Position Summary:
The Systems Engineer - Airworthiness is responsible for developing, executing, and maintaining the airworthiness certification effort for an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). This includes requirements tailoring, compliance matrix development, and coordination across engineering disciplines and certification authorities to support flight release and type certification milestones.
This position reports to the Chief Systems Engineer or Airworthiness Lead. Coordinates regularly with subsystem Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), Test & Evaluation, System Safety/ESOH, and the government/service airworthiness authority.
Core Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain the airworthiness compliance matrix (e.g., MIL-HDBK-516B criteria, or applicable civil/military airworthiness basis) mapping platform requirements to applicable standards and methods of compliance
- Tailor EMC/E3 requirements (MIL-STD-461/464) and other applicable specifications (MIL-STD-704, DO-160 if dual-use, structures, flight controls, software per DO-178C/DO-254 as applicable) to the specific platform configuration and mission profile
- Coordinate with subsystem leads (propulsion, avionics, communications/datalink, ground control station, payload integration) to ensure requirements flow down correctly and evidence is collected
- Interface with the certifying authority (service Airworthiness Authority, e.g., Army/Navy/Air Force TACC or MACC process) as the technical point of contact for the compliance package
- Manage requirements traceability (e.g., DOORS or similar RM tool) from airworthiness criteria through test evidence and closure
- Support test planning and witness/review ground and flight test campaigns tied to airworthiness closure items
- Identify and track risks/issues where subsystem-level compliance may not guarantee system-level compliance (e.g., equipment passing MIL-STD-461 individually but failing system-level MIL-STD-464 integration requirements)
- Prepare and present compliance status to program reviews and airworthiness boards
Required Qualifications:
- B.S. in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (M.S. preferred)
- US Citizenship
- 5+ years systems engineering experience, ideally with 2+ years directly supporting an airworthiness, certification, or systems safety effort
- Working knowledge of MIL-STD-461/464 and how equipment-level and system-level EMC requirements interact
- Familiarity with MIL-HDBK-516B or equivalent airworthiness criteria framework
- Requirements management tool experience (DOORS, Cameo, or similar)
- Experience with technical compliance documentation for a DoD or FAA certification effort
- Active or eligible-for Secret clearance (Group III UAS programs are typically at minimum Secret; verify per specific program)
Preferred / Desirable:
- Direct UAS program experience (Group II-V)
- Exposure to DO-178C/DO-254 if the platform has any civil airspace integration requirements
- Experience supporting a formal airworthiness board or Flight Release process
- INCOSE CSEP or similar systems engineering certification
Pay Range: $160K - $210K
Corsair Technical Services is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.