About the opportunity
The United States Space Force (USSF) at Vandenberg SFB, CA, is hiring a System Safety Engineer for SLD 30 (NH-0803-03, GS 12/13 equivalent). This high-impact role involves driving safety-critical requirements across Government and Commercial space lift missions by applying SSCMAN 91-710 and MIL-STD-882E standards. The successful candidate will lead comprehensive hazard analyses, author safety-derived requirements for hardware and software, manage mission risk profiles, and deliver technical briefings to Space Force Leadership and industry working groups. The role requires collaboration with defense and aerospace partners to ensure mission safety from design through launch, working semi-autonomously to develop safety artifacts and provide guidance to engineering teams.
Salary and benefits
- Competitive salary range of $104,349 – $161,313 per annum
- Federal employee benefits package
- Disabled veteran leave for eligible veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more
Who can apply?
- Must meet individual occupational requirements for the 0803 series
- Experience in system safety engineering within the aerospace or defense industry
- Proficiency with SSCMAN 91-710 Range Safety Requirements and MIL-STD-882E System Safety programs
- Experience executing safety analysis techniques such as PHA, FHA, SHA, FTA, SSHA, and FMECA
- Experience generating safety documents including System Safety Program Plans (SSPP) and Safety Assessment Reports (SAR)
- Strong communication skills and ability to work on own initiative
Required documents
- Resume (maximum two pages, font size at least 10 pts, excluding personal information like age, gender, religion, or SSN)
- College Transcripts (if applicable)
When to apply
- Applications must be submitted by the closing date of 2026-09-10 at 23:59:59
How to apply
- Submit resume and required documents through the official USAJOBS portal link provided in the job announcement
- Verify that all documents are received and processed via the USAJOBS account dashboard
- Do not email applications directly
Additional information
- This is a Direct Hire opportunity
- Travel may be required to support mission requirements
- Employed annuitants are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants
- Interviews may be conducted for qualifying candidates
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- System safety engineers with specific experience in the aerospace or defense sectors.
- Professionals proficient in SSCMAN 91-710 and MIL-STD-882E safety standards.
- Individuals capable of leading hazard analyses and managing mission risk profiles for space lift operations.
What should you think carefully about?
- The role is on-site at Vandenberg SFB, requiring physical presence.
- Travel may be necessary to support mission requirements.
- The position is subject to specific DoD policies regarding the employment of annuitants.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This role is well-suited for an engineer aiming to advance their career in the high-stakes field of space safety, providing a platform to influence mission success and collaborate with defense leadership.
Our take
Engineers with a strong background in aerospace safety standards who are eager to work directly on launch missions should consider this role.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
Official-source verifiedSource: USAJOBS




