System Safety Engineer Jobs in California
System Safety Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in aerospace and defense, rail and transit, medical devices, and autonomous vehicle development, with demand at every level from early-career to principal engineer. The largest hiring metros are Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where established employers such as Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and BART are long-standing anchors. The most in-demand specialties include MIL-STD-882 compliant systems analysis, functional safety for automotive and medical platforms, and hazard analysis for defense programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo's 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world's first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.
Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America's next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.
Vast is looking for a System Safety Engineer, reporting to the Vice President, Flight Safety & Mission Assurance, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of the world's first commercial human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Partner with engineering teams to develop a technical understanding of system design and operation. Document hazards to safety and mission and author controls to mitigate the hazard to the greatest extent possible.
- Assess and document vehicle compliance with failure tolerance requirements
- Identify areas of opportunity for design improvements that minimize risk to people and property
- Participate in design reviews to communicate safety analysis and outcomes, to both internal and external partners
- Perform system safety analyses such as functional hazard analyses, crew survivability analysis, safety data package, human error assessment, range safety compliance
Minimum Qualifications:
- Minimum of a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering or related field with experience in aerospace, aviation, or a similar safety critical industry
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience performing system safety analyses and certification of human-rated space systems
- Experience performing compliance assessment of system safety processes and products against external standards including Range Safety (91-710), NASA, FAA, MIL-STD-882, or ARP-4761
- Experience performing system safety activities such as functional hazard analyses, crew survivability analysis, safety data package, human error assessment, range safety compliance
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fluid schematics, and electrical circuit diagrams
- Strong safety and mission assurance fundamentals
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate technical information to non-technical partners
- Ability to form relationships with experts from varying engineering fields and provide constructive feedback about safety concerns
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 20% of the time
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
- Specific certifications, as appropriate
We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo's 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world's first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.
Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America's next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.
Vast is looking for a System Safety Engineer, reporting to the Vice President, Flight Safety & Mission Assurance, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of the world's first commercial human-rated space stations.
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Partner with engineering teams to develop a technical understanding of system design and operation. Document hazards to safety and mission and author controls to mitigate the hazard to the greatest extent possible.
- Assess and document vehicle compliance with failure tolerance requirements
- Identify areas of opportunity for design improvements that minimize risk to people and property
- Participate in design reviews to communicate safety analysis and outcomes, to both internal and external partners
- Perform system safety analyses such as functional hazard analyses, crew survivability analysis, safety data package, human error assessment, range safety compliance
Minimum Qualifications:
- Minimum of a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering or related field with experience in aerospace, aviation, or a similar safety critical industry
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience performing system safety analyses and certification of human-rated space systems
- Experience performing compliance assessment of system safety processes and products against external standards including Range Safety (91-710), NASA, FAA, MIL-STD-882, or ARP-4761
- Experience performing system safety activities such as functional hazard analyses, crew survivability analysis, safety data package, human error assessment, range safety compliance
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fluid schematics, and electrical circuit diagrams
- Strong safety and mission assurance fundamentals
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate technical information to non-technical partners
- Ability to form relationships with experts from varying engineering fields and provide constructive feedback about safety concerns
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 20% of the time
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted
- Specific certifications, as appropriate
We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
See All 23 System Safety Engineer Jobs in California
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Find System Safety Engineer JobsSystem Safety Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
System Safety Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Human Resources
- Aerospace & Defense
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in system safety engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Proficiency in MIL-STD-882 or IEC 61508 safety analysis standards and methodology
- Experience conducting hazard analyses including FMEA, FTA, and preliminary hazard assessments
- Familiarity with California-based defense or aerospace program documentation and configuration control
- Professional Engineer licensure through the California Board for Professional Engineers is strongly preferred
- Experience supporting safety case development for FAA, FRA, FDA, or DoD regulatory submissions
System Safety Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a system safety engineer in California?
Start with a bachelor's degree in systems, mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering from an ABET-accredited program. California employers widely respect the Professional Engineer credential issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, which requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practice exams. Pairing that credential with hands-on safety analysis experience on defense, transit, or medical device programs is the most reliable path to mid-level and senior roles in the state.
How much do system safety engineers make in California?
System safety engineers in California earn a median of about $131,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $83,210 for the lowest 10% to over $175,940 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire system safety engineers in California?
Employers hiring system safety engineers in California right now include Anduril, Northrop Grumman, and Rhoda AI, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's dense concentration of defense primes, transit agencies, and medical device manufacturers makes it one of the deepest markets for this role in the nation.
Which California cities have the most system safety engineer jobs?
San Diego, Costa Mesa, and Pasadena currently post the most system safety engineer openings in California. Los Angeles and San Diego lead because of the region's deep aerospace and defense contractor base, while the Bay Area draws openings from autonomous vehicle programs, rail transit authorities, and medical device firms concentrated in Silicon Valley and the East Bay.
Are there remote system safety engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Safety engineering often requires access to hardware, test environments, and program documentation under controlled conditions, which limits full-time remote work. About 57% of system safety engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026. The tasks most often performed remotely are documentation review, hazard analysis modeling, and safety case writing rather than hands-on verification or test witnessing.
How can I get hired as a system safety engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a systems or safety engineering internship with a California aerospace or defense contractor, where companies such as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon run structured early-career and new-graduate programs at their Southern California facilities. Adjacent roles in quality assurance, reliability engineering, or systems verification are common lateral moves that provide the analytical foundations California hiring managers look for. Earning the Associate Safety Professional credential from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals gives early-career candidates a measurable edge while they build program hours.
Where can I find and apply to system safety engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to system safety engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your background and target location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 23 System Safety Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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