Principal Certification Engineer

Thales

Lead FAA certification strategy for complex in-flight entertainment systems at Thales. Ensure compliance and certification integrity across multiple aircraft communication projects.

Posted 5/13/2026full-timeOrlando • California, Florida • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $111,486 - $187,601 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Define and lead certification strategy for structural compliance across multiple complex programs, ensuring alignment with FAA regulations, ODA requirements, STC requirements, and airframe manufacturer standards.
Serve as the technical authority and primary point of contact for structural certification matters with FAA representatives, ODA Unit Members, airframe manufacturers, external partners, contractors, and internal cross-functional stakeholders.
Provide technical governance and oversight of structural substantiation, type design data, installation drawings, materials, processes, airworthiness limitations, and analysis activities, including statics, dynamics, damage tolerance, loads, materials, FEA, and CFD.
Influence product design and engineering decisions by integrating certification requirements early in the development lifecycle, mitigating program risk, optimizing certification outcomes, and supporting resolution of complex certification challenges, including corrective action plans, AMOCs, and regulatory engagement.
Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary certification and test efforts, including certification planning, structural test strategies, test plans, execution oversight, deviation resolution, compliance validation, requirements flow-down, and delivery performance aligned to program objectives.
Establish and maintain certification processes, standards, and best practices while supporting audits, regulatory reviews, continued airworthiness activities, in-service issue resolution, repair scheme approvals, ICA development, and mentoring engineering talent to elevate organizational capability.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required, advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience in aircraft structures engineering and FAA certification, including demonstrated experience leading certification strategy and execution for complex STC or Type Certificate programs.
Deep expertise in structural substantiation methods, including statics, dynamics, damage tolerance, loads, materials, finite element analysis (FEA), and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
Extensive knowledge of FAA regulatory frameworks, including Title 14 CFR Parts 21, 25, and 26, as well as ODA processes and certification compliance expectations.
Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders, senior leadership, regulatory authorities, airframe manufacturers, and external partners on complex technical and certification matters.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, written communication, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory and technical requirements into actionable engineering direction.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance
Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period
Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off
Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

structural complianceFAA certificationstructural substantiationstaticsdynamicsdamage toleranceloadsfinite element analysis (FEA)computational fluid dynamics (CFD)certification strategy

Soft Skills

analytical skillsproblem-solvingdecision-makingwritten communicationverbal communicationinfluencing stakeholdersmentoringcross-functional collaborationleadershiporganizational capability

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineeringadvanced degree (preferred)