Aircraft Certification Design Engineer

DAHER; Sandpoint (ID); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Daher's Kodiak program in Sandpoint, Idaho is seeking an Aircraft Certification Design Engineer to act as a primary certification coordinator, interfacing with the FAA for type design changes and regulatory compliance. The role requires deep knowledge of 14 CFR Part 23 and related regulations, and the ability to navigate both domestic and foreign validation processes.

Responsibilities include preparing certification plans, managing conformity, and supporting safety activities such as SB/AD

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline.
• Minimum 10 aerospace experience, with 3 years in certification activities including FAA coordination and DER collaboration.
• Well-versed in 14 CFR Part 23, AMDt23-63 and prior, and Part 21D certification knowledge.
• Knowledge of the relationship between regulations, Orders, and Advisory Circulars.
• Ability to cultivate excellent working relationships with the FAA and foreign validation processes.

Responsibilities

• Review type design changes and provide technical and regulatory input to cross-functional teams.
• Classify changes as minor or major per MCA.
• Ensure regulatory requirements are addressed in change substantiation.
• Submit changes to DERs per MCA requirements and maintain FAA relationships.
• Support certification activities, including preparation of compliance docs and test plans.
• Assist with foreign validations and navigation of regulatory authorities.

Skills

Aerospace Certification

FAA Coordination

Regulatory Compliance

DER Collaboration

Part 23/Part 21D knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline

Job description

Job Title

Aircraft Certification Design Engineer

Who are we?

As an aircraft manufacturer, industrialist, industrial service provider and logistician, Daher currently has approximately 14,500 employees and achieved a revenue of 1.9 billion euros in 2025. With its family ownership, Daher has been focused on innovation since its creation in 1863. With locations in 15 countries across Europe, North America and Asia, Daher designs and develops value-added solutions for its aeronautical and industrial customers and partners

Daher’s Idaho site, located in Sandpoint Idaho, a small outdoor community located between Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer Mountain, is home to Kodiak, a rugged mission ready 10-seat short takeoff and landing turboprop. The facility supports design, manufacturing, development, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities for the Kodiak 100 and Kodiak 900, serving customers worldwide. The team of approximately 300 employees builds airplanes starting largely from raw materials, all the way through painting, to final assembly, defining built by hand in Sandpoint Idaho. Beyond final assembly is comprehensive customer service, aircraft maintenance, technical support, and quality oversight, while continuing to engineer the next generation of Kodiak capability.

KodiakAircraft Company is seekinga CertificationEngineer to act as a primary certification coordinator, serving as a focal fortheKodiaks relationship with theFAA.This role provides technical and regulatory guidance on type design changes, manages major and minor change classifications, and ensures compliance with 14 CFR Part 23 and Part 21 requirements.

The position involves close coordination with the FAA West Certification Branch(WCB), support for foreign validations, and strategic navigation of evolving regulatory policies.Additionalresponsibilities include preparing certification plans and compliance documentation,maintainingconformity oversight, and supporting continued operational safety activities such as Service Bulletin and Airworthiness Directive management, 21.3 reporting, and root cause analysis to uphold airworthiness and fleet safety standards.

Core Duties and Responsibilities(other duties may be assigned):

• Review of all type design changesto:
• Providetechnical and regulatory input to cross-functional teams
• Classify each change as either a minor or major changein accordance withthe approved Minor Change Agreement (MCA)
• Confirmall relevant regulations are addressed in the change substantiation
• Ensurethat changes aresubmittedto each applicable DERin accordance withMCA requirements
• Maintain astrong, constructive relationship with the FAA WCB programmanager
• Facilitateroutine discussions with the FAA to securetimelysupport for certification programs and design changes that require coordination with theFAA
• Activelymonitorand develop strategic plans to navigate the ever-changing FAA policies,andpersonnel changes
• Support development and completeness of compliance checklists (CCL) as needed in support of Major Change programs and helpmaintainCCLsthroughout the course of major certification programs
• Support certification activities, including preparation of compliance documentation and test plans
• Support foreign validation efforts andnavigate various complex sovereign authority agreements
• Support fleetcontinued operational safety (COS)activitie s

What you need to have: (This is where you would put the requirements for the job)

• Bachelor’s degree inAerospace,Mechanical,Electrical, or related Engineering discipline
• Minimum10aerospace experience (3 yearswith direct involvement incertification activities, including certification plans, FAAcoordination, DER collaboration)
• Well-versed in 14 CFR Part 23,Amdt23-63 and prior
• Working knowledge of 14 CFR Part 21D certification and FAA Order 8110.4.
• Knowledge of relationship between regulations, Orders, and Advisory Circulars.
• Understands minor changerequirements,experience working with a Minor Change Agreement.
• Able to cultivate excellent workingrelationshipwith the FAA.
• Experience and/or familiarity with foreign validation processes and concepts.
• Able to learn the Kodiak airplane models’ structures and systems in support of minor change agreement
• Able to manage certification plans, compliance checklists, compliance documents, conformity inspections, etc. for a certification project.
• Familiarity with system safety concepts and processes including FHA, SSA, and FMEA as used in general aviation.

Additional Qualifications (preferred):

• Pilot’s license or operational knowledge of general aviationaircraft
• Broad-level knowledge ofaircraftsystems architecture
• Understanding of aerodynamics,aircraftperformance, stability and control, and flight systems
• Familiarity with DO-160 environmental requirements and testing
• Experience managing continued operational safety for fieldedaircraft, including:
• Development, issuance, and compliance tracking of Service Bulletins (SBs), Mandatory SBs, and Airworthiness Directives (ADs).
• Execution of 21.3 reporting and regulatory notificationsin accordance withFAA/EASA requirements.
• Coordination with regulatory authorities and operators to ensure timely resolution of safety issues.
• Root cause analysis and corrective action planning for in-service events.
• Familiarity with Safety Management Systems (SMS) and risk assessment methodologies.
• Ability to interpret and apply Part 21, Part 39, and other applicable airworthiness regulations.
• Proficiencyin continued airworthiness data analysis, trend monitoring, and reliability programs.
• Strong understanding of configuration management and technical publication processes related to fieldedaircraft.

Information related to the position: (Required for all positions)

• The compensation range is $115,000 to $140,000 in base salary plus an annual target bonus.
• The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Daher considers a number of factors when determining salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate’s experience, skills, and current market conditions.
• At Daher, your total rewards package is more than just your base salary as we offer a full benefit package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Life insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays and more.

All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. By completing an application with Daher, you are seeking to join a team of hardworking professionals dedicated to consistently delivering outstanding service to our customers and contributing to the financial success of the organization, its clients, and its employees. Equal access to programs, services, and employment is available to all qualified persons. Those applicants requiring accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process should contact an HR representative.

Daher complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local law.