Airworthiness Staff Engineer

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) seeks an experienced engineer to integrate airworthiness into engineering programs, aligning with FAA, EASA, NATO and DoD standards.

The role focuses on certification planning, compliance documentation, and coordination with regulators to sustain airworthiness approvals. You will lead technical reviews, develop certification plans, and present analyses to customers and stakeholders while managing multiple projects and ensuring adherence to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or related technical discipline with progressive engineering experience.
• Thorough understanding of engineering concepts, codes and theory; capable of applying them in evolving environments.
• Ability to develop and communicate new concepts, organize and coordinate work phases.
• Experience managing schedules and budgets; familiarity with Microsoft Project.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; able to lead teams on complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Supports integration of airworthiness into the engineering environment and reviews system operation for improvements.
• Devises new approaches to resolve unusual engineering challenges and apply airworthiness processes from regulators.
• Collaborates with customers and authorities to develop airworthiness plans, certification bases, and compliance reports.
• Represents the company at technical reviews, conducts presentations, and hosts airworthiness meetings.
• Manages airworthiness tasks across programs, assesses risks, and proposes corrective actions.
• Creates labor-hour estimates for airworthiness work on proposals and may supervise subcontractors.

Skills

Strong communication

Project management

Airworthiness knowledge

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in engineering

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supports integration of airworthiness into the overall engineering environment. Reviews the operation of engineering systems and identifies deficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
• Devises new approaches to resolve unusual or complex engineering challenges.
• Learns and applies airworthiness processes used by various customers and regulators/authorities to obtain and sustain airworthiness approvals.
• Works closely with customers, their airworthiness authorities and company functional engineering departments to develop airworthiness program plans, develop certification bases, troubleshoot conflicting design/development requirements, develop certification plans, coordinate test and analysis activities, develop compliance reports (or their equivalent), and address other special airworthiness concerns. Works with all levels of management, customers and government representatives.
• Plans and executes focused tasks supporting the documentation and presentation of engineering analyses, tests, inspections, and other means to show compliance with airworthiness requirements.
• Authors technical documentation.
• Represents company at customer technical reviews and meetings. Makes technical presentations. Organizes and hosts airworthiness meetings, as required.
• Manages performance of airworthiness tasks on programs. Provides status to functional and program leadership, identifies program risks related to airworthiness, assesses causes of anomalous performance and suggests corrective actions.
• Creates estimates (labor hours) to conduct airworthiness work for proposals.
• May support management of subcontractors, particularly with regard to consulting on airworthiness matters.
• Maintains strict confidentiality of customer and company sensitive information.
• May support configuration management activities.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: six or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, four or more years of experience with a master's degree, or two or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Must have a thorough understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory; experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; and, capable of expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practices in related technical specialties.
• Must possess the ability to develop and communicate new concepts; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and, determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Experience managing schedules and budgets. Experience managing projects with Microsoft Project is desired.
• Must have strong communication, computer, documentation (experience writing technical documents), presentation, organizational, leadership and interpersonal skills; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas; capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact and, lead a team of moderately experienced professional employees on single component projects.
• Must be capable of managing airworthiness support for more than one project at a time.
• Must be able to work independently and have strong delegating skills. Must be able to work well on a self-initiated basis and in a team environment.
• Prior work with FAA, EASA, EMAR, NATO (STANAG 4671) and US DoD (MIL-HDBK-516) airworthiness design and process requirements, especially DO-178C and DO-254, is strongly preferred.
• Prior experience working with domestic and/or international airworthiness authorities is preferred, either Military or Civil Authorities.
• Familiarity with uninhabited, autonomous systems is preferred.
• Prior experience assessing and verifying compliance with type certification requirements for aircraft or their components is preferred.
• Ability to work on site, work extended hours, and travel as required to meet project objectives, support subcontractors and customers.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is required.

Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 98,100 - 171,398