F-35 WIPT WEAPONS CERTIFICATION ENGINEER

New Directions Technologies, Inc; Eglin Air Force Base (FL); Remote; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

New Directions Technologies, Inc. seeks an F-35 WIPT Weapons Certification Engineer to support airworthiness and stores integration at Eglin AFB, FL. The role requires coordinating with JPO, NAVAIR, and AFLCMC SMEs, and providing DT/OT/Fleet Release evidence.

Telework eligibility is noted; travel monthly is possible. Candidates should have a BS in Engineering or STEM and 12+ years in weapon or aircraft program offices, with 5+ years in weapon/stores certification and related procedures.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain security clearance.
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or STEM field with 12 years relevant experience.
• 5+ years of experience with weapons and stores qualification and approval processes.
• Ability to review proposals and engineering drawings against F-35 JSF requirements.
• Experience coordinating with DoD and contractor organizations and authorities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage weapon airworthiness and certification evidence.
• Coordinate with JPO teams, NAVAIR and AFLCMC SMEs on certification items.
• Draft, review and comment on weapon certification documents and plans.
• Lead and participate in Joint Stores Certification Working Groups and reviews.
• Organize artifacts for EDARP, AP, CB, ACAP and DT/OT/Fleet Release packages.
• Provide training on certification artifacts to new PSI and integration engineers.

Skills

Weapon systems knowledge

Airworthiness certification

Technical communication

Project coordination

Assessment and reviews

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or STEM field

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Teams

Adobe Pro

Job description

F-35 WIPT WEAPONS CERTIFICATION ENGINEER - ID#:JR-2026-230

Location:

Status:

Full Time

Job Description:

Weapon Systems Engineer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO), Weapons Integration Product Team (WIPT) providing Platform Stores Integration (PSI). The primary responsibilities will be for assigned projects related to Airworthiness, requiring significant depth of experience in weapons and stores certification and integration to provide Developmental Test (DT), Operational Test (OT) and Fleet Flight Clearances. Coordinates, informs and communicates efforts with various JPO teams, NAVAIR and AFLCMC Subject Matter Experts (SME), Prime Contractor, subcontractors and government certification entities, as required. This position is located at Eglin AFB, Florida, and is eligible for telework.
Work with weapons integration and Airworthiness certification SMEs in preparing evidence to support DT, OT, and Fleet Release Flight Clearance/Military Flight Release.
Review and comment on flight clearance requests, engineering change proposals, and preliminary specification change notices.
Support weapon airworthiness and certification engineering planning activities by preparing and managing the execution of weapons-centric Engineering Data Requirements Agreement Plans (EDRAP), Airworthiness Plans (AP), Certification Basis (CB) and Airworthiness Certification Agreement Plans (ACAP).
In supporting these activities, the incumbent will coordinate and aggregate EDRAP, AP, CB, and/or ACAP artifacts, disseminate them to NAVAIR and/or AFLCMC for review and consolidate their responses to provide a unified, timely response.
Represent the F-35 Weapons IPT at technical reviews and all systems engineering meetings, as required.
Draft, review and comment on weapons certification documentation, publications and correspondence and assist in the planning of the Joint Stores Certification Working Groups (JSCWG).
Track action items from the JSCWGs and devise courses of action for closure.
Maintain weapon airworthiness certification training briefing and provide training to new PSI and integration engineers on the engineering artifacts and evidence underpinning DT/OT/Fleet Release Certification packages.
Host and/or participate in weekly weapon certification meetings and prepare/represent team at weapon team staff meetings.
Host and/or participate in reoccurring meetings with the NAWCWD SMEs and Class Desk to further understand and/or authorize new weapon capability on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Participate in weapon integration meetings to tailor airworthiness/certification evidence required for DT/OT/Fleet Flight Clearance Releases.
Organize SME input to support the creation of System Safety Risk Acceptance and new weapon approvals by US Service Safety Boards (NNMSB/WSESRB).
In support of the Weapon Certification Engineer(s) and Weapon Lead Engineer, continually audit and improve the engineering evidence supporting DT/OT/Fleet Flight Clearances, Military Flight Releases and F-35 Flight Series Data.
Submit weekly status reports on Integration to WIPT leadership to include weapon(s) roadmaps.
Prepare monthly inputs for F-35 Air Vehicle / Mission Systems briefings to leadership.

Education and Work Experience Requirements:

8613
Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required. Must be able to obtain and maintain program security clearances.
Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or STEM related field plus 12 years relevant experience in a Weapon or Aircraft Systems Program Office/Program Management Office.
Demonstrated experience of 5+ years and knowledge of qualification and approvals requirements for weapons and stores and knowledge of aircraft/stores design, development and certification procedures.
Ability to review proposals and engineering drawings using engineering knowledge to evaluate the proposed design against F-35 JSF requirements.
Ability to work effectively with weapons/stores manufacturers, in-service support organizations, weapons IPTs, qualification, approval and acceptance authorities as well as with all related JPO IPTs.
Working knowledge of DoW acquisition lifecycle process & relevancy to assigned weapon(s) system.
Demonstrated knowledge of fighter aircraft weapons practices and policies.
Military tactical weapons background is preferable.
Demonstrated ability to gather and analyze a variety of weapons program information, make sound judgments concerning weapons integration activities, and effectively communicate recommendations orally and in writing to senior military and government leadership.
Good briefing, interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
Travel once per month (2/month on occasion) and 3-5 days/trip. Foreign travel is unlikely but possible.
Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and Adobe Pro.