Certification Engineer in Banbury

As part of our current high‑growth phase, we are looking for a Certification Engineer to coordinate the technical proposal of certification basis, means of compliance, and compliance evidence necessary to obtain a Type Certificate (TC) from the CAA and validation with the FAA and EASA.

Key responsibilities

• Help define the "Certification Basis" - the specific set of regulations (e.g., SC‑E19 plus CRIs) for the TC application.
• Engage with the functional and project teams to develop their understanding of the Means of Compliance (MoC) strategies and help to continually develop the MoC up to the point of agreement with the CAA.
• Support the Head of Airworthiness with liaison with airworthiness authorities to negotiate means of compliance coordinating inputs and actions from functional teams and subject matter experts.
• Oversee certification tests (ground, flight, or structural) to verify that results demonstrate compliance with safety and performance standards.
• Draft and maintain key certification documents, including Certification Plans, Compliance Checklists, and Summary Reports.
• Collaborate with design teams to ensure that initial engineering system architectures inherently meet safety and certification requirements from the start.
• Stand in for the Head of Airworthiness or accept delegated tasks as required.

Skills and experience required

• Degree qualified (BEng / MEng or equivalent) in Aerospace Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrable experience working in aerospace certification and airworthiness roles, supporting TC or significant certification change programmes.
• Practical experience developing and managing certification bases, means of compliance, and compliance demonstration strategies, including engagement with certification authorities.
• Working knowledge of UK CAA certification processes, with experience supporting EASA and/or FAA validation activities.
• In-depth knowledge of and experience working within certification frameworks (e.g., DOA - Design Organisation Approval) and airworthiness systems.
• Proven ability to coordinate cross‑functional engineering inputs (structures, systems, propulsion, safety, flight test, etc.) to achieve certification objectives.
• Strong technical reporting capability, including drafting and maintaining certification plans, compliance checklists, compliance summary reports, and associated authority correspondence.
• Ability to assess the certification and airworthiness impact of design changes, and to advise engineering teams on acceptable compliance routes.
• Analytical thinking: ability to assess the impact of design changes on overall airworthiness.
• Attention to detail: meticulous approach to technical reporting, as minor errors can lead to significant safety risks or project delays.
• A 'self-starter' attitude with energy and enthusiasm, with the ability to thrive in a small business environment.
• Ability to work under pressure while managing conflicting demands against tight deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A flexible approach to work.
• Experience working with relevant certification specifications and guidance material, such as CS‑23 / CS‑25 / SC‑E / Special Conditions, and associated AMC/GM.
• Familiarity with commonly used aerospace certification standards and guidance material (e.g. DO‑160, ARP4754A, ARP4761, or equivalent), where applicable.
• Experience supporting authority reviews, issue paper/CRI closure, and formal compliance findings.
• Exposure to novel or emerging aerospace products (e.g. electric propulsion, new technologies, or innovative architectures).
• Experience in a small or fast‑growing organisation, balancing certification rigour with programme delivery needs.