At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead certification activities and solve complex compliance challenges in aerospace.
- Company: Join Collins Aerospace, a leader in innovative aircraft interiors.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension scheme, hybrid working, and wellness initiatives.
- Other info: Collaborative international environment with significant autonomy and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of aerospace and mentor the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Engineering and extensive aerospace certification experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
At Collins Aerospace, we're redefining the future of aircraft interiors. Our Interiors business designs and delivers innovative cabin solutions that make air travel safer, more comfortable, and more connected for millions of passengers worldwide. Working with leading airlines and aircraft manufacturers, our teams combine engineering excellence with a relentless focus on safety, quality, and customer experience.
This opportunity is based at our Leighton Buzzard site and offers a hybrid working model, providing flexibility while enabling collaboration with our global engineering and certification teams. With manufacturing and engineering sites across the globe, you'll join a collaborative international organisation where your expertise can influence products flying on aircraft around the world.
We're now seeking a Principal Certification Engineer to join our global Certification & Test team. This is an opportunity to play a key technical leadership role, shaping certification strategies, solving complex compliance challenges, and mentoring the next generation of certification engineers.
What You Will DoAs a Principal Certification Engineer, you will serve as a technical authority and trusted advisor, leading qualification and certification activities to ensure compliance with customer and regulatory requirements. You will:
- Lead certification and qualification activities across complex aerospace programmes.
- Develop certification strategies that balance compliance, customer requirements, safety, and business objectives.
- Act as the go-to technical expert for certification challenges and complex compliance issues.
- Lead cross-functional teams to investigate, solve, and implement certification solutions.
- Build strong relationships with customers, programme teams, regulatory stakeholders, and engineering functions.
- Review and approve certification deliverables against customer and regulatory requirements.
- Communicate certification risks, compliance approaches, and technical recommendations clearly to stakeholders.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across certification processes, tools, templates, and best practices.
- Mentor and develop engineers through coaching, technical guidance, and knowledge sharing.
- Collaborate with global engineering teams across multiple international locations.
This role offers significant autonomy, technical ownership, and the opportunity to influence certification strategy across a global engineering organisation.
What You Must Have- Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Engineering, ideally Aerospace Engineering.
- Extensive experience in aerospace certification within the commercial aviation industry.
- Strong understanding of certification processes and compliance requirements.
- Proven ability to lead technical problem-solving activities and drive successful outcomes.
- Experience influencing stakeholders and communicating complex technical information effectively.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and develop engineers.
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a strong commitment to safety, quality, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience within aircraft interiors certification.
- Strong knowledge of aerospace regulatory frameworks including Part 21 and CS-25.
- Experience leading technical teams as a people leader or technical authority.
- Experience supporting organisational capability development and engineering excellence initiatives.
- Experience with fire properties certification.
- Current or previous CVE or Approver status.
At Collins Aerospace, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing an environment where talented professionals can thrive, develop, and make a meaningful impact. Our benefits include:
- Competitive salary and annual bonus
- Generous 2:1 pension scheme with employer contributions up to 10%
- 25 days annual leave plus public holidays
- Private Health Cover
- Group Income Protection
- Life Assurance
- Hybrid and flexible working options
- Early finish Fridays
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Staff discount programmes
- Wellness and wellbeing initiatives
- Employee recognition programmes
- Free onsite parking
Ready to Help Shape the Future of Aerospace? If you're an experienced certification professional looking to influence global aerospace programmes, lead technical excellence, and develop engineering talent, we'd love to hear from you. Join Collins Aerospace and help deliver the next generation of aircraft interior solutions.
Hybrid: Employees who are working in Hybrid roles will work regularly both onsite and offsite. Ratio of time working onsite will be determined in partnership with your leader.
RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Principal Certification Engineer - (Technical Authority) in Leighton Buzzard employer: RTX
At Collins Aerospace, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Leighton Buzzard that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our hybrid working model provides flexibility while ensuring you can engage with our global teams, and our commitment to employee development is evident through mentoring opportunities and comprehensive benefits, including a generous pension scheme and wellness initiatives. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the aerospace industry while enjoying a supportive culture that values your expertise and growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Certification Engineer - (Technical Authority) in Leighton Buzzard
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with RTX for a Principal Certification Engineer - (Technical Authority). This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Certification Engineer - (Technical Authority) in Leighton Buzzard
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at RTX, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At RTX, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at RTX
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with RTX.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with RTX. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like RTX love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
