Manager - Design Office

Dubai Aviation Corporation; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

flydubai seeks an experienced professional to manage the Design Organisation, maintain the Handbook and ensure compliance with UAE GCAA CAR-21 Subpart J while supporting in-house capabilities for operational needs.

The role leads airworthiness/certification activities, guides design change pathways, and coordinates with OEMs and TC holders to drive efficient certification processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5 years experience in GCAA CAR-21 Subpart J / EASA Part 21 Subpart J Design Organisation context.
• Regulatory knowledge of CAR-21 Subpart J / Part 21 Subpart J is required.

Responsibilities

• Manages and supports the Design Organisation in investigation, development and implementation of Design Changes to be embodied across the flydubai fleet.
• Fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing within the Design Organisation to improve design change delivery and certification support.
• Maintains the Design Organisation Handbook and updates regulatory and procedural changes.
• Ensures design activities comply with the Design Organisation Approval and Handbook.
• Leads airworthiness and certification matters for design activities ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Assists in classifying Design Changes and determining efficient paths to certification approval.
• Monitors open certification programmes and aligns resources with needs and timelines.
• Supports investigations arising from non-conformity identified by the Authority or ISR related to CAR-V CAR-21 Subpart J.
• Coordinates third-party design changes and STC implementations with TC holders and OEMs.
• Drives engineering management strategy and implements resource plans and competency assessments.
• Collaborates with other engineering departments to align fleet actions with maintenance activities.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge CAR-21 Subpart J

English fluency

Microsoft Office / IT systems

Airworthiness & certification

Certification approval approach

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

ICAO Type 2 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer License

Tools

AMOS

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Main objective of role

To manage and oversee the day-to-day activities of the flydubai Design Organisation, maintain the Design Organisation Handbook, ensure compliance with the UAE GCAA CAR-21 Subpart J approval, and support the development of in-house capabilities in line with operational requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Manages and supports the Design Organisation resource in the investigation, development and implementation of Design Changes (Modifications) to be embodied across the flydubai fleet.
• Fosters a collaborative and supportive working environment within the Design Organisation to promote best practice, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement in the delivery of design change and certification support.
• Maintains the Design Organisation Handbook to ensure any associated regulatory, organisational procedural updates are accurately reflected.
• Ensures that all design activities are performed in accordance with the Design Organisation Approval and associated Design Organisation Handbook.
• Leads airworthiness and certification matters associated with the design activities of the Design Organisation whilst ensuring compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements.
• Assists in determining the classification of Design Changes (Modifications) and the most efficient path to certification approval.
• Provides a continuous review of all ‘Open’ certification programmes, monitoring compliance demonstration activity and resource alignment with the established needs and timelines to ensure project success and organisational efficiency.
• Supports investigations arising from any non-conformity identified by the Authority or Independent Monitoring System related to CAR V CAR-21 Subpart J activity i.e. Air Safety Reports, Engineering Safety Reports and Reporting of Safety Incidents.
• Coordinates the project management of third-party Design Changes (Modifications), and Supplemental Type Certificate implementations with Type Certificate holders, Original Equipment Manufacturers, and relevant Engineering and Maintenance stakeholder.
• Drives efficiencies by developing, implementing and executing a comprehensive engineering management strategy aligned with organisational goals and industry best practices.
• Develops and implements effective resource plans, training programmes and competency assessments to ensure assigned resources have the required capability to support design and certification activities.
• Collaborates with other engineering departments to align fleet technical actions, Design Changes (Modifications) plans and maintenance activities, supporting operational efficiency and compliance with applicable regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (3+ years)
• Engineering Degree OR ICAO Type 2 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers License
• Fluent in English
• Minimum 5 years relevant experience working within a GCAA CAR-21 Subpart J / EASA Part 21 Subpart J Design Organisation of which at least 3 years have been spent holding a Compliance Verification Engineer approval.Proficient demonstratable regulatory knowledge of GCAA CAR-21 Subpart J / EASA Part 21 Subpart J.Working knowledge of initial airworthiness and environmental protection.
• IT systems including Microsoft Suite and knowledge of Maintenance Repair Organisation systems such as AMOS would be desirable.
• Years with qualifications: 7 - 9 years

Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Team work
• Effective Communication
• Personal Accountability & Commitment to achieve
• Resilience and Flexibility (Can do attitude)
• Inspiring & Developing Others
• Decision Making
• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen

ISR requirements

Reads and complies with the ISR policies of the Company and diligently reports any weakness or incidents to the respective Line Manager or the Information Security team. Completes all required ISR awareness sessions and follows associated guidelines in the day-to-day business operations.