Certification Engineer

Apera; Moses Lake (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Apera seeks an experienced Certification Engineer to lead complex aircraft certification programs and engage directly with the FAA. The role is fully remote with senior-level responsibilities across regulatory planning, documentation and cross‑functional integration.

Responsibilities include coordinating with DERs and international authorities, developing robust certification strategies, and mentoring engineering teams through FAA processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering or related discipline.
• At least five years of aircraft certification experience.
• Experience supporting FAA certification and Supplemental Type Certificate projects.
• Proven ability to engage and work independently with the FAA.
• Strong understanding of 14 CFR regulations and applicable advisory material.
• Experience with FAA Orders 8110.4 and 8110.37.
• Experience developing certification plans and managing compliance demonstrations.
• Familiarity with aircraft systems design, testing and certification.
• Strong technical leadership, communication and decision-making skills.
• Experience with requirements or compliance-tracking tools such as Jama.

Responsibilities

• Lead aircraft certification projects from initial planning through final regulatory approval.
• Act as the primary technical liaison with the FAA.
• Develop certification strategies that balance regulatory risk, programme schedules and budgets.
• Develop Certification Bases, compliance plans, Change Product Rule evaluations, Issue Papers, Equivalent Levels of Safety and exemptions.
• Prepare, review and submit certification documentation and compliance demonstration data.
• Interpret and apply 14 CFR Parts 23, 25, 27, 29 and 33, along with relevant operational regulations and FAA advisory material.
• Coordinate with Designated Engineering Representatives and international regulatory authorities.
• Work with design, manufacturing, quality and flight-test teams to integrate certification requirements across the product lifecycle.
• Support foreign validation and military certification activities when required.
• Provide certification guidance and mentorship to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Help define certification requirements for new programmes and customer proposals.

Skills

Aircraft certification

FAA liaison

Regulatory compliance

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory strategy

Documentation

14 CFR regulations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Jama

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Certification Engineer to support innovative aerospace programmes involving clean-sheet aircraft, eVTOL, hybrid-electric, hydrogen, supersonic, fixed-wing and rotorcraft technologies.

This is a fully remote, senior-level opportunity for someone who can independently lead complex aircraft certification projects and engage directly with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Key responsibilities:

• Lead aircraft certification projects from initial planning through final regulatory approval.
• Act as the primary technical liaison with the FAA.
• Develop certification strategies that balance regulatory risk, programme schedules and budgets.
• Develop Certification Bases, compliance plans, Change Product Rule evaluations, Issue Papers, Equivalent Levels of Safety and exemptions.
• Prepare, review and submit certification documentation and compliance demonstration data.
• Interpret and apply 14 CFR Parts 23, 25, 27, 29 and 33, along with relevant operational regulations and FAA advisory material.
• Coordinate with Designated Engineering Representatives and international regulatory authorities.
• Work with design, manufacturing, quality and flight-test teams to integrate certification requirements across the product lifecycle.
• Support foreign validation and military certification activities when required.
• Provide certification guidance and mentorship to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Help define certification requirements for new programmes and customer proposals.

Required experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering or a related discipline.
• At least five years of aircraft certification experience.
• Significant experience supporting FAA certification and Supplemental Type Certificate projects.
• Proven ability to engage and work independently with the FAA.
• Strong understanding of 14 CFR regulations and applicable advisory material.
• Working knowledge of FAA Orders 8110.4 and 8110.37.
• Experience developing certification plans and managing compliance demonstrations.
• Familiarity with aircraft systems design, testing and certification.
• Strong technical leadership, communication and decision-making skills.
• Experience with requirements or compliance-tracking tools such as Jama.

Preferred experience:

• Experience working with EASA, Transport Canada, ANAC, CAAC or other international authorities.
• Experience with eVTOL, fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, avionics or propulsion systems.
• DER authorisation or extensive experience working alongside DERs.

This opportunity would suit an experienced certification professional who is comfortable independently owning FAA certification activities, advising technical teams and managing regulatory compliance across challenging aerospace programmes.

Location: Fully remote

Travel: Infrequent travel of less than 10%