Human Spaceflight System Safety Engineer (Hybrid) – Centaur V

ARES Corporation seeks a Human Spaceflight System Safety Engineer to join an engineering team supporting United Launch Alliance (ULA) and NASA’s Artemis program. The selected candidate will provide critical system safety support for the Centaur V upper stage on crewed Artemis missions.

In support of ULA’s Human Spaceflight Team, this role focuses on ensuring the Centaur V upper stage meets NASA’s rigorous human-rating safety requirements, including hazard identification, risk assessment, fault tolerance, and safety verification necessary for safe crewed flight.

Work location: Hybrid, with regular on-site support at ULA’s facility in Centennial, Colorado.

Essential Functions:

• System Safety Program Support: Support system safety activities for the Centaur V upper stage, including the development, review, and maintenance of hazard reports, safety analyses, and safety requirements compliance documentation.
• Hazard Analysis & Risk Mitigation: Perform and support detailed hazard analyses to identify credible hazards, evaluate risk, and develop appropriate mitigation strategies to ensure compliance with NASA human spaceflight safety standards.
• Human-Rating Certification Support: Evaluate the Centaur V design, subsystems, and operational processes against NASA human spaceflight safety and human-rating standards. Assess fault tolerance exceptions, provide technical rationale, and support certification efforts with NASA.
• Safety Review & Customer Coordination: Prepare for and support NASA safety reviews, including coordination with NASA safety organizations, presentation of safety data, and closure of safety actions and findings.

Minimum Requirements:

• Strong background in System Safety Engineering for complex, high-reliability aerospace systems.
• Experience developing hazard reports, performing hazard analyses, and supporting safety certification for human spaceflight or similarly critical systems.
• Experience with NASA safety standards and processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex systems for safety-critical failure modes and risk.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly present safety rationale and risk assessments to NASA customers and senior management.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple competing priorities.
• Dedication to crew safety and mission success with high personal accountability.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience supporting NASA human spaceflight programs (Artemis, SLS, Orion, Commercial Crew, or similar).
• Hands-on experience with NASA safety review processes (e.g., Safety Review Panels, Hazard Review Boards).
• Familiarity with Centaur/upper stage propulsion systems, avionics, or cryogenic fluid systems.
• Background in developing or reviewing safety products for flight software, propulsion, or integrated vehicle systems.

Required Education/Experience:

• BS/BA degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Safety Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 6+ years of professional experience including System Safety Engineering, preferably within human spaceflight, launch vehicles, or other high-hazard aerospace programs.

ARES offers a competitive compensation and benefit package. Full time employees may participate in:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• HSA/FSA Accounts
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Paid Time Off & Holidays
• ARES is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets Employer.

ARES shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.