About CFD Research: Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has delivered innovative technology solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, Intelligence & Sensing, and Energy & Materials industries. CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. Based in Huntsville, Alabama where laboratory facilities and headquarters are located, CFD Research also has office and laboratory facilities in Dayton, Ohio, prototyping test and evaluation facilities in Hollywood, Alabama, and office facilities in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. CFD Research is an ISO9001:AS9100D registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for Services. CFD Research is a 100% ESOP (employee-owned company) recognized in Inc. Magazine's Inc5000 as a top growing company for four of the last five years. Learn more at
About the Job
CFD Research is seeking a Safety Manager to support our Engineering Test Center in Hollywood, Alabama. This position will serve as the primary on-site safety professional for a technical environment that may include propulsion testing, fuels and oxidizers, compressed gases, pressure systems, operations, machining, and fabrication.
About the Role
The Safety Manager will partner with engineering, manufacturing, facilities, security, quality, and program leadership to identify hazards, evaluate operational risk, establish practical controls, and maintain compliance with applicable occupational safety requirements. The position will be expected to participate directly in test planning and readiness activities, provide independent safety input, and help ensure that hazardous work is planned, documented, and performed in a controlled manner.
What You'll Do
- Lead the occupational safety program for the Engineering Test Facility and support the continuous improvement of the company’s occupational safety and health program.
- Serve as the primary safety advisor to site leadership, engineering teams, test personnel, manufacturing personnel, and facilities staff.
- Participate in test planning, test-readiness reviews, pre-task briefings, and operational risk reviews for propulsion and other high-energy test activities.
- Evaluate hazards associated with fuels, oxidizers, compressed gases, pressure systems, combustion products, electrical systems, and test equipment.
- Develop and maintain safety policies, procedures, standard operating procedures, emergency plans, permits, checklists, and technical safety guidance.
- Conduct job hazard analyses, risk assessments, process hazard reviews, what-if analyses, and other structured hazard evaluations appropriate to the operation.
- Conduct routine inspections of test areas, manufacturing spaces, laboratories, storage locations, mechanical areas, and contractor work sites.
- Investigate injuries, illnesses, near misses, property damage, spills, releases, fires, test anomalies, and other safety-related events.
- Support compliance with OSHA General Industry requirements and other applicable federal, state, local, contractual, and consensus standards.
- Develop and administer programs addressing hazard communication, respiratory protection, personal protective equipment, lockout/tagout, electrical safety, confined spaces, fall protection, machine guarding, hot work, and emergency response.
- Assist with chemical approval, inventory control, Safety Data Sheet management, storage compatibility, labeling, and hazardous-waste coordination.
- Support emergency preparedness, including spill and release response planning, evacuation drills, fire protection coordination, severe-weather planning, and interfaces with local emergency responders.
- Establish contractor safety expectations and review contractor work plans, permits, qualifications, and site controls before hazardous work begins.
- Develop and deliver employee safety training, technical briefings, toolbox talks, lessons learned, and targeted safety communications.
- Analyze inspection, incident, training, and corrective-action data to identify trends and recommend program improvements.
- Support facility design, equipment installation, and modification projects by identifying safety requirements early in planning.
- Provide leadership with clear reporting on significant hazards, open corrective actions, operational risk, and resource needs.
- Promote a professional safety culture in which employees are expected to stop work, report hazards, and participate in risk reduction without fear of retaliation.
What You'll Need
- Bachelor's degree in occupational safety, environmental health and safety, engineering, chemistry, industrial hygiene, fire protection, or a closely related technical discipline; equivalent directly relevant experience may be considered.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible industrial safety experience in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, chemical processing, test operations, or another high-hazard technical environment.
- Demonstrated knowledge of OSHA General Industry standards and the ability to research, interpret, and translate requirements into practical workplace controls.
- Experience conducting incident investigations, interviewing personnel, evaluating evidence, determining root causes, and developing corrective actions.
- Experience completing job hazard analyses, operational risk assessments, or process hazard reviews.
- Working knowledge of hazardous materials, flammable or combustible liquids, compressed gases, high-pressure systems, electrical hazards, machine safety, and industrial emergency preparedness.
- Ability to understand technical processes, drawings, test plans, operating procedures, and equipment configurations sufficiently to identify safety concerns and ask effective questions.
- Strong written communication skills and experience developing policies, procedures, investigation reports, training materials, and leadership briefings.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with engineers, technicians, operators, managers, vendors, and government or customer representatives.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and electronic task or corrective-action tracking systems.
- Ability to wear required personal protective equipment and access industrial, manufacturing, outdoor, mechanical, and test environments.
- S. citizenship required due to the nature of the company's work and contractual requirements.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
- Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).
- Experience supporting propulsion, aerospace testing, explosives safety, fuels, oxidizers, or other hazardous operations.
- Experience with process safety management concepts, process hazard analysis, management of change, pre-startup safety review, and mechanical integrity.
- OSHA 10 or 30-Hour General Industry, OSHA 511, or OSHA 501 training.
- HAZWOPER, hazardous-materials technician, hazardous-materials specialist, or incident-command training appropriate to assigned response duties.
- NFPA 70E, lockout/tagout, confined-space, fall-protection, hot-work, respiratory-protection, crane and rigging, or pressure-system safety training.
- Current First Aid, CPR, and AED certification.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
Work is performed in a combination of office, manufacturing, laboratory, outdoor test, mechanical, storage, and active industrial environments. The employee may be exposed to loud noise, heat, cold, weather, moving equipment, chemicals, fuels, oxidizers, compressed gases, cryogenic materials, elevated pressure, combustion products, and other hazards associated with engineering and propulsion test operations. Appropriate training, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment will be provided as required.
The position may require standing and walking for extended periods, climbing stairs or ladders, entering industrial and test areas, bending or crouching to inspect equipment, and occasionally lifting or moving materials weighing up to 30 pounds. The employee must be able to respond to site incidents and support operations that may occur outside normal business hours.
Benefits: CFD Research offers competitive salaries and excellent employee benefits, including an employer matching 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). CFD Research offers our Full-Time, permanent employee-owners a highly competitive insurance package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance. Additionally, we offer company paid leave, compensation time, parental leave, long-term and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance. Part-Time and Temporary employee-owners may receive partial or reduced benefits and leave time based on their employment status level. Performance appraisals occur twice a year and annual pay increases are based upon corporate goals, personal development, performance, and outstanding achievements. In addition, group and individual bonuses are awarded for exceptional performance.
CFD Research is an EO employer - Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories