Principal Safety Engineer

Job Description Do you have the technical authority and systems safety expertise to support some of the UK's most advanced naval and defence technologies?We are looking for a Principal Safety Engineer to join the Safety & Environmental Protection team at TKMS ATLAS UK, based at Winfrith, Dorset. This role has been created to strengthen safety leadership across existing and future programmes supporting the UK Ministry of Defence and major UK prime contractors.As a Principal Safety Engineer, you will provide senior technical leadership in the application of safety and environmental protection principles across the full product lifecycle. You will act as a technical authority, championing best practice, ensuring regulatory and legislative compliance, and supporting the delivery of robust, safe, and compliant defence systems.You will work closely with engineering, systems, ILS, and project teams to ensure safety and environmental considerations are embedded from concept through to in-service support. You will also support the development and capability growth of the wider Safety & Environmental Protection Engineering team.Key responsibilities include:Providing senior technical leadership in product safety and environmental protection activitiesManaging and reporting safety and environmental tasks across multiple programmesSupporting bids by estimating costs, timescales, and safety effortImplementing and maintaining safety engineering policies and processes in line with legislation and customer requirementsSupporting the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Safety & Environmental Management System (SEMS)Ensuring compliance with applicable defence standards, legislation, and best practiceWorking with system experts to identify, assess, and manage safety and environmental risksSupporting the production of safety cases, technical construction files, and declarations of conformityMentoring and supporting the development of safety and environmental engineersActing as a delegate for the Safety & Environmental Protection Team Leader when requiredYou will report to the Safety & Environmental Protection Team Leader and work as part of a collaborative, technically focused team operating within a dynamic defence environment.The ideal candidate will have:A degree in an engineering-related discipline or significant equivalent experience in a marine or defence engineering environmentExperience working in a safety-critical or regulated engineering environment, ideally defence or maritimeStrong systems safety engineering experience across the product lifecycleKnowledge of MOD safety and environmental frameworks and defence standardsProfessional membership with a recognised institution (IEng/CEng or working towards)Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholdersA proactive, analytical approach with the ability to manage multiple prioritiesFunctional Safety certification (e.g. TV) is desirable but not essentialTKMS ATLAS UK provides innovative underwater systems for the Royal Navy and international customers. Based on the Jurassic Coast, they combine science, engineering, and R&D to deliver world-class sonar, autonomous, and maritime systems. Their collaborative culture values technical excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement.They offer:Competitive salaryCareer development and funded training opportunitiesPension with up to 1.5x employer contributions25 days annual leave (increasing to 28 after 5 years and 30 after 10 years)Dental cover & Employee Assistance ProgrammeFlexible, hybrid, and condensed working optionsThe successful candidate must be eligible for full Security Clearance (SC).At TKMS ATLAS UK, we support our staff to create work-life balance and encourage applications from individuals seeking part-time, condensed, or full-time opportunities.JBRP1_UKTJ

Created: 2026-03-07