Certification Manager - Z4 Program

The Certification Manager is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of FAA (and international authority) type certification for the Z4 commercial transport airplane program under 14 CFR Part 25. This individual serves as the primary interface between the company and civil aviation authorities — including the FAA Aircraft Certification Service (AIR), EASA, TCCA, and other bilateral partners — ensuring that the aircraft design meets all applicable airworthiness standards and that certification activities are executed on schedule and within budget.

The Certification Manager works closely with the Head of Z4 Program and Certification and cross-functional engineering teams to develop and execute the certification strategy from certification basis establishment through receipt of the Type Certificate (TC). This role demands a technically credible leader with a deep command of the regulatory process, strong authority relationships, and the ability to drive accountability across a complex, multidisciplinary program.

What You'll Do:

Certification Program Leadership

• Develop, own, and execute the Z4 Certification Program Plan, integrating certification milestones with the master program schedule under direction of the Head of Z4 Program and Certification.
• Establish and manage the Certification Basis including applicable regulations, special conditions, exemptions, and equivalent level of safety (ELOS) findings under 14 CFR Part 25.
• Lead the preparation, negotiation, and closure of Issue Papers with the FAA and bilateral authorities.
• Manage all Means of Compliance (MoC), Compliance Checklists, Certification Review Items (CRI), and compliance evidence packages across all engineering disciplines.
• Oversee conformity inspection planning and execution in coordination with the FAA, quality, and manufacturing teams.
• Manage development and approval of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL), Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA), and Airworthiness Limitations.
• Coordinate Flight Standardization Board (FSB) activities and pilot type rating considerations with the FAA.

Regulatory Authority Liaison

• Serve as the primary point of contact and company representative for the FAA Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) for the Z4 program.
• Manage relationships and deliverables with EASA, TCCA, ANAC, and other shadow/validation authorities under applicable bilateral agreements (BASA/TASA).
• Lead negotiation and resolution of open certification findings, special conditions, and exemption requests.
• Coordinate concurrent multi-authority validation strategies to minimize schedule impact.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with engineering discipline leads (structures, propulsion, avionics, systems, cabin safety, human factors, software/hardware) to ensure timely generation and quality of compliance data.
• Coordinate with Flight Test to align Certification Flight Test plans with compliance requirements and ACO witness activities.
• Interface with the Configuration Management and Document Control teams to maintain integrity of the type design and certification evidence throughout the program.
• Partner with the Safety Assessment team to ensure System Safety Analyses (SSA, FHA, PSSA, CCA) are integrated into the certification compliance framework per AC 25.1309.

Documentation & Compliance Integrity

• Maintain a structured compliance evidence library and ensure all certification documentation meets FAA and bilateral authority acceptance standards.
• Manage Type Design document packages, drawing control, and certification basis configuration through engineering changes and design updates.
• Oversee preparation of Continued Airworthiness documentation and ensure post-TC compliance obligations are planned and tracked.

Schedule, Budget & Reporting

• Own the certification program schedule and proactively identify, communicate, and mitigate risks to certification milestones.
• Manage the certification budget in coordination with the Head of Z4 Program and Certification, including authority fee management and third-party certification support costs.
• Provide regular program status reporting to program leadership, including authority engagement status, open issues, and critical path risks.

Standards & Process Development

• Monitor FAA rulemaking activity (NPRMs, policy memos, ACs) and EASA regulatory updates (NPAs, CRDs, AMC/GM) for impact on the Z4 certification basis.
• Develop and maintain internal certification procedures, templates, and discipline-specific guidance for the program team.
• Support onboarding and development of certification engineers assigned to the Z4 program.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related technical field (Master's preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive aerospace engineering experience, with a minimum of 5 years directly focused on 14 CFR Part 25 type certification of commercial transport category airplanes.
• Demonstrated experience on a TC program from certification basis establishment through receipt of airworthiness approval.
• In-depth working knowledge of 14 CFR Parts 21, 25, 33, 35, and 36 and associated FAA Advisory Circulars.
• Familiarity with EASA CS-25, TCCA AWM, and bilateral validation processes under FAA-EASA and FAA-TCCA BASAs.
• Experience coordinating compliance across multiple engineering disciplines including structures, avionics, propulsion, and cabin safety.
• Knowledge of DO-178C, DO-254, and DO-160 as they relate to avionics and software/hardware certification compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead Issue Paper negotiations and resolve contentious certification findings with the FAA ACO.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to represent the company in formal authority meetings and present clearly to senior leadership.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have):

• Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering or Aviation Systems.
• FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) appointment in one or more disciplines.
• Experience with EASA Part 21J Design Organization Approval (DOA) processes and compliance deliverables.
• Familiarity with Special Conditions and ELOS negotiations for novel or novel-application technologies (e.g., composite primary structure, fly-by-wire, advanced avionics architectures).
• Experience with EWIS (Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems) certification per Part 25 Subpart H.
• Prior experience working within or closely with an FAA ACO, EASA Certification Directorate, or TCCA.
• Experience managing concurrent multi-authority validation programs (FAA primary + EASA/TCCA shadow).

Compensation:

Our compensation package is a blend of base salary and equity options for eligible employees. The range for this role is $195,000 - $220,000. We consider a number of factors when presenting a final offer, including geography, internal equity and years of experience and expertise.

Benefits

• Unlimited PTO
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k)
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Equity tax advisory services
• Supportive work culture