Principal Structural Engineer - Certification; ONSITE

Position Overview

Reporting to the Certification Manager, the Principal Engineer will be responsible for the research, planning, and execution of the regulatory certification process for interior components of airplanes. The individual may be involved in various certification efforts to support certification of articles for installation on new and in‑service aircraft, as well as redesign, repair, upgrade, re‑configuration, and/or modification of aircraft interiors, and will be accountable for the qualification & certification of these articles.

This is an onsite position in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Winston Salem, North Carolina

• Prepare appropriate documentation for assigned projects, including certification plans, similarity/compliance reports, qualification plans, and qualification reports, defining test pass/fail criteria, and formulating templates for reports.
• Lead or coordinate internal/external activities to ensure that all agreed certification requirements are met, working closely with DERs, ODAs, DOAs, OEMs, or FAA/CAA and/or foreign regulatory agency personnel.
• Conduct reviews of complex analyses and tests related to new designs, methods, materials, and reports to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and provide constructive feedback.
• Review complex drawings and reports to ensure conformity to regulatory requirements, checking for document clarity, completeness, form, fit, function, and conformity to standards, procedures, and specifications.
• Research regulations, develop critical data, and generate documentation in response to customer/integrator requirements and/or FAA or foreign regulatory agency requests.
• Communicate with customers to establish understanding of their technical requirements and convey certification capabilities, requirements, and organizational expertise.
• Identify new business opportunities, create technical proposals for customers by integrating knowledge of product, regulatory requirements, market, price point, organizational capabilities, and business strategy.
• Coordinate and/or lead continuous improvement initiatives that involve cross‑functional team settings.
• Execute strategies to improve certification efficiency, reduce cost, and demonstrate airworthiness with regulatory agencies and OEMs.
• Develop engineering techniques across various disciplines to solve problems and make design & certification decisions.
• Participate as a team player across the organization and uphold company values and vision.
• Travel up to 10% of the time, based on business needs.

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years of relevant experience, OR an advanced degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Civil Engineering as required per FAA agreement.
• Authorization to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future; the company will not offer immigration sponsorship for this position.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

• Experience working with various organizations/product lanes internally to support team success.
• Involvement in certification and testing of airplane interior components.
• Engineering and/or certification/test experience, including prior experience in certification by test and certification by analysis.
• Applied experience with failure modes of systems.
• Experience reviewing and approving drawings.
• Working knowledge of PMA/TSO/STC/OEM qualification and certification.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and productively with team members and cross‑functional teams.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
• Generous 401(k) plan with employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Student Loan Repayment Program.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Optional coverages including pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance,…