Airworthiness Manager

About the role

You will own the end to end airworthiness strategy for Hermeus aircraft from initial concept through full scale production and operational service. You will plan, negotiate, develop, and deliver the complete suite of airworthiness artifacts required to secure military and civil approvals for developmental and production aircraft. In this role you will leverage part 23, part 25, or MIL HDBK 516 expertise to translate complex regulations into executable certification work plans. You will work cross functionally with engineering, test, manufacturing, and external stakeholders to ensure airworthiness evidence is complete, coherent, and defensible. The manager will own the certification process from cradle to grave enabling successful regulatory compliance and certification under both traditional and novel military and civil processes. You will lead risk management and configuration control activities tying requirements, design, analysis, and test results into a coherent safety case. You will negotiate certification approaches and milestones with regulators and customers to align technical plans with aggressive timelines. You will build and maintain the airworthiness baseline that allows rapid iterative prototyping while preserving safety and regulatory acceptability.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and maintain the airworthiness strategy and certification plan that governs how Hermeus aircraft achieve regulatory approval.

Develop aircraft certification basis by selecting applicable standards from part 23, part 25, and MIL HDBK 516 and justify any proposed equivalencies.

Lead the development of functional hazard assessments, failure mode and effects analyses, and preliminary safety assessments that drive design requirements.

Own the requirements traceability matrix linking certification requirements, system designs, analysis, and test evidence.

Coordinate with external regulatory stakeholders to interpret requirements, resolve interpretations, and agree on acceptable compliance methods.

Manage the configuration control process ensuring that all design changes are evaluated for airworthiness impact and properly documented.

Plan and oversee structural, systems, and performance testing to generate the technical evidence needed for certification applications.

Prepare and review engineering drawings, specifications, analyses, and test reports to ensure they support the certification case.

Interface with program management and engineering leadership to balance certification objectives with schedule and cost constraints.

Develop and update airworthiness documents including limitations, markings, procedures, and maintenance guidance for both military and civil operators.

Lead the development of training and support materials for operators, maintainers, and flight crews to ensure proper compliance.

Coordinate with supply chain and manufacturing teams to ensure production processes can consistently deliver airworthy articles.

Track certification status against plan, escalate risks, and adjust strategies to protect the schedule on aggressive timelines.

Support business development and customer engagements by presenting certification status, plans, and risk mitigation strategies.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience applying part 23, part 25, or MIL HDBK 516 to the development of aircraft or related systems.

Possess a professional engineering license in an aerospace related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Have a proven track record of delivering certification activities in a regulated aerospace environment.

Hold a Bachelor degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related technical field.

Show strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical information to both engineers and regulators.

Have experience working in a cross functional team environment with engineering, test, manufacturing, and program management.

Demonstrate the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver critical airworthiness tasks on aggressive timelines.

Commit to maintaining strict confidentiality of programs, customer information, and regulatory strategies.

Nice to have

Experience with rapid iterative prototyping environments where certification evidence must be generated quickly and updated frequently.

Background working with both military and civil regulatory authorities and understanding of their distinct processes.

Familiarity with model based systems engineering tools and methods used to develop safety and requirements evidence.

Experience supporting programs that operate at the boundaries of existing regulations and require novel approval pathways.

Knowledge of aviation safety management systems and formal risk assessment methods.

Experience interfacing with international regulatory bodies or foreign aviation authorities when planning exportable capabilities.

Practical notes

This is a full time position based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The role may require travel to test facilities, customer sites, and regulatory meetings as needed.

Employment is contingent on successful completion of applicable background checks and security screenings.

Candidates must be eligible to obtain the necessary security clearances or regulatory access permissions as required by the position.

The work environment is dynamic and fast moving, requiring adaptability and resilience in the face of aggressive schedules.