What’s your possible?

At Northrop Grumman UK, you are part of a team driving innovation where it matters most – solving tomorrow’s challenges and shaping the technology solutions of the future. It’s what we call Defining Possible.

This mindset goes beyond our customer solutions; it’s the foundation for your career development and the positive impact we have within the communities we serve.

The Opportunity

This is more than just a job; it’s a mission

As a Principal Safety Engineer, you’ll have the chance to lead safety assurance activities on the design, development, and maintenance of cutting-edge infrastructure for naval vessel Platform Management Systems – including both surface ships and submarines. You will play a critical role leading safety activities regarding the development of the product and the provision of support to mission-critical naval operations. Reporting to the Product Safety Manager and as a linchpin in the Safety Engineering team.

Safety engineering activities include Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOPs), Functional Failure Analysis (FFA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) and Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA).

Our UK Defence business is a Sovereign software and systems centre of excellence. As well as developing and supporting UK wide and internationally deployed multi-domain command and control systems, our work is critical to the modern backbone of the Royal Navy. We pioneer – with fierce curiosity, dedication, and innovation, we seek to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

What you will be doing

• Derive safety activities and work schedules required by the programme to deliver agreed project milestones and satisfy safety requirements.
• Leading safety activities to ensure that the customer’s safety targets, and derived safety targets can be met by the system design, considering relevant aspects of Hardware, Software and Firmware.
• Leading safety audits at internal and external design reviews and safety committee meetings.
• Ensuring technical documentation is produced to a high standard in accordance with company/customer procedures.
• Leading analysis that positively impacts the design decisions and solutions propose by the engineering teams.
• Presenting complex and well-reasoned safety arguments to internal and external stakeholders in order to influence their consideration of safety decisions.
• Working collaboratively within multi-disciplined teams to maximise NGs reputation by generating high quality and well-reasoned outputs
• Awareness of latest standards and best practices to drive improvement
• Provide input to the Monthly Staff Meeting, Team Briefings and SOFT report.
• Supervision and development of other employees as required.  May be requested to act as a mentor to more junior employees.

What we are looking for

• Relevant work experience in a safety-related engineering environment
• Experience in leading technical activities
• Understanding of international and defence standards such as IEC 61508 and Def Stan 00-056
• Experience of safety assurance of COTS PE based systems and/or high integrity software
• Ability to understand hardware and software failure modes, causes and effects
• Experience in safety/reliability analysis techniques: hazard identification and analysis, FMECA, FTA, Functional Failure Analysis
• Experience of the tools and techniques used in Risk Assessments and developing ALARP justifications
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team (e.g. systems, hardware, software and ILS engineers, project management, customer and supplier engineering teams)
• Master’s degree, Degree, HND or HNC in Engineering or Safety Management related discipline

If you don’t meet every requirement but are motivated to develop a career in safety engineering, we still encourage you to apply.

Security Clearance

Due to the nature of our work, you must be a UK national for this clearance type.
You must be able to gain and maintain SC (Security Check) UK Government security clearance.

Our recruitment team is on hand to answer any questions and will guide you through the process: [email protected] [Safety Engineer | Word]

Our Benefits

• Flexible and hybrid working options, including a compressed fortnight with every other Friday off
• Private healthcare
• Cash health plan
• Holiday buy and sell options
• Performance‑related bonus
• Career development, training and mentoring opportunities

Why join Northrop Grumman UK?

A Mission to Believe In
Every day, our teams help build a more secure and connected world through technology that protects what matters most.

A Place to Belong and Thrive
We value diverse perspectives and believe that inclusive teams create better outcomes. Every voice matters here.

Your Career, Your Way
From early‑career development to future leadership opportunities, we support you to shape a career that grows with you.

Ready to apply?

Yes – Submit your application online.
Possibly – Reach out to our team for more information: [email protected]
Not right for you? – Explore other opportunities with us. We’re growing across the UK

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, and encourages individuals from all backgrounds and all abilities to apply and consider becoming a part of our diverse and inclusive workforce.