Location: Mountain View, CA

Employment Type: Full-time

Team: Chief Engineers' Office

At Wisk, we're transforming the future of urban mobility through safe, all- electric, autonomous flight. We are a passionate team working together toward a sustainable future, solving high-impact problems that have never been solved before. By delivering everyday flight for everyone, we're making it possible to spend less time getting there and more time being there. If you want to be part of shaping the future of mobility, then read on!

Why we need you

To fulfill this mission, we are looking for a talented and experienced leader to develop and direct our Certification department which is part of the Engineering & Programs organization which includes all functions and disciplines that are necessary to develop the first fully autonomous all- electric aircraft that performs and operates safely in an urban air-mobility environment.

The Director of Certification reports to the SVP of Engineering & Programs and is a key member of the Technical Leadership Team. The candidate needs a combination of people management and demonstrated technical acumen in the various certification disciplines that are involved throughout all development phases of a new aircraft.

The successful candidate is respected in the aerospace engineering community as a highly knowledgeable and experienced technical leader who has direct hands-on experience developing and building type certified aircraft, from initial concept through flight testing and certification.

They must have strong experience as an organizational leader with a proven track record of hiring and overseeing highly talented and successful aerospace certification teams. In this role, the candidate must be proactive, forward thinking and self-motivated with the ability to build and lead a team of like- minded engineers.

What you will do

• Engage with Policy Makers within the FAA as well as within other foreign regulatory bodies to secure Wisk’s novel technology path to certification,
• Work to break down barriers within FAA lines of business as they occur,
• Ensure coordination across all FAA lines of business as it relates to Type Certification and Part 135 Operator Certification,
• Engage with FAA leadership to ensure funding and resources are allocated to UAM certification, continued airworthiness and airspace integration especially as it relates to autonomous operations,
• Provide Wisk executive team with Certification briefings as it relates to schedule, cost, resource needs and risk,
• Ensure processes and procedures are in place across the whole organization to meet Part 21 requirements as it relates to Type Certification and Production Certification,
• Build, strengthen and mobilize the Certification organization through hiring, leadership training, coaching, career development and mentoring,
• Interface and support other departments such as Engineering, Programs, Product Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and People Operations to balance and achieve company goals,
• Deploy resources and support multiple development program IPTs (Integrated Product Teams) focused on program execution and product delivery,
• Own, develop and advance the development, adoption and improvement of appropriate standards, processes and tools (i.e. ARP4754A, ARP4761, MBSE, MBD, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-297) for core engineering activities that support the aircraft systems architecture definition, system requirements development and decomposition, interfaces definition, systems implementation, integration, verification and validation, gated reviews (CoDR, PDR, CDR, TRR), trade studies, and technical performance metric management,
• Foster a culture that inspires high levels of performance and accountability with a focus on safety, quality and reliability,
• Balance the need for innovation with the development of requirements and processes of a type certified aircraft,
• Help define the overarching design, test and certification approach,
• Develop and maintain the Certification group development plans and basis of estimates for budget, resources and schedule for all Certification activities and tools,
• Set annual goals and pro-actively analyze metrics to drive process improvements and increase velocity of execution.

Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical, Aerospace, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. Master’s Degree or PhD strongly preferred,
• 15+ years of direct hands-on experience in the certification, design, integration, build, qualification, test and certification in FAA or EASA certification projects (Part 23, 25, 27 or 29),
• Strong experience with Systems, Safety & Reliability Engineering principles for safety critical aircraft systems (SAE ARP 4754A/4761) as well as Software and Hardware design (DO-178C, DO-254, DO-297),
• Thorough understanding of Part 21 certification requirements (Part 23, 25, 27 or 29),
• Experience with Operational Safety (FAA/EASA Part 135) would be an asset,
• Demonstrated success leading an aerospace engineering organization with multiple functional areas, including new technology projects versus legacy systems,
• Ability to drive accountability appropriately within the organization, especially in service to schedule, scope and cost,
• Demonstrable experience hiring, managing, developing and inspiring technically diverse teams in startup or high-growth organizations,
• Strategic thinker with very strong decision making and communication skills,
• Highly self-motivated with a strong bias for action, compassion, inclusivity, and excellent problem solving skills across multidisciplinary skill sets
• An excellent communicator (verbal and written) internally and externally, able to represent the company to the highest standards and report effectively to the senior management team on Certification strategy, performance and outlook,
• A visionary person who can adapt and drive innovation and performance as the company goes through rapid growth.

Who you are

• Innovation & future vision are fundamental building blocks of your career history,
• You understand what drives employee engagement and how to get your teams to perform what they think is impossible,
• You get things done. You drive alignment, clarity, focus and accountability, and marshal people and resources to accomplish the goal on time and on budget,
• You're a "hands-on" leader.

#LI-DS1

We are located in Mountain View just a couple of hundred feet from Shoreline Lake and its surrounding walking/jogging trails. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision and life insurance (company pays 100% of employee premium), alternative work schedule (9/80), flexible time off, 10 company holidays, a 401(k) plan with 50% company matching (no vesting period), commuter assistance, and education assistance. And on top of all that, we also offer a variety of perks such as free catered lunches, flight lessons, gym membership subsidies, snacks, drinks, fruits, employee referral bonus, charitable giving match, patent bonus program, happy hours and many more.

In order to protect the health and safety of all Wisk employees in the workplace, we are requiring that all employees receive an FDA-authorized vaccination against COVID-19 prior to physically returning to Wisk’s U.S. offices. Exceptions/accommodations are considered for employees with disabilities or sincerely-held religious beliefs or practices that prevent them from being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Wisk Aero provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Wisk Aero abides by applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Wisk Aero is an E-Verify employer.