Principal Airworthiness & Safety Engineer

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Summary

Preferably on-site in Petaluma, OR, Simi Valley, CA, but open to REMOTE

The Principal Airworthiness (AW) & Safety Engineer oversees the disciplined application of system engineering, risk management, quality, and management principles to achieve success of a design, development, testing, deployment, and operations process. Additionally, one is responsible for oversight of airworthiness certifications, flight clearances, continued airworthiness and other activities ensuring U.S. and International accreditation and certification.

Position Responsibilities

• Develops and performs technical airworthiness and safety planning.
• Verification support including development of airworthiness and safety approach, plans, basis of certifications, means of compliance, and certification activities for complex total systems
• Ensures the logical and systematic realization of customer airworthiness and safety compliance into UAS solutions to meet program objectives (e.g. flight releases, military certification, type certification and supplemental type certifications, continued airworthiness, and operational or airspace Integration)
• Reviews and coordinates with engineering disciplines at all levels of total system to include: design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal
• Performs functional and process analyses, requirements allocation and definition studies to translate customer requirements into sound technical solutions, criteria, and requirements
• Works with both military and civil airworthiness authorities for certification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
• Facilitates changes to product designs, testing, analyses, maintenance, operations and documentation in order to satisfy certification requirements
• Tracks and reports product improvements that provide airworthiness certification value, resolve airworthiness deficiencies or improve airworthiness standing of products
• Participates with other senior managers to establish strategic plans and objectives
• Makes final decisions on administrative or operational matters and ensures operations effective achievement of objectives
• Directs and controls the activities of a broad functional area through several department managers within the company
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• BS degree in Engineering required is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Minimum of 15 years of directly related experience with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Airworthiness related work
• Experienced in and has demonstrated strong systems engineering background
• Demonstrated high level of technical and operational experience with AV TUAS products
• Experienced working in a highly technical, fast-paced environment with both Domestic and International customers
• Has a detailed understanding of Military, FAA and EASA airworthiness and certification processes and standards
• Has a proven track record of performance on successful programs

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• MS degree is desired
• Interactions frequently involve special skills, such as negotiating with customers or management or attempting to influence senior level leaders regarding matters of significance to the organization
• Demonstrates strong computer skills and proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Outstanding Leadership skills and experience in a highly technical environment is desired
• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
• Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees

Salary Range: $175,000-$210,000/K

The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate’s combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience

ALTEN Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Policy is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process._

Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.