Principal System Safety Engineer

Date Posted: 2026-05-06 | Location: Aurora, CO | Onsite role | U.S. citizenship required for active and transferable Top Secret DoD security clearance (must be active on day 1).

About the Role

As a Principal System Safety Engineer, you will be accountable for the establishment and execution of major safety programs. The Safety Lead is a technical expert in missile safety and a project manager who establishes and monitors safety program execution, leads program safety teams, and interfaces with program and functional leadership. This role requires advanced application of MIL-STD 882E for System Safety (hardware, software, firmware, and personnel) for DoD Missile systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement one or more MIL-STD-882E compliant system safety programs involving management (task series 100), analysis (task series 200), evaluation (task series 300), and verification (task series 400).
• Apply project management skills to:
  • Create and update the strategy for the program to meet milestones with system safety features integrated into the product in compliance with contract and funding.
  • Create and integrate safety tasks and activities into the program Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).
  • Plan and manage the safety program effort within the Program IMS.
  • Understand the safety budget and tasking through coordination with the responsible CAM/IPTL/product owner, including EACs.
• Mentor junior safety engineers.
• Actively engage in engineering review boards and configuration control boards to assess design changes and impacts to the established safety program.
• Establish an ongoing feedback loop with functional and program management.
• Lead and coordinate System Safety Working Group(s) between key Raytheon and customer representatives.
• Escalate risks to the appropriate level and follow through on corrective actions.
• Interpret system requirements, customer specifications, and military standards to recommend compliance strategies to program leadership (e.g., Chief Engineer, Program Manager, Integrated Product Team Lead).
• Work across integrated product teams to eliminate hazards or provide effective controls.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across engineering functions to identify and mitigate risks, including:
  • Systems Engineering
  • Software Engineering
  • Firmware Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Hardware Engineering
  • Environmental Safety & Health
  • Human Systems Interfaces
  • Test Engineering
• Analyze engineering hardware, mechanical and electrical drawings, and schematics to assess fault tolerance, latent hazards, and safety requirements compliance.
• Collaborate with Program Management and government approval authorities across all lifecycle phases: design, fabrication, integration and test, production, demilitarization, and disposal.
• Manage safety-related interactions with suppliers and/or subcontractors.
• Innovate better safety solutions and identify best practices to improve overall safety culture at Raytheon.
• Understand and shape system safety/Human System Interfaces postures across the lifecycle (design, integration/test, flight test, production, field, returns).

Requirements

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience.
• Experience developing and implementing MIL-STD-882E System Safety Program tasks and analyses, including hardware and software safety-related tasks.
• Experience with DoD System Safety Programs (e.g., MIL-STD-882, DO-178).
• Experience managing a safety program and collaborating with stakeholders across engineering functions to identify and mitigate risks.
• Active and transferable final U.S. government-issued Top Secret security clearance (required prior to start date).
• U.S. citizenship (required for security clearance eligibility).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience briefing at military safety review boards.
• Experience with system and software safety implementation in an Agile Development environment.
• Interpersonal and project management skills, with the ability to manage a safety program and direct support personnel.
• Experience with Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) and Proposal Development.
• Experience interfacing with Human Systems Integration and executing Human Factors Engineering tasking involving MIL-STD-1472.
• Experience with Engineering Change Proposals, Engineering Review Boards, and System Safety Working Groups.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
• 401(k) match.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee Scholar Program.
• Parental leave.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Eligibility for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs (dependent on role level and collective-bargaining agreement).

Pay

The salary range for this role is $107,500 - $204,500 USD. The range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including role, function, responsibilities, work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.