Designated Engineering Representative (DER), Mechanical

amca llc; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

amca llc is hiring a Designated Engineering Representative (DER) for mechanical products in El Segundo, California. This role supports certification efforts for a diverse range of products, providing regulatory guidance and ensuring compliance with airworthiness regulations.

The ideal candidate will have a BS in mechanical or aerospace engineering, active FAA DER appointment, and experience in hydraulic or structural certification projects. Knowledge of relevant regulations is essential.

Qualifications

• Active FAA Company or Consultant DER appointment in Mechanical discipline.
• Thorough knowledge of 14 CFR Parts 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29.
• Experience supporting TC, STC, or PMA certification projects.

Responsibilities

• Review mechanical design data for compliance with regulations.
• Develop certification plans with FAA and identify compliance methods.
• Serve as primary technical liaison to the FAA on mechanical product questions.

Skills

Mechanical design review

Regulatory guidance

Certification processes

Knowledge of airworthiness regulations

Education

BS in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Job description

Amca is building America’s new industrial base. Since the 1990s, our ability to build new aviation and military systems and maintain the ones we already have has eroded. Today, the gap between what the nation needs to produce and what it is capable of producing is the largest it has been in generations.

To help close that gap, Amca rapidly develops and manufactures new critical components and subsystems required to build and sustain the planes, military vehicles, and core infrastructure America needs. Today, we operate seven factories nationwide, including our advanced prototyping and testing headquarters in El Segundo, and deliver avionics, hydraulic, and electrical components for platforms such as the F-35, F-16, F/A-18, 737MAX, 787, A320neo, A321, Mk-48, and M1 Abrams.

Overview

You will serve as Amca's internal FAA-appointed Designated Engineering Representative for mechanical products. You will support certification of Amca's growing product portfolio — spanning hydraulics, pneumatics, and structures — working directly with the FAA Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) and Amca's mechanical engineering team across TC, STC, PMA, and TSOA programs. You will directly support mechanical design and development within the product development team.

Responsibilities

Engineering Support

• Review mechanical design data, stress analyses, and supporting reports for compliance with applicable airworthiness regulations.
• Provide regulatory guidance to Amca's mechanical engineering team throughout the design cycle.
• Advise on applicable regulations, advisory circulars, and special conditions for new programs involving hydraulic, pneumatic, and structural systems.
• Maintain current FAA DER appointment and complete all required FAA initial and recurrent training per FAA Order 8000.95.

Certification Planning and FAA Interface

• Develop and negotiate certification plans with the FAA Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) covering mechanical product scope.
• Identify compliance methods and documentation requirements for new certification projects from program kickoff through data approval.
• Serve as primary technical liaison to the FAA ACO or other relevant certification authorities on mechanical product questions, regulatory interpretations, and project status.
• Define test plans, witness certification and qualification tests, and approve resulting test data.

Certification Activities

• Determine the appropriate certification process for Amca product development (PMA, STC, TC, TSOA, and other projects) and support projects by reviewing and approving substantiating and descriptive data for compliance with applicable airworthiness standards.
• Develop a standard internal certification process for the different types of FAA workflows (PMA, STC, TC, TSOA, and other projects).
• Approve and sign FAA Form 8110-3 for mechanical systems engineering data within the limits of your DER authority.

Qualifications

• BS in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
• Active FAA Company or Consultant DER appointment in Mechanical discipline.
• Thorough working knowledge of 14 CFR Parts 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29 as applicable to Amca's product lines; familiarity with the certification basis and regulatory intent behind key airworthiness standards.
• Experience supporting TC, STC, or PMA certification projects for hydraulic, pneumatic, or structural products.
• Familiarity with FAA Form 8110-3 approval processes and DER authority and limitations under FAA Order 8110.37.
• Experience applying MIL-SPEC, AMS, and other defense-relevant standards in dual-use aerospace programs a plus.
• Experience in a defense or national security environment preferred.
• U.S. person required under ITAR.

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a US person as: any individual who is granted U.S. citizenship; or any individual who is granted U.S. permanent residence ("Green Card" holder); or any individual who is granted status as a "protected person" under 8 U.S.C 1324b(a)(3).

The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America prohibits discrimination or harassment based on the following categories: race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.