We are seeking a highly experienced and strategically minded Airworthiness & Certification professional to join our leadership team as Head of Airworthiness & Certification, reporting to the Operations Director. This pivotal role is responsible for defining and delivering our airworthiness strategy, ensuring the effective oversight and delivery of all Airworthiness & Certification outputs, and leading a high-performing team of specialists.

The successful candidate will act as the organisation’s subject matter authority on Airworthiness and Certification, ensuring compliance with relevant Military and Civil regulatory frameworks (MAA, EASA, CAA, FAA) and alignment with organisational priorities. They will combine deep technical expertise with strong leadership, client engagement, and people management skills to drive excellence across all aspects of Airworthiness & Certification delivery.

The Airworthiness & Certification Team provides services to our customers, internally to manage our own contracts, and within the wider business. We are a close-knit team of talented subject matter experts, renowned for our ability to deliver. Our ethos is focused on customer satisfaction, teamwork, professional development, and maintaining a healthy home/work life balance.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a strategic roadmap for Airworthiness & Certification that aligns with organisational priorities and client needs.

• Identify opportunities for business growth through client engagement, thought leadership, and industry networking.

• Advise the Senior Leadership Team on airworthiness risk, certification strategy, and emerging regulatory trends.

• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and best practice in Airworthiness & Certification methods, processes, and tools.

Airworthiness & Certification Oversight

• Lead delivery of the organisation’s Airworthiness & Certification services, ensuring compliance with Military and Civil regulations (MAA, EASA, CAA, FAA).

• Support assurance reviews, audits, and regulatory interactions to maintain and improve company and client airworthiness standards.

• Oversee all technical outputs to ensure client and regulatory requirements are fully met, and that risks are identified, managed, and treated.

• Provide expert leadership on:

• Compliance with Design Standards – ensuring aircraft meet applicable military or civil design standards (e.g. EASA CS, FAA FARs, Def Stan 00-970).

• Type Certification / Military Type Certification – developing and managing the certification basis, including non-compliance justifications and risk arguments to support regulatory approval.

• Design Assurance & Control – applying systems engineering principles of validation and verification to maintain design integrity.

• Safety Assessment – conducting and assuring FHA, FMEA, FTA and other safety analyses.

• Configuration Management – ensuring design traceability, control, and auditability.

Governance & Methodology

• Maintain and evolve organisational Airworthiness & Certification frameworks, processes, and governance structures.

• Ensure consistent, compliant, and efficient execution of certification projects across all programmes.

• Provide expert advice to support accreditation, assurance, and regulatory approval activities.

Leadership

• Live and promote our company values in all tasks and interactions.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Airworthiness & Certification professionals, including line management responsibilities (probation, performance reviews, professional development).

• Build capacity across the organisation through training, coaching, and knowledge sharing.

• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence.

Resource Management

• Optimise team resources, workload, and budget to maximise efficiency and delivery performance.

• Support recruitment of Airworthiness & Certification specialists and contribute to wider business hiring.

• Develop and implement a skills-based development plan for the Airworthiness team.

• Ensure staff wellbeing and a balanced approach to workload and home life.

Client & Stakeholder Relations

• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, regulators, and partners on Airworthiness & Certification matters.

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external customers, and industry bodies.

• Represent the company at airworthiness, safety, and certification forums, working groups, and events.

Qualifications

Master’s degree (MEng, MSc) or equivalent in an engineering discipline.

Relevant professional memberships or certifications in airworthiness, systems safety, or certification disciplines.

A DBS and Security Clearance check will be required for this role.

Essential

• Extensive experience delivering complex Airworthiness & Certification programmes in the defence and/or aerospace sectors.

• Proven record of working with regulators (MAA, EASA, CAA, FAA or equivalent).

• Deep technical expertise in:

o Compliance with military and civil design standards.

o Type Certification / Military Type Certification processes.

o Design Assurance and Safety Assessment techniques (FHA, FMEA, FTA).

o Configuration Management and systems engineering assurance.

• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex technical risk.

Desirable

• Chartered or Fellow status with a recognised professional institution (RAeS, IET, IMechE, or equivalent).

• Experience working with regulated or safety-critical industries.

• Familiarity with digital tools and data-driven reporting for airworthiness management.