Principal Test & Certification Engineer

RECARO Aircraft Seating Americas LLC; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

RECARO Aircraft Seating Americas LLC in Fort Worth, TX, seeks a Principal Certification Engineer with extensive aerospace certification experience to guide testing, regulatory compliance and project leadership. You will mentor engineering teams, resolve complex certification challenges, and ensure processes align with FAA/EASA and OEM requirements.

The role demands deep knowledge of TSO/E-TSO, risk management, and the ability to work with suppliers and customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 10 years in an engineering role in aerospace, incl. 5 years in certification or project management.
• Deep understanding of FAA/EASA Part 21, Part 25 certification procedures for commercial aircraft seats, incl. TSO/E-TSO.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams during design, development and testing/certification.
• Lead cross-functional teams to resolve design, manufacturing, and certification challenges.
• Advise on TSO/E-TSO and regulatory requirements for design and certification.
• Coordinate with global engineering management to align testing processes and implement best practices.
• Contribute to risk analysis and mitigation plans for technical risks and projects.
• Stay current with industry standards through committees and OEM seminars.
• Develop technical proposals for customers combining product, regulatory, market and cost factors.
• Drive strategies to reduce cost and improve testing and qualification plans for customer programs.
• Lead discussions with OEMs to resolve testing and engineering issues.
• Support management in decision-making with technical content and papers.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Mechanical design

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

MS Project

SAP

PLM

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Position Summary:

The Principal Certification Engineer must have the industry experience/knowledge required to provide Certification testing expertise, support critical Engineering projects & tasks as needed, manage complicated projects like cost and weight saving projects initiated by the need of local sourcing. Ensures projects adhere to standards/technical aspects of the assigned product line aircraft seats, including their mechanical design, regulatory compliance, OEM and customer requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, other duties may be assigned:

• Provide Technical guidance and Mentorship to Engineering teams during design, development and testing/certification.
• Resolve intricate engineering challenges, lead cross-functional teams and propose solutions pertaining to design, manufacturing, and certification.
• Advise design, certification engineers and program managers on TSO/E-TSO and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with Global Engineering management teams to ensure Testing related processes are aligned and optimized as required, and ensure Best Practices are developed and implemented.
• Provide input to the program risk analysis and risk management process to address technical risks. Devise risk mitigation actions. Ensure risk mitigation activities are conducted in accordance with the department procedures and risk mitigation plans.
• Keep up to date with current industry standards (Seat committee meetings, Authority Seminars, OEM Seminars, Trainings).
• Creates technical proposals for customers by integrating knowledge of product, regulatory requirements, market, price point, organizational capabilities, and business strategy.
• Execute strategies to reduce cost and increase testing and qualification plan for customer programs.
• Lead critical discussions and communication with OEMs to resolve testing and engineering related issues.
• Support for management in technical decision-making processes, including preparation of decision papers and presentation of complex technical content to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support safety assessment and work with other departments for preparing corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding and current knowledge of the technical requirements driving the development of the RECARO Aircraft Seating products, including requirements from the OEMs and other regulatory authorities.
• Maintain beneficial relationships with universities, research institutes, and other external partners, and prepare and deliver technical publications and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Manage the interface for improvement and efficiency projects between the Engineering department and the RECARO operational departments (i.e. Procurement, Production, Quality…etc.) to ensure concurrent engineering principles are understood and applied to achieve optimum producibility and manufacturability of RECARO products.

Requirements

• A Bachelor degree (BS) in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience is required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Must have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in an Engineering position in the aerospace industry, including 5 years’ experience in an Engineering or Project Management in the field of commercial aircraft interior products.
• The position requires an in depth understanding of FAA / EASA Part 21, Part 25 Certification procedures for commercial aircraft seats, including the TSO/E-TSO process.
• Advanced knowledge of dynamic and static testing principles, mechanical design, drafting and tolerance, Electrical Engineering, rapid prototyping is required.
• Must have basic knowledge of manufacturing processes used in the aircraft seat industry, including machining, forging, casting, plastic vacuum forming and injection molding, sheet metal fabrication and forming, and assembly.
• Must be well versed in concurrent engineering principles, as well as design for manufacturability, maintenance and design to cost principles.
• Proven track record of meeting commitments.
• Strong problem solving skills with the ability to exercise mature judgment is required, as well as the ability to anticipate technical issues and develop effective risk mitigation plans.
• Ability to multi-task and operate in a fast-paced, high pressure environment. Excellent organization skills are essential.
• Must have excellent internal and external communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work with minimum supervision
• Must have good knowledge in MS Project, SAP, PLM and Microsoft Office applications.