Director - Civil Certification

DescriptionBell is more than an aviation company — we are pioneers. From breaking the sound barrier to tiltrotors, we challenge what’s possible. Today, we are shaping the future of civil aviation with the first commercial fly by wire helicopter. And we want you to help lead that mission.Work location is onsite at Bell’s Commercial Business Center in Fort Worth, TXCertification DirectorThe Director of Civil Certification provides executive leadership over all civil certification functions at Bell, including Type Certification, Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) Administration and Production Certification.This leader ensures Bell maintains delegated authority, advances major Type Certification programs, and safeguards long‑term commercial success.What You’ll Be Doing as the Director of Certification:Build and lead a team of Validation/Certification Project Specialists to work effectively with programs and certification authorities to type validate commercial productsOversee Certification and Production Certification teams to ensure strong execution, regulatory compliance, and consistent ODA performance.Act as the executive liaison to the FAA ODA Management Team, driving ODA performance and leading the organization through ODA renewal cycles.Provide guidance and direction to Commercial Programs on commercial product validation by developing certification strategies and technical positionGuide audit readiness and responses, monitor ODA Unit Member performance, and ensure alignment with FAA regulations and policy.Lead execution of validation/certification projects in support of the Commercial Programs team through development of strong relationship with domestic and foreign authoritiesTranslate regulatory expectations into clear engineering requirements and ensure certification considerations are embedded early in system architecture and design decisions across all disciplines.Partner with Flight Test and Engineering teams to structure test campaigns that distinguish between engineering learning and certification evidence generation, ensuring test data is valid and usable for compliance.Establish and maintain effective compliance tracking and configuration control processes to ensure the certified configuration aligns with approved design data and assumptions.Select and manage external certification resources—including DERs, consultants, test labs, and conformity partners—to support compliance activities and evidence generation.Act as lead ODA administratorDefine the long-term structure of Bell’s civil certification and airworthiness organization, developing internal certification talent and scaling capability as future programs grow.Support of identification of future talent to support the EFUM pipelineQualificationsSkills You Bring to the Role:Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering field (Master’s preferred).At least 5 years’ experience managing FAA or FAA-delegated organization projects.At least 10 years cumulative certification and flight test or product engineering leadership experience.Demonstrated experience managing FAA or FAA-delegated programs, including certification basis, means of compliance, cert project oversight, and audit preparation.Expert knowledge of FAA regulations, FAA Orders (e.g., 8100.15, 8110-4, 8130.2), and TC/STC/PC certification processes.Proven capability leading multidisciplinary teamsStrong executive communication skillsPreferred: Experience with novel configurations, advanced technologies, or emerging aviation concepts.Knowledge of FAA, EASA, TCCA, ANAC, UKCAA, and other foreign CAA regulations and compliance strongly preferredWhat we offer you in return:You’ll be off every other Friday with our 9/80 work schedule80 hours of Personal Time Off (PTO)120 hours Vacation time12-13 paid holidays per year6 weeks parental leave Tuition reimbursementCompetitive salaryComprehensive health insuranceOn-site clinic, pharmacy, physical therapy, and licensed counselor Access to more than 11 Employee Resource GroupsAnd so much moreIt’s time to make your mark on the future of aviation. Join us on this mission, and let’s make history together. We are on a journey to amplify innovation, cultivate purpose and bridge experiences by fostering a culture that is driven by unique perspectives, voices and values.Job Field: EngineeringJob Type: StandardSchedule: Full-timeShift: First ShiftJob Level: DirectorTravel: Yes, 5 % of the Time