1

Airworthiness Certification Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Airworthiness Engineer Senior

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

$100K - $137K/yr

Desired skills • Aircraft airworthiness certification experience. • Experience with MIL-HDBK-516 criteria. • Experience multi-tasking in a dynamic work environment. • Strong MS Excel ...

The Airworthiness Manager will own the certification process from cradle to grave enabling successful regulatory compliance and certification under both traditional and novel military and civil ...

Airworthiness Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$165K - $220K/yr

The Airworthiness Manager will own the certification process from cradle to grave enabling successful regulatory compliance and certification under both traditional and novel military and civil ...

The Airworthiness Manager will own the certification process from cradle to grave enabling successful regulatory compliance and certification under both traditional and novel military and civil ...

The Airworthiness Manager will own the certification process from cradle to grave enabling successful regulatory compliance and certification under both traditional and novel military and civil ...

Airworthiness Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$165K - $220K/yr

The Airworthiness Manager will own the certification process from cradle to grave enabling successful regulatory compliance and certification under both traditional and novel military and civil ...

Airworthiness Manager

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$165K - $220K/yr

The Airworthiness Manager will own the certification process from cradle to grave enabling successful regulatory compliance and certification under both traditional and novel military and civil ...

The Airworthiness Manager will own the certification process from cradle to grave enabling successful regulatory compliance and certification under both traditional and novel military and civil ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Airworthiness Certification information

What engineers make $500,000?

In the field of airworthiness certification, senior aerospace engineers with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles can reach or exceed a $500,000 annual salary, especially in high-demand sectors like commercial aviation or defense. These roles often require specialized skills in aircraft certification processes, regulatory compliance, and project management. Compensation varies based on industry, location, and level of responsibility.

How much does an airworthiness engineer make?

An airworthiness engineer's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in aircraft certification can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $130,000. The role requires knowledge of aviation regulations and often involves working with certification authorities and aircraft design teams.

What is airworthiness certification?

Airworthiness certification is the process by which an aircraft is determined to be safe and compliant with regulatory standards for flight. This certification is typically issued by civil aviation authorities, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe, after thorough inspection and testing of the aircraft's design, construction, and maintenance records. The certificate confirms that the aircraft meets all safety requirements and is approved for operation. Without a valid airworthiness certificate, an aircraft cannot legally fly. This process helps ensure the highest safety standards in aviation.

What is the highest paid aviation job?

The highest paid aviation jobs are typically senior airline pilots, especially those flying large commercial aircraft, with salaries often exceeding $200,000 annually. Executive roles such as airline chief pilots or aviation executives also command high compensation, often in the high six-figure range, depending on experience and airline size.

What is the difference between Airworthiness Certification vs Aircraft Maintenance Technician?

AspectAirworthiness CertificationAircraft Maintenance Technician
Required CredentialsFAA Airworthiness Certificate, type-specific trainingFAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) license, technical training
Work EnvironmentRegulatory oversight, certification agencies, aircraft manufacturingMaintenance hangars, repair stations, on-site aircraft
Industry UsageIssuing and verifying aircraft compliancePerforming repairs, inspections, and maintenance

While both roles are essential in aviation, Airworthiness Certification focuses on issuing official approval for aircraft to operate, ensuring compliance with safety standards. Aircraft Maintenance Technicians perform hands-on repairs and inspections to maintain aircraft safety. Both roles require FAA certifications but serve different functions within the aircraft lifecycle.

What does an airworthiness certificate do?

An airworthiness certificate verifies that an aircraft meets safety and design standards set by aviation authorities, allowing it to operate legally. It is issued after inspections and compliance checks, and it must be maintained and renewed to ensure ongoing safety and certification validity.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Airworthiness Certification, and why are they important?

To thrive in Airworthiness Certification, you need a solid background in aeronautical engineering, regulatory knowledge (such as FAA or EASA regulations), and relevant engineering or technical qualifications. Familiarity with computer-aided design (CAD) software, compliance management tools, and specific certification systems is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication are critical soft skills for interacting with regulatory bodies and cross-functional teams. These skills are essential to ensure aircraft meet all safety standards and legal requirements, maintaining public safety and regulatory compliance.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Airworthiness Certification roles, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Airworthiness Certification often encounter challenges such as interpreting complex regulatory requirements, managing tight project deadlines, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams including engineers, regulators, and quality assurance specialists. Staying up-to-date with evolving aviation regulations and standards is essential, as non-compliance can delay certification. Effective communication, meticulous documentation, and proactive engagement with regulatory authorities help address these challenges and ensure successful certification outcomes.
Infographic showing various Airworthiness Certification job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, and 97% Full Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution.
Acquisition Engineer (Aerospace, Aviation, Aircraft, Airworthiness, Etc.)

Acquisition Engineer (Aerospace, Aviation, Aircraft, Airworthiness, Etc.)

COLSA Corporation

Dayton, OH • On-site

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

 COLSA Corporation is seeking candidates for Acquisition Engineers who want to apply their expertise to improve performance and sustainability of existing and future AF and joint service weapon systems!

Position openings may be available at Wright Patterson AFB, OH; Warner Robins, GA; and/or Tinker AFB, OK, and may be filled at various skill levels (Junior, Journeyman, Senior, SME). 

This position will provide support to the program in areas such as: 

Systems Engineering

  • Provide assistance in the development, procurement, sustainment and modification of aircraft systems, subsystems, components and equipment.

Avionics Engineering

  • Applies knowledge of avionics engineering in support of avionics subsystem definition, development, integration, all verification methods to include review of ICDs, sustainment, modeling/simulation, test and evaluation, and airworthiness certification across a wide range of hardware and software systems.

Systems Security Engineer

  • Support the Systems Engineer with program engineering milestone reviews, test planning, and certification and accreditation packages.  Review/develop/update applicable systems security engineering program documentation

Electrical Engineer

  • Applies knowledge of electrical engineering in support of electrical power systems, avionics subsystem definition, development, integration, all verification methods, sustainment, modeling/simulation, testing and evaluation, and airworthiness certification across a wide range of hardware and software systems.

Manufacturing/Quality Assurance Engineer

  • Assists in developing and assessing defect prevention strategies and processes for development, production, and deployment of hardware. Assist in performing Quality Assurance (QA) analyses to ensure hardware systems being acquired by the USG can be produced by controlled manufacturing processes at manageable risk to cost, schedule, or user satisfaction. 
  • Assists in conducting special studies and analyzing broad QA issues common to all USG acquisition programs, including: discrete investigations of particular issues using such methods and tools as process variability reduction, statistical process/quality control, defect prevention, metrology, nondestructive evaluation, QA, or automated inspection. 
  • Assists in reviewing and assessing contractor QA planning and progress. 
  • Evaluates quality system of the weapon system prime/subcontractor or depot, to the degree it impacts the system being acquired and assess the quality planning, discipline, and effectiveness, including weapon system prime/subcontractor use of advanced quality tools, techniques and systems.

Reliability and Maintainability Engineer

  • Assists in developing an effective Reliability and Maintainability (R&M) process that ensures the user's weapon system R&M requirements are clearly defined and achieved with agreement by the mission partner in support of the user's requirements
  • Reviews the Failure Reporting, Analysis, and Corrective Action System (FRACAS) and reliability standard reports
  • Assist in reviewing the overall system design baseline (architecture and interoperability requirements)

Software Engineer

  • Demonstrates knowledge of software engineering in support of the design, development, testing and evaluation, implementation, maintenance, and administration of new and/or existing software systems
  • Apply extensive knowledge in software assurance practices and tools to include architecture and design analysis tools, origin analyzers, source code weakness analyzers and binary analyzers
  • Assist in reviewing, developing, and updating applicable program documentation for software engineering relevant requirements

Systems Integration Engineer

  • Performs systems engineering to include expertise in systems design and integration; manufacturing, quality and industrial engineering; airworthiness; and configuration, and data management
  • Assist in developing, deploying, and maintaining processes to assure weapon systems are fully integrated, manufactured, sustained, configuration managed and operationally safe, suitable and effective throughout their life cycle
  • Apply OSS&E and airworthiness processes, as well as assist in providing risk assessments, safety analysis and recommendations, and addressing high priority safety issues
  • Apply knowledge of systems engineering in support of system definition, development, integration, verification methods, sustainment, risk modeling/simulation, testing and evaluation, human system integration (HSI), crew stations engineering, OSS&E efforts, interoperability requirements, and airworthiness certification across a wide range of hardware and software systems, including ground based systems

Systems Safety Engineer

  • Accomplish system safety engineering tasks to include risk assessment and system safety program for the assigned program(s) to ensure all systems procured are safe to operate and maintain. 
  • Review and assist with the development of system safety program plans, hazard analyses, performing risk assessments, evaluating weapon system contractor safety proposals, evaluating safety concerns/issues of using and support commands, and assisting with the resolution of safety issues/risks

Training Systems Engineer

  • Provide assistance with the following training system requirements: definition, development, integration, verification methods, sustainment, modeling/simulation, test and evaluation, and certification across all platform-required training systems. 
  • Assist with reviewing, developing, and updating applicable program documentation for training systems requirements

Aeronautical Engineer

  • Support the mechanical systems integrity program, maintain and update the critical safety item list, and monitor airworthiness certification for the aircraft
  • Support the directorate in the performance of disciplined engineering activities to assure OSS&E for all products

Flight Systems Engineer

  • Provide assistance with the development, procurement, sustainment and modification of aircraft flight systems, sub-systems, components and equipment

Structures Engineer

  • Provide technical expertise on all aspects of aircraft structural integrity and airworthiness
  • Provide assistance in the development, procurement, sustainment and modification of aircraft structures systems, sub-systems, components and equipment

Communication/Navigation Engineer

  • Assist with technical requirements compliance pertaining to avionics development, test, sustainment and operations pertaining to navigation, voice communication systems, Line of Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) data link systems, military and civilian communication networks, network protocols, Information Protection Security (IPSec), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)/Extensible Markup Language (XML) packaging of network commands and air data systems to include performance, integrity and airworthiness

Escape Systems Engineer

  • Applies expertise and experience in design, development, production, procurement and testing of aircraft and associated systems in the area of Aircraft Crew Systems and Escape Systems
  • Applies knowledge and responsible for escape systems to include emergency escape and egress, ejection seats, human physiological limits, injury criteria, escape system modeling, energetics (CAD/PAD) and crash worthiness

Optical/Visual Systems Engineer

  • Assists with technical requirements generation and requirements compliance determination pertaining to mechanical, electrical, optical, and software systems for imaging sensors, visual displays and image generation products addressing performance, integrity and airworthiness
  • Assist with analysis, requirements generation, characterization, testing and verification of optical component performance including sensors, lenses, mirrors, and displays 

Technology Integration Engineering Subject Matter Expert

  • Serve as subject matter expert for all aspects of systems integration and electronics/communications/technology engineering areas of interest, acquisition planning and technology assessment supporting various equipment and weapons systems.   
  • Incorporates those facets into acquisition planning, rapid prototyping, rapid fielding and other acquisition programs or activities including those conducted with non-traditional contractors. 

At COLSA, people are our most valuable resources and centered at our core value. We invite you to unite your talents with opportunity and be a part of our "Family of Professionals!" Learn about our employee-centric culture and benefits here.