Job SummaryWe have an exciting opportunity for a Staff Engineer to join our Airworthiness group at General Atomics ASI, in Poway, CA. This position provides leadership for airworthiness engineering activities related to civil and military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) seeking airworthiness approvals. This position works with a wide range of engineering disciplines in establishing airworthiness design and process requirements and assessing compliance with those requirements. Under general directions with limited oversight, this position is responsible for applying innovative approaches to resolving unusual or complex engineering challenges. Assignments are normally outlined in terms of overall objectives and reviewed periodically and at completion.
This position initiates the planning of engineering projects and works with subject matter experts to review innovative designs or modifications in order to meet project goals. Independently performs difficult/complex engineering work with instructions as to the general expected results. Documents findings, communicates results to engineering and program staff, makes technical presentations to internal and customer program personnel, and may represent the organization as the prime technical contact for airworthiness issues on development projects. Provides direction to design or technical staff and may lead a team of moderately experienced professional staff. Responsible for meeting various compliance, reporting, and safety standards.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:- Supports integration of airworthiness into the overall engineering environment. Reviews the operation of engineering systems and identifies deficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
- Devises new approaches to resolve unusual or complex engineering challenges.
- Learns and applies airworthiness processes used by various customers and regulators/authorities to obtain and sustain airworthiness approvals.
- Works closely with customers, their airworthiness authorities and company functional engineering departments to develop airworthiness program plans, develop certification bases, troubleshoot conflicting design/development requirements, develop certification plans, coordinate test and analysis activities, develop compliance reports (or their equivalent), and address other special airworthiness concerns. Works with all levels of management, customers and government representatives.
- Plans and executes focused tasks supporting the documentation and presentation of engineering analyses, tests, inspections, and other means to show compliance with airworthiness requirements.
- Authors technical documentation.
- Represents company at customer technical reviews and meetings. Makes technical presentations. Organizes and hosts airworthiness meetings, as required.
- Manages performance of airworthiness tasks on programs. Provides status to functional and program leadership, identifies program risks related to airworthiness, assesses causes of anomalous performance and suggests corrective actions.
- Creates estimates (labor hours) to conduct airworthiness work for proposals.
- May support management of subcontractors, particularly with regard to consulting on airworthiness matters.
- Maintains strict confidentiality of customer and company sensitive information.
- May support configuration management activities.
Job Qualifications- Typically requires a bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: six or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, four or more years of experience with a master's degree, or two or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
- Must have a thorough understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory; experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; and, capable of expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practices in related technical specialties.
- Must possess the ability to develop and communicate new concepts; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and, determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
- Experience managing schedules and budgets. Experience managing projects with Microsoft Project is desired.
- Must have strong communication, computer, documentation (experience writing technical documents), presentation, organizational, leadership and interpersonal skills; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas; capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact and, lead a team of moderately experienced professional employees on single component projects.
- Must be capable of managing airworthiness support for more than one project at a time.
- Must be able to work independently and have strong delegating skills. Must be able to work well on a self-initiated basis and in a team environment.
- Prior work with FAA, EASA, EMAR, NATO (STANAG 4671) and US DoD (MIL-HDBK-516) airworthiness design and process requirements, especially DO-178C and DO-254, is strongly preferred.
- Prior experience working with domestic and/or international airworthiness authorities is preferred, either Military or Civil Authorities.
- Familiarity with uninhabited, autonomous systems is preferred.
- Prior experience assessing and verifying compliance with type certification requirements for aircraft or their components is preferred.
- Ability to work on site, work extended hours, and travel as required to meet project objectives, support subcontractors and customers.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is required.
