Engineer Senior - System Safety (Software Safety)
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The Security and Mission Assurance Strategic Support Unit provides discriminating support to the business to ensure success. We focus on threat identification, risk assessment, and mitigation while improving the efficiency of the business through effective governance and analysis of process, data and overall business knowledge.
Engineer Senior – System Safety (Software Safety)
As a member of the Mission Assurance, System Safety Engineering Organization, the Software Safety Engineer will be expected to perform software safety and software reliability related tasks on multiple programs covering all phases of program, software development (including programmable devices such as FPGAs and ASICs), and system safety lifecycles.
What You’ll Do
- Performs software safety analyses to identify whether software can contribute to a hazard.
- The Software Safety Engineer will assess and evaluate hardware and software functionality and interfaces (including human-in-the-loop) to identify safety critical computer system functions and safety critical software.
- Identifies specific software modules or functions associated with the hazard cause, identifies hazard elimination and hazard control methodologies and associated software safety requirements, and verifies that the inhibits and controls incorporated to eliminate or mitigate hazards are effective.
- Perform software safety-critical assessments based on government and civilian safety standards.
- Prepares software safety plans or contributes to system safety plans, including software safety.
- Ensures that safety-critical software functions are tracked and that risks are reduced through valid controls to ensure safer software operation within a system.
- Ensure that software requirements specifications clearly identify the software safety requirements.
- Ensure bi-directional traceability between software safety requirements and system hazards, which traces down to the software design, implementation, and verification method.
- Ensures that safety issues related to software are addressed in formal and informal reviews and that specific safety analyses and tests are performed especially when there are specific software safety issues and potential hazards.
- Interfaces with the testing organizations to ensure verification of hazard controls implemented by software.
- Reviews safety-critical software requirements for inclusion in project technical specifications.
- Familiarity with hazard analyses, such as fault tree analysis (FTA), functional hazard assessment (FHA), safety assessment reports (SAR) and subsystem hazard analysis (SHA).
- Reviews Systems Integration and Test Activities and Launch Site Operations to evaluate software as a potential hazard cause.
- Develops system operational reliability metrics based on system requirements for failure rates, Mean Time to Failure, Mean Time to Recovery, system availability, up time, etc.
- Performs software code analysis for defect predictions, defect density, code complexity, test effectiveness, and requirements verification.
- Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the SBU/SSU and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
- Perform other duties as necessary.
What You’ll Need
- BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 8 or more years related experience.
- Each higher-level related degree, i.e., Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of related experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
- Experience with software safety and reliability.
- An understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory; experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; and, expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practices in related technical specialties.
- The ability to understand new concepts quickly; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and, determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
- Excellent communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one engineering area; and, lead a team of less experienced professional employees on semi-routine tasks.
- The following experience is preferred:
- Working knowledge of industry safety standards (including MIL-STD-882, AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-8719.24, and NASA-STD-8719.13), methodologies, and tools as they relate to software safety;
- In-depth knowledge of industry accepted software development standards, methodologies, and tools (i.e., NASA, Air Force, DOD, etc.)
- Experience with software safety and reliability metrics analysis;
- Experience with fault tree and failure modes effect and criticality analysis or other system safety related methods of hazard analysis;
- Experience in all phases of the software development lifecycle;
- Familiarity with FPGA and other firmware programmable device software development;
- Experience with SEI, CMMI and ISO; experience with software reliability and IV&V;
- Design, coding, review, and test experience with the multiple programming languages and firmware development.
Working Conditions
- Ball Aerospace is a drug-free workplace, which is imperative to the health and safety of all employees and is required as a condition of receiving contracts from federal agencies. Please remember that regardless of the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and other states, possession and use continues to be illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. This includes the use of some CBD products. A post-offer, pre-employment drug test is a condition of employment.
- Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or clean room, outdoors or remote research environment.
- May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
- May access other facilities in various weather conditions.
- Travel and local commute between Ball campuses and other possible non-Ball locations may be required.
Future Clearance Required:
A current DoD clearance and/or SCI access with Polygraph is not required to be eligible for this position, however applicant must be willing and eligible for submission within 60-90 days after an offer is accepted and must be able to maintain the applicable clearance/access. By applying to this position, you are agreeing to complete a National Security Clearance Pre-Screen Questionnaire to evaluate your general ability to obtain the required security clearance or government customer access associated with this position.
Relocation for this position is available.
Compensation & Benefits
- HIRING SALARY RANGE: $129,500 - $163,500 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.)
- This position includes a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn more.
US CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED
Ball Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.
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