Senior Systems Engineer, Safety and Reliability

Job description

**Who We Are** We are pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense. If you're excited about disrupting legacy industries and building safety-critical systems that fly, let's chat! We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel the aerospace and defense sectors into the future. *A couple other things:* - We offer a lot of autonomy - We like to run lean for impact - We have great benefits - We are well funded, and already generating revenue - We just moved into a new large hangar facility in Hawthorne, CA **What you'll do:** We are looking for a Senior Systems Engineer with deep expertise in safety and reliability to own safety and reliability deliverables across the product lifecycle — from requirements and architecture through analysis, test, and certification. You will work directly with our systems engineering lead, DER, and cross-functional leads across hardware, software, and mechanical engineering on a fast-moving FAA Part 25 / EASA CS-25 certification program. Safety Analysis - **Hazard Analysis & Assessment:** Own FHA, PSSA, and SSA activities end-to-end. Produce certification-quality deliverables that satisfy SAE ARP4754B and SAE ARP4761A guidelines. - **Fault Analysis:** Lead FTA and FMEA/FMES (Failure Modes and Effects Summary) development across system, subsystem, and component levels. Maintain traceability from hazard to design mitigation to verification evidence. - **Requirements Allocation:** Define and allocate safety requirements to hardware, software, and mechanical subsystems. Track closure through test and analysis. - **Certification Interface:** Serve as the safety engineering point of contact for the FAA DER and airframe customer technical teams. Support development of safety plans, compliance checklists, and design assurance documentation. Reliability Engineering - **Reliability Modeling:** Develop and maintain reliability models and predictions using MIL-HDBK-217, FIDES, or equivalent methods. Own MTBF analysis and reliability requirement allocation to subsystems. - **FMEA/FMES:** Drive reliability-focused FMEA activities that feed both design decisions and safety analysis inputs. Cross-Functional Collaboration - **Design Reviews:** Participate in PDR and CDR as the safety and reliability subject matter expert. Identify and drive resolution of safety-relevant design risks. - **Software & Hardware Interface:** Support DO-178C and DO-254 planning activities as they interface with system-level safety requirements. **What you need:** - **Education:** Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering. Advanced degree a plus. - **Experience:** 5+ years of systems engineering experience, with at least 3 years focused on safety and/or reliability analysis. Hands-on ownership of deliverables — not just familiarity. - **Safety Frameworks:** Demonstrated working knowledge of SAE ARP4754B and SAE ARP4761A, or equivalent frameworks (IEC 61508, MIL-STD-882, ISO 26262 considered). Must have owned FHA, FTA, and FMEA/FMES deliverables through a formal review. - **Reliability Methods:** Proficiency in MTBF analysis and reliability prediction. Ability to build and maintain reliability models independently. - **Communication:** Strong written communication; able to produce certification-quality documentation that holds up to DER and airframe customer scrutiny. **Nice to have:** - Experience with FAA Part 25 or Part 23 certification programs. - Familiarity with DO-160G, DO-178C, and/or DO-254 as they intersect with system safety. - Background in adjacent industries is welcome — defense, medical devices, and automotive functional safety (ISO 26262) develop the same analytical rigor we need. - Prior experience at a small or scaling aerospace company. **What we have to offer:** We are not just building components. We are reshaping the future of the Aerospace and Defense component industry, which is a $300B+ market! Come join us and help build next generation systems that will make a massive impact at global scale. - Salary Range: $160,000-$175,000, plus equity and benefits at a well-funded, fast-moving startup - We offer competitive compensation + equity - Exceptional healthcare benefits, Medical is 100% covered by the company - Flexible PTO - 401K - More to come!