Aircraft Certification Design Engineer

Daher LLC; Sandpoint, Northern (ID, KY); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Daher LLC in Sandpoint, Idaho invites an experienced Certification Engineer to lead Kodiak certification activities. You will coordinate with the FAA, manage certification plans, and guide design changes to ensure compliance with Part 23/Part 21D requirements.

The role supports foreign validations and ongoing airworthiness activities. Join a team responsible for Kodiak aircraft programs, with emphasis on FAA liaison, regulatory strategy, and robust documentation for continued airworthiness and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline.
• 10 years aerospace experience with 3+ years in certification activities.
• Strong knowledge of 14 CFR Part 23 and AMDT 23-63.
• Experience with 14 CFR Part 21D certification and FAA Order 8110.4.
• Knowledge of regulations, Orders, and Advisory Circulars.
• Experience with Minor Change Agreement processes.
• Ability to collaborate with the FAA and DERs.
• Familiarity with foreign validation processes and concepts.
• Willingness to learn Kodiak airplane structures and systems for changes.
• Ability to manage certification plans, compliance documents, and conformity inspections.

Responsibilities

• Review type design changes and provide regulatory input to cross-functional teams.
• Classify changes as minor or major per MCA.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations in change substantiation.
• Maintain relationship with FAA WCB program manager and coordinate with FAA.
• Develop strategic plans to navigate evolving FAA policies.
• Support development of compliance checklists for major change programs.
• Prepare certification documentation and test plans for certification activities.
• Support foreign validation efforts and international regulatory processes.

Skills

Certification activities

FAA coordination

DER collaboration

Part 23 knowledge

Part 21D familiarity

Education

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

Job description

## Aircraft Certification Design EngineerApplylocations: Sandpointtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: R3293-2026**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 partnersDaher'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.Kodiak Aircraft Company is seeking a **Certification Engineer** to act as a primary certification coordinator, serving as a focal for the Kodiaks relationship with the FAA. 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. Additional responsibilities include preparing certification plans and compliance documentation, maintaining conformity 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 changes to:* Provide technical and regulatory input to cross-functional teams* Classify each change as either a minor or major change in accordance with the approved Minor Change Agreement (MCA)* Confirm all relevant regulations are addressed in the change substantiation* Ensure that changes are submitted to each applicable DER in accordance with MCA requirements* Maintain a strong, constructive relationship with the FAA WCB program manager* Facilitate routine discussions with the FAA to secure timely support for certification programs and design changes that require coordination with the FAA* Actively monitor and develop strategic plans to navigate the ever-changing FAA policies, and personnel changes* Support development and completeness of compliance checklists (CCL) as needed in support of Major Change programs and help maintain CCLs throughout the course of major certification programs* Support certification activities, including preparation of compliance documentation and test plans* Support foreign validation efforts and navigate various complex sovereign authority agreements* Support fleet continued operational safety (COS) activitie**s****What you need to have: (This is where you would put the requirements for the job)*** Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline* Minimum 10 aerospace experience (3 years with direct involvement in certification activities, including certification plans, FAA coordination, DER collaboration)* Well-versed in 14 CFR Part 23, Amdt 23-63 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 change requirements, experience working with a Minor Change Agreement.* Able to cultivate excellent working relationship with 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 aviation aircraft* Broad-level knowledge of aircraft systems architecture* Understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft performance, stability and control, and flight systems* Familiarity with DO-160 environmental requirements and testing* Experience managing continued operational safety for fielded aircraft, including:* Development, issuance, and compliance tracking of Service Bulletins (SBs), Mandatory SBs, and Airworthiness Directives (ADs).* Execution of 21.3 reporting and regulatory notifications in accordance with FAA/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.* Proficiency in continued airworthiness data analysis, trend monitoring, and reliability programs.* Strong understanding of configuration management and technical publication processes related to fielded aircraft.**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.**Your next opportunity starts here — here are the next steps:*** Review of your application* An initial conversation with a recruiter* One or more interviews depending on the position, with the relevant team members and manager(s)* After the interviews, constructive feedback regardless of the outcomeAll 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.