Designated Engineering Representative (DER)

Job Description

Designated Engineering Representative (DER)

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Location: Seattle, WA (Hybrid, Preferably Onsite)

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Employment Type: Full-Time

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✈️ Industry: Aerospace & Aviation

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Important Eligibility Requirement

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Due to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) requirements, only U.S. Citizens or Green Card Holders are eligible for this position.

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About the Role

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We are seeking an experienced Designated Engineering Representative (DER) to support aircraft certification programs and ensure regulatory compliance across aircraft systems, structures, avionics, interiors, modifications, and repairs. This role serves as a critical technical authority, providing engineering approvals, certification guidance, and airworthiness compliance support in accordance with FAA and other regulatory requirements.

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The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in aircraft certification, regulatory compliance verification, engineering analysis, and technical validation, while partnering with cross-functional engineering and certification teams to support commercial, military, business aviation, or rotorcraft programs.

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Key Responsibilities

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Aircraft Certification & Regulatory Compliance

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• Review, approve, and certify engineering data within authorized DER disciplines.
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• Ensure compliance with FAA, EASA, DGCA, and applicable airworthiness regulations.
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• Interpret certification requirements and apply them to design, analysis, testing, and compliance activities.
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• Support Type Certification (TC), Supplemental Type Certification (STC), and aircraft modification programs.
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• Provide technical guidance regarding regulatory compliance and certification strategy.
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• Review certification plans, compliance checklists, and approval documentation.
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Engineering Analysis & Validation

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• Conduct technical evaluations of engineering reports, design data, test results, and substantiation packages.
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• Assess structural analyses, fatigue and damage tolerance studies, and system safety analyses.
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• Verify conformity of substantiation documentation with applicable certification requirements.
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• Provide recommendations and resolutions related to airworthiness and compliance findings.
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• Support root cause investigations and corrective action activities.
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Program & Customer Support

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• Work closely with design, systems, structures, manufacturing, quality, and certification teams.
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• Support customer reviews, audits, and regulatory authority interactions.
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• Participate in compliance demonstrations and certification planning activities.
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• Provide technical support throughout aircraft modification and repair programs.
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Technical Leadership

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• Act as a subject matter expert in aircraft certification and regulatory compliance.
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• Mentor engineering teams on certification processes, best practices, and regulatory expectations.
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• Drive process improvements related to certification methodologies and compliance management.
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Required Qualifications

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• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or related field.
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• 10-15+ years of aerospace engineering experience.
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• Extensive knowledge of aircraft certification processes and airworthiness regulations.
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• Experience supporting FAA, EASA, or equivalent certification authorities.
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• Strong understanding of aircraft structures, systems, avionics, or interiors certification.
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• Experience supporting aircraft modifications, repairs, and certification programs.
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• Excellent technical judgment, problem-solving, and communication skills.
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Preferred Qualifications

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• FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) authorization.
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• Previous experience with commercial aircraft, military platforms, rotorcraft, or business jets.
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• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
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• Familiarity with:
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• Part 21
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• Part 23
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• Part 25
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• Part 27
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• Part 29
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• Part 33/35 regulations
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Technical Skills

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• Aircraft Certification & Compliance Verification
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• Regulatory Compliance & Airworthiness
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• FAA & EASA Certification Standards
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• Structural Analysis & Substantiation
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• Stress Analysis
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• Fatigue & Damage Tolerance Assessment
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• System Safety Analysis
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• Aircraft Modifications & Repairs
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• Engineering Validation
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• Certification Planning
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• Compliance Documentation
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• Root Cause Analysis
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• Engineering Report Development
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What Success Looks Like

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• Delivery of regulatory-compliant engineering approvals.
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• Successful certification support for aircraft modifications and new programs.
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• Timely resolution of airworthiness and compliance issues.
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• High-quality certification plans, substantiation packages, and compliance reports.
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• Effective collaboration with customers, certification authorities, and engineering teams.
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Why Join Us?

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Join a team supporting critical aerospace certification programs and play a key role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and compliance of next-generation aircraft systems and modifications.

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ITAR Requirement: Due to export control regulations, applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Green Card Holders to be considered for this position.

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Pay and Benefits

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Pay Range Minimum: $ 140,000 per year

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Pay Range Maximum: $ 180,000 per year

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HCLTech is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees regardless of race, religion, sex, color, age, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, physical disability or genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with federal, state, and/or local law. Should any applicant have concerns about discrimination in the hiring process, they should provide a detailed report of those concerns to View email address on ziprecruiter.com for investigation.A candidate’s pay within the range will depend on their skills, experience, education, and other factors permitted by law. This role may also be eligible for performance-based bonuses subject to company policies. In addition, this role is eligible for the following benefits subject to company policies: medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, life, accidental death & dismemberment, and disability insurance; employee assistance program; 401(k) retirement plan; 10 days of paid time off per year (some positions are eligible for need-based leave with no designated number of leave days per year); and 10 paid holidays per year

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How You’ll Grow

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At HCLTech, we offer continuous opportunities for you to find your spark and grow with us. We want you to be happy and satisfied with your role and to really learn what type of work sparks your brilliance the best. Throughout your time with us, we offer transparent communication with senior-level employees, learning and career development programs at every level, and opportunities to experiment in different roles or even pivot industries. We believe that you should be in control of your career with unlimited opportunities to find the role that fits you b

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est.