Airworthiness Manager

Etihad Engineering; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 360,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Etihad Engineering seeks a Manager Airworthiness to lead all airworthiness aspects of the design organisation in Abu Dhabi. This senior role oversees certification, regulatory compliance and continued airworthiness throughout development and post-implementation phases.

The post holder will monitor regulatory changes, coordinate with the Agency, and ensure DOH/DOP/TPM updates. A strong background in EASA/GCAA rules and extensive experience is essential for success.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in the aerospace industry, with at least 8 years as a post holder or CVE in an EASA/GCAA Design or Production org
• Deep knowledge of EASA Part 21 and/or GCAA CAR 21, airworthiness requirements and DO Handbook procedures
• Strong understanding of interfaces between EASA Part 21, Part 145 and Part M (or CAR 21, CAR 145 and CAR M) regulations

Responsibilities

• Monitor the activities of the Design Organisation and advise the Head for airworthiness matters
• Monitor new regulations and guidance from the Agency and update staff accordingly
• Ensure procurement and distribution of applicable certification specs and data requirements
• Amend DOH, DOP and TPM as necessary and supply copies to the Agency
• Cooperate with the Agency to develop procedures for certification
• Liaise with the Agency for interpretation of airworthiness and certification matters
• Ensure design activities stay within approval terms and monitor continued airworthiness
• Prepare and sign compliance documents for release
• Approve minor changes to type certificate and minor repairs
• Submit major change data to the Agency to obtain Supplemental Type Certificate
• Monitor design Organisation products for continued airworthiness
• Provide reports to the Agency on design activities
• Validate training plans and competence assessments for DO staff
• Develop and deliver trainings for DO staff
• Interview candidate Design Engineers and CVEs
• Oversee contractor/subcontractor monitoring and on-site audits
• Facilitate audits and implement corrective actions for safety/quality/compliance

Skills

Airworthiness knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder communication

Education

Engineering qualification in Aeronautical/Mechanical/Electrical-Electronics

Postgraduate (Masters) preferred

Job description

Job Description:

The Manager Airworthiness (MA) is a nominated post holder (Head of Airworthiness) of the Design Organization and manages all matters of airworthiness associated with the design activities and ensures compliance with all relevant procedures as defined in the company’s Design Organisation Handbook (DOH), Design Organisation Procedures (DOP) and Technical Procedures Manual (TPM). The MA is responsible for the definition and implementation of all planned design assurance actions throughout the development process, from start of the design activity to Continued Airworthiness actions post implementation.
The MA reports to the Head of the Design Organisation post holder for matters related to P21J approval.

Responsibilities

• To monitor the activities of the Design Organisation and advise the Head of the Design Organisation for all matters of airworthiness associated with the design activities.
• To monitor new regulations and guidance materials issued by the Agency and ensure the Design Organisation staff is updated accordingly.
• To ensure procurement and distribution of applicable certification specifications, environmental protection and operational suitability data requirements and other specifications and standards as required.
• To ensure DOH, DOP and TPM are amended as necessary, and copies of the amendments are supplied to the Agency in a timely manner.
• To cooperate with the Agency in developing procedures to be used for the certification process.
• To liaise directly with the Agency for the interpretation of airworthiness and certification matters and requesting decisions of the Agency if in doubt.
• To ensure that all design activities performed are within the terms of approval as specified in the design organisation approval certificate.
• To ensure the classification of the changes and repairs designed by the organisation is correct and approve it.
• To check that all compliance documents are prepared as necessary to demonstrate compliance with regulations, as well as for completeness, and signing for release of the documents.
• To approve minor changes to type certificate and minor repairs.
• To submit major change data (including AFM, MEL, OSD, etc.) to the Agency to acquire Supplemental Type Certificate.
• To ensure that the products of the Design Organisation can be monitored for continued airworthiness.
• To provide to the Agency on a regular basis a report of design activities performed by the Design Organisation.
• To ensure design data archive and staff records are maintained and controlled by the Office of Airworthiness.
• To validate the annual training plan and the competence assessment results for all design organization personnel to ensure compliance with the applicable regulations and company procedures.
• To develop and deliver specific trainings for DO staff.
• To interview candidate Design Engineers and Compliance Verification Engineers for nomination.
• To manage the Design Organisation contractor/subcontractor monitoring program by ensuring the initial and surveillance desk or on-site audits are performed and related interface agreement is signed.
• To facilitate internal and external audits; to investigate any non-compliance finding and to ensure prompt corrective actions to remedy any safety, quality or compliance deficiencies and monitor the effectiveness of the corrective action plans.
• To ensure initiation of activities as a response to a failure (accident / incident / in-service occurrence), evaluation and complaints from the operation and providing of information to the Agency in case of airworthiness or operational suitability impairment and advising the Agency with regard to the issue of Airworthiness Directives based on Service Bulletins.
• To monitor significant events on other aeronautical products as far as relevant to determine their effect on airworthiness or operational suitability of products being designed by the Design Organisation.
• To prepare manpower management plan (available resources vs required manpower for plotted upcoming projects) for OoA.

Qualifications

• Hold an engineering qualification in the field of Aeronautical, Mechanical or Electrical/Electronics Engineering. A post graduate (Masters) qualification is preferred.
• Have a minimum of fifteen (15) years experience in aerospace industry, of which at least eight (8) years experience as a post holder or CVE in an EASA/GCAA Design or Production organization [Equal FAA or NAA experience is acceptable].
• Be able to demonstrate an in depth knowledge and understanding of EASA Part 21 and/or GCAA CAR 21, airworthiness requirements (JAR/CS/FAR25) and DO Handbook and associated procedures.
• Have an understanding of the interfaces between EASA Part 21, Part 145 and Part M (and/or GCAA CAR 21, CAR 145 and CAR M) regulations.
• Be uninfluenced by time and projects pressures and maintain an uncompromised position towards certification.
• Must be prepared for GCAA and EASA approval as post holder office of airworthiness.