Principal Avionics Certification Engineer

Join our certification engineering team and help shape the certification approach for future combat-air capability as part of the GCAP programme. You will lead certification planning and compliance activities for complex, safety-critical avionics and mission-computing systems. Working across systems, software, hardware, safety and quality disciplines, you will define proportionate certification approaches, guide the production of compliance evidence and provide authoritative certification advice. This is an opportunity to influence advanced airborne technology while contributing to a strategically important UK defence programme. In this role you will: - 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 that could affect programme delivery or assurance outcomes - 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