Airworthiness Manager (Postholder)

Role Overview

Airworthiness and Regulatory Oversight

• Monitor Design Organisation activities and advise the Head of the Design Organisation on airworthiness matters.
• Monitor new regulations and guidance from the Agency and update Design Organisation staff.
• Ensure applicable certification specifications, environmental protection requirements, operational suitability data, and standards are distributed.
• Maintain and amend the Design Organisation Handbook, Design Organisation Procedures, and Technical Procedures Manual as necessary.
• Cooperate with the Agency in developing certification procedures and interpreting airworthiness matters.
• Ensure design activities remain within the Design Organisation approval certificate.

Certification and Design Assurance

• Ensure design changes and repairs are correctly classified and approved.
• Check that compliance documents are complete and demonstrate conformity with regulations, then sign for their release.
• Approve minor changes to the type certificate and minor repairs.
• Submit major change data, including AFM, MEL, and OSD data, to obtain a Supplemental Type Certificate.
• Ensure Design Organisation products can be monitored for continued airworthiness.
• Provide regular reports of Design Organisation activities to the Agency.

Records, Training, and Staffing

• Ensure design data archives and staff records are maintained and controlled by the Office of Airworthiness.
• Validate the annual training plan and competence assessment results for Design Organisation personnel.
• Develop and deliver specific training for Design Organisation staff.
• Interview Design Engineers and Compliance Verification Engineers for nomination.
• Prepare manpower plans comparing available resources with projected project requirements.

Audits and Safety Compliance

• Manage contractor and subcontractor monitoring, including initial and surveillance desk or on-site audits and interface agreements.
• Facilitate internal and external audits and investigate non-compliance findings.
• Ensure prompt corrective actions address safety, quality, and compliance deficiencies and monitor their effectiveness.
• Initiate responses to accidents, incidents, in-service occurrences, and operational complaints, and provide information to the Agency when airworthiness or operational suitability is impaired.
• Monitor significant events affecting other aeronautical products for their potential effect on the products being designed.

Qualifications

• Hold an engineering qualification in aeronautical, mechanical, or electrical/electronics engineering.
• A postgraduate or master's qualification is preferred.
• Have at least 15 years of aerospace industry experience, including at least eight years as a postholder or Compliance Verification Engineer in an EASA/GCAA Design or Production organization.
• Equivalent FAA or NAA experience is acceptable.
• Have in-depth knowledge of EASA Part 21 and/or GCAA CAR 21, JAR/CS/FAR25 airworthiness requirements, and Design Organisation Handbooks and procedures.
• Understand the interfaces between EASA Part 21, Part 145, and Part M, or corresponding GCAA CAR regulations.
• Maintain an uncompromised position toward certification despite time and project pressures.
• Be prepared for GCAA and EASA approval as a postholder in the Office of Airworthiness.