Software Designated Engineering Representative (DER)

Butler Aerospace & Defense; Seattle (WA); Remote; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K

medical

dental

vision

sick time as applicable to state law

Job summary

Butler America Aerospace, LLC. is seeking a Software Designated Engineering Representative (DER) to support aircraft certification activities remotely with travel to Seattle, WA.

The role requires evaluating designs, substantiation data, and regulatory compliance to ensure airworthiness standards are met. Candidate should have a BS in aerospace/related field and 10–15 years of aerospace engineering experience, with FAA/EASA experience and DER familiarity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10-15 years of aerospace engineering experience.
• Extensive knowledge of aircraft certification processes and airworthiness regulations.
• Experience with FAA, EASA, or equivalent certification standards.
• Strong understanding of aircraft structures, systems, avionics, or interiors certification.
• Experience in aircraft modification, repair, or certification programs.
• FAA DER authorization or equivalent certification authority experience.
• Experience in commercial aircraft, business jets, military aircraft, or rotorcraft programs.
• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Familiarity with Part 21, Part 23, Part 25, Part 27, Part 29, and Part 33/35 regulations, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Review, approve, and certify engineering data for aircraft systems, structures, interiors, avionics, and modifications as authorized.
• Ensure compliance with FAA, EASA, DGCA, and other applicable aviation regulations.
• Interpret and apply regulatory requirements to design, analysis, testing, and certification activities.
• Support Type Certification (TC), Supplemental Type Certification (STC), and major repair/modification programs.
• Conduct technical reviews of design documents, engineering reports, and test results.
• Evaluate structural analysis, fatigue and damage tolerance assessments, system safety analyses, and compliance reports.
• Review substantiation documents and verify conformity with certification requirements.
• Provide engineering recommendations and resolution of airworthiness issues.
• Collaborate with design, stress, systems, manufacturing, quality, and certification teams.
• Support customer and regulatory authority audits, reviews, and investigations.
• Participate in certification planning and compliance demonstration activities.
• Prepare and review certification plans, compliance checklists, and approval documentation.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for certification and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor engineering teams on certification processes and best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement in certification methodologies and engineering compliance processes.

Skills

System safety analysis

Root cause analysis

Regulatory compliance focus

Strong technical judgment

Leadership and mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Software Designated Engineering Representative (DER)

Location: REMOTE W/some travel to Seattle, WA

Job ID: #73299

6-12 month contract

Min years of experience: 10 Years

Degree Requirements: BS Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or related discipline.

Job Summary

The Designated Engineering Representative (DER) is responsible for supporting aircraft certification activities by providing engineering expertise, regulatory compliance guidance, and technical approvals in accordance with aviation authority requirements. The role involves evaluating aircraft designs, modifications, repairs, and substantiation data to ensure compliance with applicable airworthiness regulations and certification standards.

Key Responsibilities

Certification & Regulatory Compliance

• Review, approve, and certify engineering data for aircraft systems, structures, interiors, avionics, and modifications as authorized.
• Ensure compliance with FAA, EASA, DGCA, and other applicable aviation regulations.
• Interpret and apply regulatory requirements to design, analysis, testing, and certification activities.
• Support Type Certification (TC), Supplemental Type Certification (STC), and major repair/modification programs.

Engineering Analysis & Validation

• Conduct technical reviews of design documents, engineering reports, and test results.
• Evaluate structural analysis, fatigue and damage tolerance assessments, system safety analyses, and compliance reports.
• Review substantiation documents and verify conformity with certification requirements.
• Provide engineering recommendations and resolution of airworthiness issues.

Project Support

• Collaborate with design, stress, systems, manufacturing, quality, and certification teams.
• Support customer and regulatory authority audits, reviews, and investigations.
• Participate in certification planning and compliance demonstration activities.
• Prepare and review certification plans, compliance checklists, and approval documentation.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as a subject matter expert for certification and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor engineering teams on certification processes and best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement in certification methodologies and engineering compliance processes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10-15 years of aerospace engineering experience.
• Extensive knowledge of aircraft certification processes and airworthiness regulations.
• Experience with FAA, EASA, or equivalent certification standards.
• Strong understanding of aircraft structures, systems, avionics, or interiors certification.
• Experience in aircraft modification, repair, or certification programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• FAA DER authorization or equivalent certification authority experience.
• Experience in commercial aircraft, business jets, military aircraft, or rotorcraft programs.
• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Familiarity with Part 21, Part 23, Part 25, Part 27, Part 29, and Part 33/35 regulations, as applicable.

Technical Skills

• System safety analysis
• Root cause analysis and problem solving

Soft Skills

• Strong technical judgment and decision-making
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management
• Leadership and mentoring capabilities
• Attention to detail and regulatory compliance focus
• Ability to work in cross-functional and global teams
• Regulatory-compliant engineering approvals
• Certification plans and compliance reports
• Approval of modifications, repairs, and design changes
• Timely support to certification programs
• Resolution of airworthiness and regulatory issues

Benefits provided:

• 401K
• medical
• dental
• vision
• sick time as applicable to state law

Butler America Aerospace, LLC. is an equal opportunity employer. Butler evaluates applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The Butler America Aerospace, LLC. EEO Policy Statement and “Know Your Rights” Poster is available here: Applicant and Employee Notices.

Butler America Aerospace, LLC. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at [e-mail].