Principal Certification & Airworthiness Engineer

Mach
United States
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeUSD 160,000 - 210,000 annuallyFunction: Communications, PR & CommunityExperience: 15+ yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Communication","Stakeholder management"]

Serve as the independent technical authority for flight system safety, airworthiness, and certification strategy. Own the safety case, compliance plans, and release-to-flight authority while aligning with MIL-HDBK-516 and applicable DoD and civil standards. Lead system safety activities (MIL-STD-882E), oversee hazardous payload/munitions certification, and support ground and flight test readiness. Establish governance boards and mentor engineers on certification requirements.

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FursaFursa
Mach
Mach
2 weeks ago

Principal Certification & Airworthiness Engineer

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Last checked: 5 hours agoStatus: Live
Reposted: similar role first listed 3 weeks ago

Job Summary

Serve as the independent technical authority for flight system safety, airworthiness, and certification strategy. Own the safety case, compliance plans, and release-to-flight authority while aligning with MIL-HDBK-516 and applicable DoD and civil standards. Lead system safety activities (MIL-STD-882E), oversee hazardous payload/munitions certification, and support ground and flight test readiness. Establish governance boards and mentor engineers on certification requirements.
Location: United States
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Communications, PR & Community
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Serve as the independent airworthiness authority for flight systems and payload integrations, defining certification strategies and compliance plans.
  • •Lead system safety activities (MIL-STD-882E), including hazard analyses and safety risk assessments, and approve safety-critical design/configuration changes.
  • •Provide certification oversight for hazardous payload and weapons system integrations, including MIL-STD-2105 and MIL-STD-1316-related safety standards.
  • •Provide airworthiness approval for ground and flight testing; review/approve test plans and support test teams with strategies and cases aligned to CONOPS and requirements.
  • •Establish and lead certification governance processes (Airworthiness Review Boards and Safety Review Boards) and advise leadership on certification strategy, safety risks, and regulatory considerations.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 160,000 - 210,000 annually
Equity and Bonus:Equity
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVisionRetirementPaid Leave

Key Requirements

  • •15+ years of aerospace, defense, or national security flight systems experience, including significant airworthiness certification or system safety experience.
  • •Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field (Master’s preferred).
  • •Deep knowledge of MIL-HDBK-516 airworthiness criteria and MIL-STD-882 system safety.
  • •Experience with DoD airworthiness authorities and supporting Military Flight Release (MFR) processes.
  • •Familiarity with munition or hazardous payload certification standards, including MIL-STD-2105 and MIL-STD-1316.
Experience:15+ yearsAerospaceDefenseNational security
Education:Bachelor's
Skills:CommunicationStakeholder management
Tech Stack:MIL-HDBK-516FAAEASADoDMIL-STD-882EMIL-STD-2105MIL-STD-1316Military Flight Release (MFR)Airworthiness Review BoardsSafety Review BoardsITAREAR

Eligibility

Nationality:US National

Company Brief

Mach
Designs and manufactures unmanned systems, tactical engines, and decentralized defense manufacturing infrastructure (Forge) to scale production of autonomous aerial systems and related propulsion for U.S. defense customers and partners.
Industry: Defense Manufacturing
Company Size: Medium (51 to 250 employees)
Growth: Growth Stage Startup
Valuation: USD 250M to 500M
Funding: Series B
Headquarters: Huntington Beach, United States
Founded: 2023
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Glassdoor: 3.9
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