Principal Avionics Certification Engineer

Principal Avionics Certification Engineer Responsibilities for this Position

Location: Castleham Rd, Hastings, Saint Leonards-on-sea, UK

Employment Type: Employment Type:
Permanent

General Dynamics Mission Systems engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of more than 13,000 top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defence and scientific arenas. In the UK, we are leading the way in avionics and communication systems.

Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency.

General Dynamics in St Leonards-on-Sea currently provide avionic mission computing systems for a wide range of military fast jets, helicopters, and UAVs. Recent success has resulted in General Dynamics developing the next generation of Advanced High Performance, Safety Critical Mission Computer Systems to meet the needs of latest platforms in development by several aircraft manufacturers. These Mission Computing Systems provide the functionality that integrates aircraft systems, sensor systems and stores management systems with the information and control systems required by the aircrew to meet the demanding operational needs of these aircraft.

Join our certification engineering team and help shape the certification approach for future combat-air capability as part of the GCAP programme. You will lead certification planning and compliance activities for complex, safety-critical avionics and mission-computing systems.

Working across systems, software, hardware, safety and quality disciplines, you will define proportionate certification approaches, guide the production of compliance evidence and provide authoritative certification advice. This is an opportunity to influence advanced airborne technology while contributing to a strategically important UK defence programme.

In this role you will:

• Own and lead the certification strategy for complex airborne mission systems and associated software and electronic hardware
• Define certification plans, compliance approaches and evidence requirements across the programme lifecycle
• Interpret applicable certification objectives and provide authoritative advice to systems, software, hardware, safety and quality teams
• Ensure certification considerations are embedded within product architecture, development planning and engineering decision-making
• Lead reviews of certification evidence, identifying gaps, risks and dependencies that could affect programme delivery or assurance outcomes
• Lead engagement with customers, programme partners, certification authorities and other relevant assurance stakeholders
• Provide technical leadership during certification audits, reviews and formal assurance activities
• Make and communicate proportionate certification decisions, balancing compliance expectations, technical risk and programme constraints
• Coach Certification Engineers and provide guidance to multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Drive consistent certification methods, processes and good practice across the programme

Essential Experience

• Significant experience developing or leading certification and compliance approaches for complex airborne systems or products
• Strong knowledge of airborne software and/or electronic hardware certification, including significant experience applying DO-178C and/or DO-254
• Experience defining certification strategies, plans, compliance approaches and evidence requirements
• Experience interpreting certification objectives and translating them into practical engineering activities and deliverables
• Experience providing certification guidance across multidisciplinary systems, software, hardware, safety and quality teams
• Experience leading certification reviews, audits or formal assurance activities
• Experience engaging with customers, certification authorities, design organisations, programme partners or independent assurance stakeholders
• Ability to identify and communicate certification risks, gaps and priorities at both technical and programme levels
• Degree-level qualification in an engineering, scientific or technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience

Desirable Experience

• Experience acting as a certification technical authority, certification lead or senior airworthiness specialist
• Experience providing technical guidance or…