Certification Engineer

SkyGrid, a Boeing, SparkCognition company, is powering the next generation of autonomous aviation. As the only airspace management system built on AI and blockchain technologies, SkyGrid solves the industry’s biggest challenges integrating unmanned aircraft into complex, rapidly changing airspace. SkyGrid’s intelligent system monitors, predicts, and adapts to changes in environmental conditions, aircraft performance, and regulatory dynamics to safely enable a wide variety of commercial drone operations, from package deliveries to aerial taxis.  

Additionally, we are defining a future where highly automated aircraft operate without onboard pilots across the world. We develop the Safety-of Life approved airspace management systems for such aircraft to ensure operations of all participants in the air transportation system are safe and secure. Currently, there is no existing airspace management system in the industry. This is a one-of-a-kind experience to lead a complex solution for unmanned and autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid is also an FAA-approved LAANC service supplier, providing flight authorizations to thousands of drone operators in the US. 

The SkyGrid team is looking for a Certification Engineer, who will own all aspects of the certification of next generation complex airspace management system for both autonomous and unmanned aircraft systems. You will ensure that all regulatory requirements are identified and captured, and that compliance approaches are defined and agreed upon with regulatory authorities. You will be the principal owner of both the certification plan and compliance matrix at the system level while interfacing with a Designated Engineering Representative to reach an agreement. You will also ensure all certification requirements are allocated to applicable hardware and software teams within SkyGrid. You will work closely with the Certification Program Manager so that timely and cost-effective certification solutions are developed throughout the lifecycle. Our ideal candidate will hold a technical and certification heavy background within the aviation industry but thrive in a non-traditional startup-pace development program.

Performance Objectives:

• Generate System Certification Plan (SCP) complete with means of compliance and required evidence
• Own, track, and ensure certification deliverables
• Ensure all required regulatory requirements are met or have reached an agreement for deviation/exemption with DER
• Ensure all certification requirements are allocated to internal SW and HW teams and verified for compliance
• Ensure certification risks are identified and elevated to resolve in timely manner

Responsibilities:

• Develop and coordinate System Certification Plan (SCP), System Development Plan (SDP), and System Configuration Management Plan (SCMP)
• Generate, allocate, validate/verify System Level certification requirements
• Support Certification Program Manager with tracking and reporting progress on certification deliverables
• Identify certification risks and communicate to relevant parties for timely resolution
• Collaborate with technical leads to establish design concepts, criteria and engineering efforts for product development, testing, and integration that meets certification requirements
• Act as a primary contact to regulatory authorities related to SCP
• Monitor new and novel certification standards that may be levied to the program
• Participate in defining SkyGrid’s corporate Quality Management and System Safety Management System that meets regulatory requirements
• Represent the voice of regulator internally

Minimum Experience & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or higher
• 5 years of experience working in a highly technical, aerospace-related industry
• 2 years of experience in aircraft or systems certification
• Strong communication skills, self-driven, and capable of participating in regulatory focused discussions
• Aircraft or Systems certification showing compliance to FAA 14 CFR Part 23, Part 25, Part 125, NATO STANAG 4671, ARP4754A, ARP4761, DO-178, DO-254, DO-160 or other applicable aerospace standards
• Experience with systems engineering principles and requirement management tool such as DOORS or Cameo System Modeler

Preferred Experience & Requirements:

• Presenting concisely to large group of people including customers, regulatory authorities, internal technical groups, leadership team
• Acts independently to determine methods and procedures on new or special assignments