Principal Avionics Certification Engineer
// Role Summary
Lead certification planning and compliance for advanced, safety-critical avionics and mission-computing systems as part of the GCAP programme. Influence cutting-edge airborne technology within a strategically vital UK defence initiative.
// Key Responsibilities
- Own and lead certification strategy for complex airborne mission systems.
- Define certification plans, compliance approaches, and evidence requirements.
- Provide authoritative certification advice to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Embed certification considerations into product architecture and decision-making.
- Lead engagement with customers, partners, and certification authorities.
// Role Specification
Certification Lead - Future Combat Air Capability
General Dynamics Mission Systems is a leader in high-technology defence solutions. We engineer a diverse portfolio of products and services that empower our customers in defence and scientific arenas. In the UK, we are at the forefront of avionics and communication systems, developing the next generation of Advanced High Performance, Safety Critical Mission Computer Systems.
Join our certification engineering team and play a pivotal role in shaping the certification approach for future combat-air capability as part of the GCAP programme. You will be responsible for leading certification planning and compliance activities for complex, safety-critical avionics and mission-computing systems.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own and lead the certification strategy for complex airborne mission systems and associated software and electronic hardware.
- Define certification plans, compliance approaches, and evidence requirements across the programme lifecycle.
- Interpret applicable certification objectives and provide authoritative advice to systems, software, hardware, safety, and quality teams.
- Ensure certification considerations are embedded within product architecture, development planning, and engineering decision-making.
- Lead reviews of certification evidence, identifying gaps, risks, and dependencies.
- Lead engagement with customers, programme partners, certification authorities, and other relevant assurance stakeholders.
- Provide technical leadership during certification audits, reviews, and formal assurance activities.
- Make and communicate proportionate certification decisions, balancing compliance expectations, technical risk, and programme constraints.
- Coach Certification Engineers and provide guidance to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Drive consistent certification methods, processes, and good practice across the programme.
Essential Experience:
- Significant experience developing or leading certification and compliance approaches for complex airborne systems or products.
- Strong knowledge of airborne software and/or electronic hardware certification, including significant experience applying DO-178C and/or DO-254.
- Experience defining certification strategies, plans, compliance approaches, and evidence requirements.
- Experience interpreting certification objectives and translating them into practical engineering activities and deliverables.
- Experience providing certification guidance across multidisciplinary systems, software, hardware, safety, and quality teams.
- Experience leading certification reviews, audits, or formal assurance activities.
- Experience engaging with customers, certification authorities, design organisations, programme partners, or independent assurance stakeholders.
- Ability to identify and communicate certification risks, gaps, and priorities at both technical and programme levels.
- Degree-level qualification in an engineering, scientific or technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
Desirable Experience:
- Experience acting as a certification technical authority, certification lead, or senior airworthiness specialist.
- Experience providing technical guidance or coaching to Certification Engineers and multidisciplinary teams.
- Knowledge of systems-development and safety-assessment processes for airborne products.
- Experience across software, electronic hardware, or integrated system certification.
- Familiarity with requirements management, configuration management, and engineering lifecycle governance.
- Experience within complex avionics, mission systems, embedded computing, or other safety-critical products.
- Knowledge of latest developments and guidance issued by authorities, including EASA AMCs and FAA Advisory Circular (AC).
- Experience working with or familiarity with AI/ML models is preferred.
Benefits and Working Environment:
- Salary range: £60,000 - £74,000 per annum, plus a flexible benefits package.
- Hybrid working model: Typically 3 days in the office per week, with flexibility for remote work.
- Compressed nine-day fortnight: Enjoy an every-other-Friday off.
- Personalized career development plan with regular progress reviews.
- Recognized and rewarded flexible working environment.
We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace. If our mission and values resonate with you, we welcome you to join our team. General Dynamics Mission Systems is a Disability Confident Employer and offers an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria.
Please note: All successful applicants must be able to obtain UK Security Clearance appropriate for the role and undertake suitable Right to Work checks.