Head of Airworthiness

Responsibilities

• Lead all airworthiness and certification planning activities supporting submission and approval of the DOA application and the Type Certificate (TC) for the hybrid UAS, ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory standards (e.g., CS-UAS, SC-EVTOL etc.).
• Develop detailed certification plans, including milestones, timelines, and resource requirements, ensuring compliance with applicable certification specifications, environmental protection requirements, and EASA Part 21.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with regulatory authorities, facilitating communication and collaboration throughout the certification process including design approvals, audits, inspections, inquiries, and regulatory submissions.
• Coordinate and oversee a variety of testing activities, including flight tests, ground tests, and simulation-based assessments, to demonstrate compliance with airworthiness standards.
• Ensure all required documentation, including design specifications, test reports, and compliance records, is accurate, complete, and submitted in a timely manner to regulatory authorities.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, and legal, to ensure alignment of certification activities with overall project objectives.
• Keep abreast of evolving regulatory requirements and industry standards related to eVTOL certification and provide guidance to the project team on compliance strategies.
• Lead the Design Organization Approval efforts – drafting, updating, and ensuring compliance of the Design Organization Handbook (DOH) and associated procedures.
• Perform compliance verification and airworthiness approval checks.
• Advise all areas of the design organization on airworthiness and ensure the expertise and training are in place.

• Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Recognized qualification in aviation certification and compliance (e.g., EASA / FAA regulatory training).
• 10+ years of experience in airworthiness, DOA management, and certification leadership within a Part 21J environment or equivalent.
• Proven track record of managing successful certification programs and interacting with EASA or other NAAs.
• Experience with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or urban air mobility (UAM).
• Strong project management skills, with experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Proven experience in systems engineering, with a focus on UAV/eVTOL projects.
• Strong expertise in requirements management and configuration management processes.
• Familiarity with certification standards, such as STANAG 4671, ARP
  4754, DO-160, DO-178, DO-254, CS-UAS etc.
• In-depth knowledge of EASA Part 21 or GCAA CAR 21.