Functional Safety Engineer
| Posting date: | 02 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £62,000 to £69,105 per year |
| Additional salary information: | For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 March 2026 |
| Location: | KT15 3NB |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 434721/1 |
Summary
Can you turn complex risks into smart, secure solutions for national biosecurity?
Do you want to shape the future of functional safety in a £1 billion scientific redevelopment?
If so, this could be the perfect job for you.
Defra group Property (DgP) manages the provision of facilities management services to Defra’s executive agency; the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). APHA uses a wide range of specialist facilities as part of its aims to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy. These specialist facilities include biocontainment laboratories across the UK with the main laboratory campus being located at Weybridge. The Defra Weybridge site is the largest facility in terms of size and complexity across the Defra network and is currently going through a process of major investment (over £1b) and redevelopment in order to enhance its scientific capability. The site is at the forefront of research and diagnostic testing for animal and zoonotic diseases and leads on disease outbreak response for Defra.
The role of Functional Safety Engineer is part of DgP Technical Services team, largely but not exclusively based at Weybridge, and fulfils the role of Intelligent Client Function (ICF) for FM services across DgP’s UK Science Estate. The role will provide leadership on functional safety matters including but not limited to participating in Process Hazard Analysis and Safety Integrity Level (SIL) determination workshops, supporting various teams/ departments at various phases of the safety life cycle in producing and reviewing documentation, identifying significant functional safety risks and associated health and safety risks and developing strategies, objectives and plans to mitigate such risks.
The purpose of this role is to ensure DgP complies with the requirements of functional safety standards for specialist critical equipment. As the Functional Safety Engineer, you will be required to work as part of the Technical Services Function for the high microbiological containment facilities within DgP. You will also be responsible for providing functional safety support to projects and will be actively involved in the specification, design, implementation, operations and maintenance phases of the safety life cycle. You will report to the Head of Biocontainment and Process Safety Engineering and will take a proactive approach to identifying the Defra Scientific Estate functional safety management requirements and developing and implementing suitable plans to meet those requirements. You will ensure that a high-quality customer service is provided to both internal and external stakeholders. Initially this will include working alongside an on-site Functional Safety Consultant who will provide support and guidance. You will work closely with senior and functional managers, including support services such as engineering and sub-contractors, to assess their needs and ensure the delivery of the Functional Safety Management policy and plans for DgP Technical Services.
Key Responsibilities:
- Providing leadership on functional safety matters for DgP Technical Services including representing DgP on matters of functional safety management with external bodies.
- Managing all functional safety life cycle activities as per IEC 61508/ 61511.
- Participating in Process Hazard Analysis and SIL Determination workshops.
- Conducting or reviewing reliability analysis studies to confirm that the Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs) meet the corresponding SIL targets.
- Supporting various teams/ departments at various phases of the safety life cycle in producing and reviewing documentation.
- Engaging with the wider team (e.g. suppliers and sub-contractors) and fulfilling the role as an intelligent customer with regards to functional safety deliverables.
- Conducting bid evaluations, audits and assessments on sub-suppliers with regards to functional safety deliverables.
- Developing and maintaining a functional safety management system in line with current best practice.
- Implementing and maintaining document control for all documentation associated with the safety lifecycle.
- Raising awareness and training stakeholders on functional safety matters.
- Providing assurance to the organisation’s senior management on the effectiveness of the functional safety management system through the use of planned activities, such as risk assessments, audits, training and follow up on non-conformities.
- Identifying significant functional safety risks and associated health and safety risks and developing strategies, objectives and plans to mitigate such risks, including contributing towards the assurance, facilities, and engineering risk registers.
- Liaising with external consultants and contractors as appropriate for implementation purposes.
- Liaising with the DgP and its stakeholders to advise on the functional safety impacts of their activities.
- Maintaining the accuracy of the O&M lifecycle stage documentation for the Weybridge site, including the design documentation, maintenance records, SIF proof testing, SIF register and competency register.
- Reporting on Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) performance through Safety Performance Indicators and addressing negative trends and non-conformance.
- Investigating demands on the SIFs and SIS-related incidents.
Please note this role is based at the Weybridge office, KT15 3NB. Travel to other sites and overnight stays may be required for meetings or training events.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme