Safety Engineer - Speculative Talent Pipeline

About the role

Department: Engineering

Location: Bristol, UK

Description

We’re building the UK's next generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience.

We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied.

Our work focuses on accelerating the deployment of technology, improving decision-making for frontline teams, and protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments.

Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 200 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe’s fastest-growing engineering businesses.

About the role

From requirements engineering and system architecture through to integration, verification and validation, you'll contribute to the delivery of safety on complex, mission‑critical systems.

Whether you're early in your career or an experienced engineer, you'll be supported to grow your skills and take on increasing responsibility. More senior hires will shape safety strategy, influence projects at programme level, and mentor others as Rowden continues to scale.

You can register your interest by applying to this advert, and when a suitable vacancy opens, we’ll get in contact with you.

Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance.

More information about security clearance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Depending on your level of experience, you will

• Deliver safety engineering activities across projects, contributing to planning and execution using appropriate tools (e.g. JIRA, JAMA).
• Support or lead safety work packages, ensuring activities are delivered to time, cost and quality expectations.
• Apply recognised safety analysis techniques such as FMEA, HAZOP and BowTie.
• Contribute to or define safety strategy and methodology, including identification of deliverables and milestones.
• Support system design activities, including architectural evaluations, trade studies and technical feasibility analysis.
• Produce and maintain safety documentation, ensuring it is clear, consistent and meets customer requirements.
• Develop safety arguments and artefacts, including hazard logs, legislation compliance assessments, and safety case reports.
• Engage with internal teams, building effective working relationships.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Rowden's safety engineering practices and processes.
• Present work and progress at project reviews (with increasing responsibility at higher grades)

At a more senior level, you will also

• Lead safety strategy and delivery across projects or programmes.
• Provide technical leadership and domain expertise.
• Manage stakeholders and customer interfaces.
• Coach and mentor junior engineers.
• Shape and improve organisational safety capability.

Essential (all levels)

• An understanding of systems engineering and safety engineering principles.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• A collaborative mindset and ability to work within cross-functional teams.

Developing / Mid-level engineers may bring

• Experience supporting safety activities such as hazard identification and analysis.
• Familiarity with safety lifecycles and common techniques (e.g. FMEA, HAZOP).
• Experience contributing to safety documentation and requirements.
• An understanding of relevant standards, regulations, or engineering environments.

Senior engineers may bring

• Proven experience leading safety engineering activities across the lifecycle.
• Strong capability in safety requirements elicitation, including derived requirements.
• Experience defining safety strategy and influencing system design.
• Ability to manage work packages, priorities, and dependencies.
• Experience mentoring or leading other engineers.
• Confidence engaging with customers and presenting at reviews.
• Knowledge of Government engineering and procurement environments.

Working at Rowden

We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are!

We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid-working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role).

We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part-time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.

Finally, if you feel that you don’t meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we’d still love to hear from you!

Pay and benefits

For transparency and to help candidates make informed decisions, these are the salary ranges for the different levels we are hiring across systems engineering (DOE):