kearfott has a very long history of innovation and excellence, and is the go-to brand for many of our global clients. Kearfott is trusted, respected and plays a vital role in the success of America's aerospace and defense industries. With over a century of expertise & experience, Kearfott is dedicated to providing quality, reliability, and cutting-edge technology to customers worldwide to meet their sea, land, air, and space navigation and guidance requirements.

We are looking for talented individuals who want to be part of a world-class work force. Join Kearfott and become part of a company that is recognized for technical expertise and respected world-wide as a 'full service' provider.

For more information visit our website at

Systems Safety Engineer

Position Summary

Kearfott Corporation's Guidance & Navigation Division in Pine Brook, NJ, is seeking a Systems Safety Engineer to support the safety of aerospace and defense systems throughout their life cycle. The successful candidate will work with systems, hardware, software, and test engineering teams to identify hazards, develop and maintain safety analyses, define practical risk controls, and verify that safety requirements and mitigations are addressed in system design and objective evidence.

Essential Functions

• Develop and maintain system safety plans, analyses, hazard tracking records, and safety requirements for assigned programs.
• Perform and support safety analyses using applicable methods, including Functional Hazard Assessments, Preliminary System Safety Assessments, System Safety Assessments, Failure Modes and Effects Analyses, fault tree analyses, and common cause analyses.
• Apply applicable aerospace and defense safety standards and guidance, including SAE ARP4761A and MIL-STD-882E Change 1, as required by program requirements.
• Identify hazards and assess risks associated with system functions, interfaces, failure conditions, incorrect or misleading outputs, and operational use.
• Coordinate with systems, hardware, software, integration, and test engineers to derive safety requirements and design mitigations, resolve safety concerns, and assess hardware/software interactions for safety implications.
• Maintain traceability between hazards, safety requirements, design features, verification activities, and supporting evidence. Confirm that hazard controls are implemented and verified, and that residual risks and open actions are clearly documented.
• Support system requirements reviews, design reviews, risk reviews, qualification, and production transition. Plan or support safety verification and validation, including acceptance criteria and test or analysis evidence, to confirm safety requirements and hazard controls are satisfied.
• Prepare clear technical reports. Compile safety assessment data and objective evidence to support certification, airworthiness, and customer approval packages, as required by the program. Present safety findings, assumptions, open actions, and residual risks to program teams and customers.
• Track safety actions through closure and support documentation of residual risk and required approvals.
• Support proposal development, program planning, and continuous improvement activities as needed.
• Travel approximately 15% for customer reviews and meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering field.
• 4+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or another safety-critical engineering environment.
• Experience performing or supporting system safety engineering, hazard analysis, or product safety activities.
• Working knowledge of system safety methods and the ability to document assumptions, hazards, risk controls, and verification evidence.
• Ability to interpret system requirements, architectures, interfaces, and failure conditions and coordinate safety work across engineering disciplines.
• Strong written and verbal communication, technical writing, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to support technical reviews, customer interactions, and multiple program priorities.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience applying SAE ARP4761A and/or MIL-STD-882E Change 1 in aerospace or defense programs.
• Experience with aircraft, inertial navigation systems, inertial measurement units, avionics, or other complex hardware and software systems.
• Experience developing Functional Hazard Assessments, Preliminary System Safety Assessments, System Safety Assessments, Failure Modes and Effects Analyses, fault trees, or safety cases.
• Familiarity with development assurance processes and standards such as ARP4754A, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, and MIL-STD-810.
• Experience using requirements management or safety analysis tools, such as DOORS, Cameo Systems Modeler, or equivalent tools.
• Master's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or a related field.

This position is 100% onsite at our Pine Brook, NJ location.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in New Jersey is $100,000 - $150,000 Annually. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge and skills, experience, and internal consistency.

Additionally, we offer a medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with company match, tuition assistance, paid vacation and sick days, paid holidays, and a 9/80 work week with every other Friday off. Our work environment embraces our people as we enjoy monthly employee events that celebrates our workplace culture.

Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans