Certification Engineer

Kearfott Corporation•Pine Brook, NJ

3d•$120,000 - $170,000

About The Position

The Certification Engineer supports the development, verification, and approval of safety-critical airborne systems by producing and managing airworthiness certification artifacts. This role works closely with systems, software, hardware, and safety teams to ensure compliance with applicable airworthiness certification bases and industry standards, including RTCA/DO-178C and RTCA/DO-254. The engineer contributes to certification planning, lifecycle data audits, and accomplishment summaries for multiple platform integration spirals using model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Electrical, Computer, Systems, or related discipline).
7+ years direct experience.
Experience supporting airworthiness or civil certification activities for airborne systems.
Working knowledge of RTCA/DO-178C and RTCA/DO-254, including certification planning, lifecycle data, and accomplishment summaries.
Experience producing or reviewing certification artifacts such as PSACs, PHACs, SAS, HAS, and compliance matrices.
Familiarity with DAL concepts and safety-critical system development.
Ability to work across systems, software, hardware, and safety engineering teams.
Must be a US Citizen.

Nice To Haves

Experience with MBSE, digital engineering environments, and model-based verification.
Experience with DOORS
Familiarity with ARP4754A and ARP4761 processes.
Prior interaction with certification authorities or delegated engineering organizations.
Experience supporting multi-platform or spiral development programs.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with certification authorities and internal stakeholders to identify required airworthiness artifacts derived from the platform’s Airworthiness Certification Basis.
Develop and maintain airworthiness compliance matrices for each platform and integration spiral.
Produce the ACCR, documenting verification results for applicable airworthiness certification criteria.
Support safety-critical criteria verification within the MBSE modeling plan as part of the Systems Engineering Management Plan.
Utilize digital engineering tools and collaborative environments to generate certification artifacts in accordance with DI-SESS-81768 guidance.
Plan software development and verification activities based on assigned Design Assurance Levels (DALs) to meet the intent, rigor, and objectives of RTCA/DO-178C.
Develop and submit a Plan for Software Aspects of Certification (PSAC) for each software item, including newly developed software and Previously Developed Software (PDS).
Produce Software Accomplishment Summaries (SAS) in accordance with RTCA/DO-178C.
Ensure lifecycle data supports compliance with DO-178C Annex A objectives, including requirements, design, source code, and verification evidence.
Support Software Configuration Management (SCM) and Software Quality Assurance (SQA) activities, including audits and inspections.
Perform selective audits of software lifecycle data to assess compliance with DO-178C and contract requirements.
Plan hardware development and verification activities based on assigned DALs to meet RTCA/DO-254 objectives and lifecycle expectations.
Develop and submit a PHAC for each hardware item, including Development Hardware and Previously Developed Hardware.
Produce Hardware Accomplishment Summaries (HAS) in accordance with RTCA/DO-254.
Ensure hardware lifecycle data supports compliance with DO-254 Annex A objectives, including requirements, design, and test artifacts.
Support Hardware Configuration Management, Supplier Surveillance Quality Assurance (SSQA), and certification audits.
Conduct selective audits of hardware lifecycle data against DO-254 objectives and contractual requirements.