Engineering Lead - Certifications

AXIUS GROUP LLC•Riverside Township, KS

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Engineering Lead – Certification provides senior technical leadership for aerospace certification, qualification, and first part qualification (FPQ) activities within a defined certification domain. This role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing certification efforts for complex aerospace systems or structures, ensuring compliance with regulatory, customer, and internal requirements. The Engineering Lead serves as a central technical authority, integrating cross-functional teams, managing execution risk, and driving timely closure of certification actions. The position is engaged to support high-visibility, schedule-critical programs where deep technical expertise, strong judgment, and disciplined execution are required to deliver predictable certification outcomes.

Requirements

Aerospace certification and qualification processes applicable to assigned discipline (e.g., structures, composites, propulsion, fire, lightning, systems)
First Part Qualification (FPQ) and First Article Inspection (FAI) methodologies in production environments
Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) tools and problem-solving frameworks
Engineering test planning, execution, and documentation requirements
Aerospace quality systems, regulatory requirements, and OEM specifications
Cross-functional coordination with manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and OEM partners
High technical credibility and sound engineering judgment
Ability to lead complex certification efforts without direct authority
Strong stakeholder management skills across engineering, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and customers
Clear, concise communication with both technical teams and leadership
Structured, data-driven problem-solving with a strong bias toward execution and closure
Ability to independently prioritize work, manage risk, and escalate issues appropriately
High school diploma or GED required.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline required
8–12+ years of experience in aerospace engineering, certification, qualification, or closely related technical roles
Demonstrated experience leading certification and qualification activities for complex aerospace systems or structures
Proven success supporting FPQ/FAI in a production or pre-production environment
Direct experience working with OEMs, supplier quality organizations, and cross-site engineering teams
U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
Candidates "must/may need" to be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance
Successful candidates must be able to secure Program Access approval

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in high-visibility, schedule-critical programs strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Lead aerospace certification, qualification, and first part qualification (FPQ) activities for assigned systems, structures, or certification domains
Develop, integrate, and execute certification and qualification plans aligned with regulatory, customer, and internal requirements
Serve as a primary technical point of contact for certification matters across engineering, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and OEM partners
Coordinate and lead cross-functional teams to ensure certification deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule
Plan, facilitate, and lead recurring certification and qualification meetings, driving accountability and forward progress
Document, track, and manage certification and qualification action items to closure
Identify, assess, and manage technical, quality, manufacturing, and schedule risks impacting certification milestones
Lead Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) efforts for certification findings, test issues, and nonconformances
Support FPQ and FAI activities to ensure production readiness and compliance
Develop and maintain clear metrics and status reporting that communicate certification progress, risks, and readiness
Provide technical guidance and decision support to program and functional leadership
Proactively resolve issues to reduce escalation and minimize program disruption