Structural Certification & Test Team lead is a key mid-to-senior engineering leadership role responsible for proving the structural integrity, safety, and airworthiness of SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft.

Your team’s mission is to ensure that our ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber airframe, rotor structures, and integrated battery/powertrain mounts meet all civil airworthiness strength, fatigue, crashworthiness, and regulatory compliance requirements. You will bridge the gap between structural modeling, physical testing, and formal Type Certification (TC) approval with civil aviation authorities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Structural Stress Analysis Oversight

Direct and review global and detailed stress analysis across metallic and composite (CFRP) airframe structures using both Finite Element Methods (GFEM/DFEM) and classical hand calculations.
Oversee static, fatigue, damage tolerance, dynamic crashworthiness, and bird-strike analyses for primary structures, rotor systems, and battery mounts.
Hold technical sign-off authority for internal Margin of Safety (MoS) reviews, structural substantiation documents, and Material Review Board (MRB) / Non-Conformance (NCR) dispositions.

2. Type Certification (TC) & Airworthiness Compliance

Drive the structural certification roadmap in close coordination with SkyDrive’s central Certification Department.
Lead the creation, review, and formal submission of structural compliance summary reports, structural substantiation dossiers, and Means of Compliance (MoC) under civil airworthiness regulations (JCAB, FAA, and EASA—e.g., SC-VTOL, Part 23/27/29 equivalents).
Interface directly with aviation authority auditors and designated engineering representatives regarding structural strength, fatigue, and flutter compliance.

3. Structural Testing & Test-Analysis Correlation

Oversee the complete structural test execution strategy following the aerospace "Building-Block Approach" (coupon, element, sub-component, and full-scale airframe levels).
Direct the preparation of test proposals, test procedures, instrumentation requirements (strain gauges, load cells), and post-test summary reports.
Lead the correlation efforts between physical test data and analytical FE models to validate structural safety factors and refine analysis methodologies.

4. Cross-Functional Coordination

Partner closely with the Structure Design Team to drive weight reduction and trade studies without compromising structural margins or manufacturing feasibility.
Collaborate with the Materials & Processes (M&P) team to integrate material allowable, environmental knock-down factors, and BVID (Barely Visible Impact Damage) criteria into stress predictions.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Structural, or Mechanical Engineering.
8–12+ Years of Aerospace Experience: Deep expertise in structural analysis, structural testing, and airworthiness certification within an aircraft OEM, rotary-wing OEM, or Tier-1 aerospace supplier.
3+ Years of Technical Leadership / Management: Proven experience managing engineers, conducting performance reviews, and driving team deliverables under tight program schedules.
Civil Certification Track Record: Direct experience preparing structural substantiation documentation and demonstrating compliance for a civil aircraft Type Certification (TC) or major supplemental certification project (JCAB, FAA, or EASA).
Advanced Stress Analysis Mastery: Hands-on mastery of classical aerospace hand calculations and industry-standard FEA software (e.g., NASTRAN/PATRAN, Abaqus, ANSYS, HyperMesh).
Composite Mechanics Expertise: Extensive experience evaluating composite structures (CFRP, sandwich panels, bonded joints, lug/fastener analysis) and dynamic fatigue/damage tolerance.
Structural Testing Execution: Practical experience overseeing static, drop/crash, or fatigue testing of aircraft components.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with eVTOL, helicopter, or light aircraft airframe structural substantiation.