Certification Lead Engineer | Aviation & Defence

Northrop Grumman; Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Purchased annual leave

Salary packaging

Health and wellbeing support

Volunteer & Reservist Leave

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Australia is seeking a Senior Technical Aviation Engineer based in Brisbane to lead complex aircraft certification activities. You will work across design engineering, airworthiness, regulatory, and program stakeholders to drive certification projects from planning to final approval.

The role emphasizes hands-on certification activity rather than traditional project management, with responsibilities including CVE activities and compliance verification within Defence aviation

Qualifications

• 10+ years' professional engineering experience within aviation.
• 5+ years' experience performing Compliance Verification Engineer (CVE) activities within DASA/CASA or similar aviation regulatory environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering in Aeronautical/Aerospace or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate complex aircraft certification projects.
• Establish certification strategies, schedules and applicable airworthiness requirements.
• Coordinate certification programs, Type Investigations and repair-related certification activities.
• Establish certification bases and compliance checklists.
• Coordinate test programs used to demonstrate compliance.
• Review compliance evidence for completeness against airworthiness requirements.
• Provide technical verification that Type Investigation activity has been appropriately completed.
• Engage with Military Type Certificate Holder organisations and the Defence Aviation Safety Authority.
• Provide certification and airworthiness advice across aircraft programs.
• Mentor engineers and certification professionals in demonstrating and documenting compliance.
• Exercise CVE responsibilities within your engineering discipline.

Skills

Aviation engineering

CVE experience

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (Aero/Avionics)

Job description

Lead complex aircraft certification projects where your engineering judgement has real influence.

Bring your aviation certification expertise to one of Australia's most technically challenging engineering environments. Based in Brisbane, this senior engineering opportunity will see you lead complex aircraft certification activities, working across design engineering, airworthiness, regulatory and program stakeholders.

You'll become a key technical point of contact for certification and airworthiness matters, helping take certification projects from initial planning and certification basis through Type Investigation and final approval.

About the Opportunity

This is not a traditional project management position.

It is a Senior Technical Aviation Engineering role for an experienced certification professional who understands what it takes to demonstrate compliance in a regulated aircraft environment.

Working within the Design and Certification function, you'll coordinate complex certification projects governed by the Defence Aviation Safety Regulations (DASR), while also participating directly in certification activity and exercising a Compliance Verification Engineer delegation within your engineering discipline.

The environment is varied. Projects can range from high-priority aircraft-on-ground support through aircraft modification and sustainment activity, requiring you to work across aircraft types and different certification origins.

About the Team

Working closely with the Head of Design and Chief of Office of Airworthiness, you'll provide technical leadership across complex certification projects and engage with engineering teams, program stakeholders, MTCH organisations and DASA.

What You'll Do

You will:

• lead and coordinate complex aircraft certification projects;
• establish certification strategies, schedules and applicable airworthiness requirements;
• coordinate certification programs, Type Investigations and repair-related certification activities;
• establish certification bases and compliance checklists;
• coordinate test programs used to demonstrate compliance;
• review compliance evidence for completeness against applicable airworthiness requirements;
• provide technical verification that Type Investigation activity has been appropriately completed;
• engage with Military Type Certificate Holder organisations and the Defence Aviation Safety Authority;
• provide certification and airworthiness advice across aircraft programs;
• exercise CVE responsibilities within your functional engineering discipline; and
• mentor engineers and certification professionals in demonstrating and documenting compliance.

Why Join Us

Bring your certification expertise to an environment where you can remain technically engaged while influencing complex Defence aviation outcomes.

Technical Impact

Lead complex aircraft certification activities and help solve challenging airworthiness and compliance problems.

Complex Engineering

Work across aircraft modification, sustainment and high-priority AOG activities, including aircraft with different certification origins.

Work With Aviation Experts

Collaborate with senior design, airworthiness, engineering and regulatory stakeholders.

Career Development

Continue developing your expertise in aviation certification, airworthiness and technical leadership.

Flexible Working

Hybrid working arrangements.

Additional Benefits

Purchased annual leave, salary packaging, health and wellbeing support, and Volunteer & Reservist Leave.

About You

10+ years' professional engineering experience within aviation; and

5+ years' experience performing Compliance Verification Engineer (CVE) activities, gained within DASA, CASA or another relevant aviation regulatory environment.

You'll also bring:

• a Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering, or an Engineers Australia recognised equivalent;
• advanced understanding of DASR and initial/continued airworthiness;
• experience applying systems engineering within Defence or civil aviation;
• experience operating as a technical leader;

Ready to Make an Impact?

Everyone Matters

Doing the right thing and sharing success are two values underpinning how we behave at Northrop Grumman. Here, everyone matters including candidates from diverse backgrounds.

We are particularly proud of our commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as demonstrated through our Second Innovate RAP (2024-2026), and our support for Veteran employment, and welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Veterans to apply to join our team.

As a Defence security clearance is required for this role, you must be an Australian Citizen. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are applicable, as such your nationality may be a factor in determining your suitability for this role. You will also need to satisfy police checks and employment screening verification.

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