Senior Programme Manager – Certification in Orpington

AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace, is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr. Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time, with a current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere. AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most air traffic and low-Earth orbit, delivering services to commercial and government partners.

As Senior Programme Manager – Certification, you will be accountable for leading the end-to-end certification programme for Zephyr, ensuring delivery against agreed schedule, budget, quality and regulatory requirements. This role requires someone who can operate confidently at a senior level while remaining close enough to the detail to intervene when complex certification, technical or programme issues require experienced judgement.

Reporting to the Director of Programmes and supported by Programme Controls, you will establish the certification programme plan, drive governance, align stakeholders and ensure the organisation is ready to move from certification into entry into service. You will be the senior programme interface for certification delivery, working closely with the UK CAA and other relevant civil or military aviation authorities.

Responsibilities include:

• Programme Planning and Governance
  • Own the Certification Programme Plan, including strategy, compliance approach, milestones, dependencies and baseline.
  • Build an integrated schedule covering design, analysis, test, manufacturing readiness, certification and entry into service.
  • Chair governance forums to drive decisions, manage risk, close actions and align stakeholders.
  • Manage risks, issues, opportunities and dependencies, ensuring ownership, mitigation and timely escalation.
• Certification Leadership
  • Act as the main programme interface with the UK CAA and other relevant aviation authorities.
  • Lead certification strategies, plans, reviews and approval activities from development through execution.
  • Guide the Certification Basis, Means of Compliance, Special Conditions, Equivalent Safety Findings and authority agreements.
  • Oversee certification artefacts, ensuring they are complete, credible, traceable and ready for authority review.
  • Lead critical certification discussions, issue resolution and recovery actions where senior judgement is required.
• Technical and Compliance Coordination
  • Lead cross-functional teams to deliver compliance evidence across engineering, airworthiness, quality, manufacturing, operations, cybersecurity and support.
  • Drive closure of the Compliance Checklist against applicable airworthiness and certification requirements.
  • Maintain traceability across requirements, compliance methods, test evidence, analysis, conformity records and statements.
  • Oversee certification ground and flight test activities, including planning, conformity inspections, authority witnessing and evidence closure.
  • Ensure compliance packages are robust, auditable, configuration controlled and ready for review.
  • Drive readiness to manufacture, operate, maintain and support certified aircraft.
• Stakeholder and Resource Management
  • Manage relationships across internal teams, suppliers, partners, customers and certification authorities.
  • Lead resource planning and prioritisation across certification workstreams with functional leaders.
  • Report clearly on performance, certification status, risks, decisions and recovery actions to senior leadership.
  • Coordinate transition from certification to entry into service across airworthiness, quality, manufacturing, operations and support.
  • Support post-certification activities, including continued airworthiness, MMEL and maintenance or training approvals where applicable.
• Continuous Improvement and Change Management
  • Improve programme delivery, governance and certification processes.
  • Support programme standards, best practice and effective change control.
  • Use digital tools and automation to improve efficiency, transparency and reporting.

Skills and Knowledge Required

• Degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline; advanced degree, or equivalent professional experience will be considered an asset.
• Demonstrable extensive experience in aircraft design, certification, airworthiness and in managing aerospace programmes in both Civil and Military environments.
• Proven track record leading, or playing a senior hands-on role in, a major aircraft, platform or aerospace product certification programme with a recognised civil or military aviation authority.
• Strong practical knowledge of certification planning, Certification Basis development, Means of Compliance, compliance demonstration, conformity, certification documentation and authority engagement.
• Working knowledge of applicable airworthiness and certification requirements, Part 21 organisational requirements and type certification processes.
• Familiarity with systems engineering, safety assessment, software and hardware assurance standards, including ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178C and DO-254, or equivalent military standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
• Programme management capability, including governance, reporting, change control, schedule, budget and risk management; PMP, APM, PRINCE2 or equivalent desirable.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, particularly with regulatory bodies.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and hands-on levels, translating complex technical, regulatory, operational and commercial considerations into clear decisions and executive-level communications.
• Comfortable operating without established processes and making decisions with incomplete information.
• Fluent in English, both written and verbal.

In addition to an attractive market-aligned salary, we offer:

• Rewarding Excellence: Benefit from our short-term incentive plan that rewards your hard work and dedication.
• Enjoy Your Time Off: Benefit from 25 days of holiday to relax and recharge.
• Stay Healthy: We’ve got your health covered with private medical insurance, along with dental and optical cash back.
• Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our personal pension plan to ensure a comfortable retirement.
• Peace of Mind: Our income protection and life assurance schemes are there to support you when you need it most.
• Getting around: Drive the latest vehicles with our discounted salary sacrifice scheme.
• We Care About You: Our employee assistance programme is always available to provide the support you need.
• Perks Galore: Enjoy a range of employee discounts via Perkbox, from household goods to travel!

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at AALTO, you can register your details here.