Safety Systems Engineer

Job Title: Senior System Safety & Reliability Engineer (Part-Time, SME)Job DescriptionThis part-time Senior System Safety & Reliability Engineer role offers the opportunity to serve as a subject matter expert on large unmanned aircraft programs. You will guide aircraft systems as they progress from prototype and demonstration phases to operational, production-ready vehicles. In this position, you will provide both strategic advisory support and hands-on technical contributions, developing and reviewing safety and reliability analyses and documentation while collaborating closely with engineering teams and government stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise in system safety and reliability for large unmanned aircraft programs as they transition from prototype and demonstration stages to operational and production-ready systems.
• Develop, review, and refine system safety engineering work products in accordance with MIL-STD-882 and related standards.
• Create and evaluate hazard analyses and other safety analyses, including FMIA/FAMIA-type safety and reliability artifacts, ensuring they meet program and regulatory expectations.
• Translate customer and stakeholder safety requirements into practical engineering and safety solutions that can be implemented by the technical teams.
• Participate in technical discussions with engineering teams, program leaders, and government stakeholders to communicate safety and reliability risks, mitigations, and recommendations.
• Provide strategic guidance on safety and reliability approaches while also producing hands-on technical deliverables and documentation.
• Assess existing safety and reliability analyses, identify gaps or improvement opportunities, and recommend enhancements to processes and artifacts.
• Support planning and execution of safety and reliability activities throughout the aircraft design and development lifecycle.
• Engage in virtual and occasional onsite working sessions to support reviews, design discussions, and stakeholder engagements as needed.
• Adjust workload and availability to align with variable part-time needs driven by program milestones and design cycles.

Essential Skills

• Extensive experience in System Safety Engineering with expert-level knowledge of MIL-STD-882.
• Approximately 15 or more years of experience in aerospace, defense, aviation, rotorcraft, unmanned systems, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience developing and reviewing hazard analyses and other safety and reliability artifacts, including FMIA/FAMIA-type products.
• Proven ability to provide strategic safety and reliability guidance while also delivering hands-on technical work products.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with engineers, program leaders, and customers.
• Experience assessing customer requirements and translating them into practical engineering and safety solutions.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to support a primarily remote work environment and participate in virtual or occasional onsite working sessions as needed.
• Ability to work a variable part-time schedule with workload that fluctuates based on program and design cycles.
• Deep system safety and reliability expertise sufficient to operate as a credible Senior-level subject matter expert.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Aircraft or aviation system-safety experience, particularly with aircraft or helicopter systems, is strongly preferred due to the nuances of aircraft system safety.
• Experience in defense aerospace environments.
• Background in engineering followed by a transition into safety and reliability work.
• Engineering degree preferred, especially when combined with direct aircraft safety and reliability experience, though not strictly required for candidates with demonstrable deep expertise.
• Experience supporting unmanned aircraft systems programs.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams in a remote setting.
• Comfort working in a consulting or advisory capacity, providing guidance that augments the capabilities of existing teams.

Work EnvironmentThis role operates in a fully remote work environment, supporting engineering and program teams primarily through virtual collaboration tools. You will work part-time with a variable schedule that adjusts to program phases, design cycles, and key milestones rather than a fixed weekly hour commitment. Occasional participation in virtual or onsite working sessions may be required to support critical reviews, stakeholder meetings, or design activities. The work focuses on advanced aerospace and unmanned aircraft systems, leveraging modern engineering and documentation tools in a professional, stable, and flexible setting that values Senior-level expertise and independent, self-directed contributions. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Round Rock, TX. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $75.00 - $85.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits

available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Round Rock, TX. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 16, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully remote position.About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.