Senior Manager, Airworthiness and Certification

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Manager, Airworthiness and Certification based in the United States.

This is a senior technical leadership opportunity focused on shaping certification and airworthiness strategies for advanced autonomous aviation systems. You will serve as the primary technical authority for civil certification while guiding interconnected military airworthiness and cyber certification functions. The role combines deep regulatory expertise with hands-on leadership across complex, novel aerospace technologies. You will work directly with regulatory authorities, defense stakeholders, engineering leaders, and cross-functional teams to establish defensible certification strategies. Your work will help move innovative civil and defense aircraft programs from early development through compliance and airworthiness approval. You will also build scalable certification processes, strengthen organizational capabilities, and mentor multidisciplinary technical teams. This is an ideal role for an experienced certification leader who thrives in a fast-moving environment and wants to influence the future of autonomous aviation.

Accountabilities: Lead civil certification strategy for U.S. and international programs, serving as the primary technical authority and liaison with the FAA and other relevant regulatory authorities.

Support certification activities involving international authorities and guide U.S.-based certification efforts within broader global programs.

Manage civil certification projects from initial assessment and certification basis through compliance planning, issue papers, risk assessments, documentation, and final approval.

Lead and develop the Military Airworthiness and Cyber Certification teams, establishing priorities, standardizing processes, mentoring technical leaders, and reviewing critical work.

Oversee military airworthiness strategies for defense programs, including resolution of Military Certification Review Items, issue papers, and related documentation in accordance with applicable military standards and guidance.

Guide cyber security certification strategies across civil and military programs, integrating airborne cyber security assurance activities with safety and development assurance processes.

Partner with engineering, process assurance, and configuration management teams to integrate certification and airworthiness activities into broader development processes.

Drive continuous improvement across civil certification, military airworthiness, and cyber security functions using audit findings, lessons learned, and evolving regulatory and defense guidance.

Establish scalable and repeatable certification frameworks that support the organization's growing portfolio of civil and defense programs.

Report program health, certification risks, resource needs, and process improvement priorities to senior leadership while providing clear recommendations and escalation paths.

Requirements

12+ years of aerospace certification experience, including substantial hands-on experience with FAA certification processes and international regulatory authorities.

Demonstrated experience achieving FAA Part 23 and/or Part 25 type certificates, amendments, or Supplemental Type Certificates, with EASA CS-23/CS-25 or other foreign validation experience.

5+ years of experience leading or managing engineering teams, including hiring, mentoring, performance management, and leadership across multiple technical disciplines.

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or a related field; a master's degree is preferred.

Proven ability to lead certification programs involving complex or novel aircraft technologies, from establishing certification bases through compliance closure or airworthiness approval.

Strong knowledge of 14 CFR Parts 21, 23, 25, and 183, with familiarity with Parts 43, 145, 91, and 135.

Experience with designee appointment and management processes and Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) management.

Strong understanding of systems engineering, requirements decomposition, verification and validation planning, configuration management, and software and hardware assurance standards such as DO-178C, DO-254, and MIL-STD-882.

Knowledge of safety assessment methodologies including FHA, FMEA/FMECA, FTA, and common cause analysis.

Working knowledge of military airworthiness standards and guidance, including MIL-SPECs, MIL-STDs, JSSG-2001, and MIL-HDBK-516.

Familiarity with DoD cybersecurity and information assurance frameworks such as RMF, NIST SP 800-53, and CMMC, particularly as they apply to airborne systems and Controlled Unclassified Information.

Understanding of airborne cyber security assurance standards including DO-326A/ED-202A and DO-356A/ED-203A, as well as their integration with ARP4754A/ARP4761A safety processes.

Strong project management, communication, documentation, and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively with regulators, engineers, executives, and defense stakeholders.

Experience with autonomous or unmanned aviation, advanced air mobility, military operational environments, or emerging aerospace technologies is highly valuable.

Additional experience with ASTM F3230, F3061, machine learning-based software assurance, scaling certification functions, or applying AI to standardize processes and requirements is a plus.

Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.

Benefits

Innovative, entrepreneurial, and collaborative startup environment focused on advanced autonomous aviation.

Opportunity to shape certification and airworthiness strategies for emerging civil and defense aerospace technologies.

Competitive benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance.

401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.

Unlimited vacation and support for work-life integration.

Professional development opportunities within a small, highly collaborative technical team.

Opportunity to lead and scale multidisciplinary certification functions as the organization and program portfolio grow.

How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!  Why Apply Through Jobgether?    Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.     #LI-CL1