Staff Engineer, Airworthiness & Certification; Aircraft

Since 2018, Elevate Aircraft Seating has been enhancing the passenger experience through innovative aircraft seat design and manufacturing. With locations in California, Washington, and Germany we are guided by creativity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to quality.

We are looking for a skilled Staff Engineer, Airworthiness & Certification (Aircraft Seats) to join our team in Huntington Beach, CA. This is an on-site position based in Huntington Beach, CA. We value teamwork, inclusivity, and continuous professional development, and we offer competitive benefits along with opportunities for growth.

The Staff Engineer, Airworthiness & Certification (Aircraft Seats) is responsible for ensuring certification compliance to regulatory requirements for Seats and/or Furniture programs. They will find compliance to regulatory requirements, directing methods of compliance and mentoring and guiding other certification engineers. This role determines specific certification requirements from FAA and/or EASA and is the liaison/focal between Regulators and Elevate. The Staff Engineer represents the FAA in this role.

They will collaborate cross-functionally with other departments and provide technical guidance to ensure a successful Certification campaign.

Essential Functions (Other duties and projects may be assigned or requested.)

Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Review certification test plans and reports to confirm compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Verify test article conformity paperwork, including test article representations and disposition of non-conformities.
• Witness TSO and non-TSO tests, verify test setups, conduct post-test evaluations, and make compliance determinations.
• Prepare TSO application letters and statements of compliance and review TSO packages and related documents for completeness and accuracy.
• Determine major and minor classifications.
• Maintain relationships with FAA and EASA and provide regular regulatory updates.
• Represent the company at industry meetings, conferences, and workshops.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for certification issues, including flammability, dynamic and static testing, design compliance, and aircraft installation and integration.
• Monitor industry issues and regulatory documents and communicate relevant information to team members.
• Mentor certification engineers on one or more concurrent projects.
• Own certification processes related to TSO products and procedures.
• Communicate certification impacts and requirements to project team members.
• Identify potential certification issues and adverse impacts and elevate to supervisors and affected disciplines.
• Review prototype designs and drawings and communicate required changes.
• Perform ad-hoc tasks and projects assigned by management.
• Maintain a safe, secure, and legal work environment, adhering to all company policies and procedures.
• Contribute and execute plans to meet or exceed the company performance goals.
• Maintain and protect the confidentiality of the Company’s information and products.

• Bachelor’s degree or accredited equivalent in engineering or a related technical discipline required.

• Minimum 10 years of direct experience in aerospace interiors certification, preferably with passenger seating systems.
• Experience working directly with the FAA required.

• Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and sensitivity to deadlines.
• Working knowledge of certification test equipment and test execution.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and analyze regulatory requirements and advisory materials.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Thorough knowledge of FAA (Part 21 and Part 25), EASA regulations, and Boeing/Airbus requirements, with experience developing and executing certification paths.
• Strong project management and team coordination skills.
• Ability to communicate and present effectively, both verbally and in writing, to executive leadership.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Detailed knowledge of…