Certification Staff Engineer

Textron•Fort Worth, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re more than aviation experts, we’re pioneers. We challenge what’s possible. From breaking the sound barrier to advanced tiltrotor systems. Today, Bell is shaping the future of aviation through specialized engineering. And we want you. We are developing the future of Army Aviation with the Bell Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) MV-75, part of the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) modernization effort. We are also developing the Bell 525 Relentless, and Bell's High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing (HSVTOL) program, a next generation stop-fold aircraft. Work location is Fort Worth, TX at Bell’s Commercial Business Center. Certification Team The Certification Engineer serves as the senior technical authority within the Certification organization responsible for leading complex certification and validation activities for Bell aircraft and aircraft systems. This role provides expert interpretation of regulatory policy, develops certification strategies, and supports execution of delegated functions with the BTI ODA. The Certification Engineer plays a key role in regulatory engagement with the FAA and foreign civil aviation authorities, supporting both U.S. type certification and international validation projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong program or project management foundation, exceptional communication skills, and a knack for navigating complex technical and regulatory environments. This position operates with significant autonomy and provides technical leadership across engineering, certification, and regulatory organizations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering is required.
16 plus years of experience in aerospace or defense industry.
Extensive experience in aircraft certification process and airworthiness standards (e.g., FAA Part 21/23/25/27/29).
Strong organizational and program tracking skills with attention to detail.
Proficiency in program management tools (e.g., MS Project, Power BI, Primavera P6).
Working knowledge of budgeting principles, forecasting methods, and cost analysis.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to interface confidently across teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within an ODA system is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead development of certification strategies for aircraft, systems, and major design changes in accordance with applicable airworthiness regulations.
Provide expert interpretation of FAA regulations, policy, orders, advisory circulars, and certification guidance.
Support development of certification basis, special conditions, equivalent level of safety findings, and issue paper resolution.
Guide engineering teams in establishing acceptable means of compliance and compliance demonstration approaches.
Support execution of delegated functions within the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) in accordance with the Bell ODA Procedures Manual.
Provide technical guidance to ODA Unit Members and certification engineers on regulatory compliance and certification procedures.
Support internal compliance assurance activities including ODA oversight reviews, corrective action plans, and process improvements.
Assist in development and refinement of certification procedures and internal guidance to ensure regulatory alignment.
Represent Bell in technical discussions with the FAA and foreign authorities on certification and validation matters.
Provide technical leadership to certification activities across multiple engineering disciplines.
Identify certification risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain regulatory alignment and program schedules.
Mentor engineers and certification specialists in regulatory interpretation, certification processes, and compliance demonstration methods.