Principal Test & Certification Engineer

About the role

Full‑time position. The Principal Certification Engineer must have the industry experience and knowledge required to provide certification testing expertise, support critical engineering projects and tasks as needed, and manage complex cost‑ and weight‑saving projects driven by local sourcing requirements. The role ensures projects adhere to standards and technical aspects of the assigned product‑line aircraft seats, including mechanical design, regulatory compliance, OEM, and customer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams during design, development, and testing/certification.
• Resolve intricate engineering challenges, lead cross‑functional teams, and propose solutions related to design, manufacturing, and certification.
• Advise design and certification engineers and program managers on TSO/E‑TSO and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with global engineering management teams to align and optimize testing processes and develop best practices.
• Contribute to program risk analysis and risk‑management processes, devise mitigation actions, and ensure mitigation activities follow department procedures.
• Stay current with industry standards through seat committee meetings, authority seminars, OEM seminars, and trainings.
• Create technical proposals for customers by integrating product knowledge, regulatory requirements, market considerations, price points, organizational capabilities, and business strategy.
• Execute strategies to reduce cost and improve testing and qualification plans for customer programs.
• Lead critical discussions and communications with OEMs to resolve testing and engineering issues.
• Support management in technical decision‑making, including preparation of decision papers and presentation of complex technical content to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support safety assessments and collaborate with other departments to prepare corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain an in‑depth understanding of technical requirements driving RECARO aircraft seating product development, including OEM and regulatory authority requirements.
• Maintain beneficial relationships with universities, research institutes, and external partners; prepare and deliver technical publications and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Manage the interface for improvement and efficiency projects between engineering and operational departments (procurement, production, quality, etc.) to apply concurrent engineering principles and achieve optimum producibility and manufacturability.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent experience); Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of engineering experience in the aerospace industry, including at least 5 years in engineering or project management for commercial aircraft interior products.
• In‑depth understanding of FAA/EASA Part 21 and Part 25 certification procedures for commercial aircraft seats, including the TSO/E‑TSO process.
• Advanced knowledge of dynamic and static testing principles, mechanical design, drafting and tolerance, electrical engineering, and rapid prototyping.
• Basic knowledge of manufacturing processes used in aircraft seat production: machining, forging, casting, plastic vacuum forming, injection molding, sheet‑metal fabrication and forming, and assembly.
• Strong grasp of concurrent engineering principles, design for manufacturability, maintenance, and design‑to‑cost concepts.
• Proven track record of meeting commitments.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, mature judgment, and ability to anticipate technical issues and develop effective risk‑mitigation plans.
• Ability to multi‑task and thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment; excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent internal and external communication and presentation abilities.
• Self‑initiative and capability to work with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency with MS Project, SAP, PLM, and Microsoft Office applications.