Systems engineering and software development representing professional indemnity insurance

Software & Systems Engineer PI Insurance

Professional Indemnity cover for software and systems engineers. Protection for systems architecture, integration design, and safety-critical software consulting.

$10M

Cover Available

Safety

Critical Systems

Same Day

Quotes

Recognition

Systems engineering shapes critical infrastructure, defence, and industrial operations. When architecture advice fails or safety-critical software underdelivers, Professional Indemnity insurance protects you from claims tied to the systems you engineered.

Get a Quote Call 02 9000 1155

Mission-Critical Work

Software and systems engineers increasingly work on infrastructure, defence, and industrial systems where failures have serious operational or safety consequences. The stakes are higher than general IT consulting, and your PI coverage needs to reflect this.

Long-Tail Liability

Systems you engineer may operate for years or decades. Claims can arise from work completed long before the failure. Maintaining continuous PI coverage with appropriate run-off provisions is important for systems engineers.

WHY TANK INSURANCE

What to look for in PI cover

Software and systems engineering creates liability exposure in high-stakes sectors where systems failures have major operational or safety consequences. We arrange PI coverage that reflects the criticality of the applications you work on.

Systems engineering workstation representing software and systems engineer professional liability

Safety-Critical Coverage

Safety-critical and mission-critical software requires specialist PI placement. We access insurers who understand the liability environment of defence, industrial, and safety-critical software.

Systems Integration

Integration failures between hardware and software create specific liability. Coverage addresses claims from integration design errors and systems that don't perform as specified.

Industrial Applications

SCADA, control systems, and industrial automation carry operational liability. We work to make sure your policy covers the industrial applications environment, not just enterprise IT.

Run-Off Provisions

Systems operate for years after delivery. We help structure coverage with appropriate retroactive dates and run-off provisions for long-lifecycle systems engineering work.

PROFESSIONAL RISKS

Risks Software & Systems Engineers Face

These systems engineering advisory services carry professional liability when architecture, integration, or safety-critical software specifications prove inadequate.

Systems architecture advice leading to costly infrastructure failures

Software requirements engineering errors causing project failure

Integration design failures between hardware and software systems

Safety-critical software specifications with inadequate fault tolerance

Embedded systems engineering errors in industrial or automotive applications

SCADA and control system design creating operational failures

Systems engineering project management advice leading to schedule overruns

Cybersecurity architecture advice failing to protect critical systems

COVERAGE DETAILS

What Software & Systems Engineer PI Insurance Covers

Professional Indemnity insurance for software and systems engineers covers claims arising from your systems architecture, integration design, and engineering consulting services.

Software systems engineering representing PI coverage

Usually Covered

✓ Legal defence costs when systems designs are challenged

✓ Systems architecture failure and integration error claims

✓ Safety-critical software specification inadequacy claims

✓ SCADA and control system design failure claims

✓ Software requirements engineering error claims

✓ Cybersecurity architecture inadequacy allegations

Not Typically Covered

✕ Software development defects (separate cover may be needed)

✕ Deliberate introduction of vulnerabilities or backdoors

✕ Known system deficiencies not disclosed at policy inception

✕ Cyber liability for breaches of systems you manage (Cyber insurance)

✕ Physical damage during site work (Public Liability)

✕ Regulatory fines for data protection failures

CLIENT CASE STUDIES

Real placements. Real outcomes.

Software and IT consulting PI can be harder to place than it looks, especially when contract requirements, cross-border work, or revenue changes are involved. Here's how we've handled it.

01 Sole Trader Developer - Two Declines, Three Consecutive Renewals

A senior sole trader software developer came to us after two major insurers declined his application through an online platform. We placed the policy through Woodina, a specialist underwriting agency, and renewed it three consecutive times.

At the third renewal, his revenue had dropped significantly - by close to half. Updating this required us to go direct to the underwriter to resolve manually, rather than through standard renewal channels.

Worth noting: at the first renewal, AIG and Vero - both of whom had declined his initial application on the same platform - came back with quotes on that platform at higher prices than our direct channel. Same insurer, same occupation, different channel, different outcome.

THE RESULT:

$1M PI placed with Woodina at initial placement and maintained across three renewals. Third renewal required direct underwriter contact to resolve a mid-cycle revenue change.

Read full case study

02 Cross-Border Consultant - GBP Contract Requirements, Additional Insured Endorsement

A sole operator software consultant with revenue across Australia, NZ, and the UK needed PI and PL cover that met specific requirements from a FTSE-listed global client. The contract required GBP minimum limits, an additional insured endorsement naming the UK client, and an indemnity to principals clause.

Two underwriters couldn't quote at all - software development wasn't listed as an accepted occupation in their systems. We approached four more and placed with Vero at the cheapest available premium, with all contract endorsements confirmed.

At renewal, the same insurers appeared on a major online aggregator at higher prices than our direct channel. AIG via the aggregator came in at around $1,000. Our direct placement with the same insurer came in at around $700 gross. Same insurer, same cover, cheaper direct.

THE RESULT:

$2M PI and $5M PL placed with Vero. Additional insured endorsement and indemnity to principals clause confirmed. All GBP contract thresholds met on AUD basis. Contract with the FTSE-listed client proceeded.

Read full case study

QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Do software and systems engineers need PI insurance?

Yes. Software and systems engineers who provide professional advice, design, or consulting services carry liability for errors and omissions in their work. If your systems architecture, software requirements, or integration design advice proves incorrect and clients suffer losses, PI insurance is designed to respond to defence costs and damages claims.

02 How is software/systems engineering PI different from standard IT PI?

Software and systems engineers often work on mission-critical or safety-critical applications in defence, industrial, infrastructure, and medical sectors. This creates higher-stakes liability than general IT consulting. Policies need to address safety-critical software, embedded systems, and the consequences of systems failures in these environments.

03 Are SCADA and industrial control systems covered?

Yes, systems engineering advice for SCADA, DCS, and industrial control systems is covered by PI insurance. If your control system design or integration advice causes operational failures, production losses, or safety incidents in industrial environments, claims can arise from your professional work.

04 What about safety-critical software for defence or aviation?

Safety-critical software engineering carries substantial liability given the consequences of failure. Coverage for defence, aviation, and safety-critical applications is available but requires specialist placement. We access insurers experienced in engineering for regulated safety-critical sectors. See our engineers insurance page for more on how we place hard-to-cover engineering risks.

05 How much PI cover do software and systems engineers need?

Cover of $1M-$10M is common, depending on the criticality of applications and the scale of clients. Safety-critical, defence, and large infrastructure projects often require higher limits. Your contract requirements will usually specify minimum coverage. For context on how limits and PI costs are trending for engineers, it's worth reviewing before you renew.

PI Insurance for Software & Systems Engineers

From systems architecture to safety-critical software, we arrange Professional Indemnity cover that protects software and systems engineers from claims when designs, integration, or engineering advice is challenged.

Call 02 9000 1155 Request a Quote →

Top Products

Specialist Cover

Need Something Specific?

Popular Sectors

Professional Services

Can't Find Your Industry?