The Staff Engineer, Systems Engineering serves as Supernal's Systems Engineering technical authority in Irvine, ensuring engineering execution, system architecture, requirements, and certification activities align with FAA standards and Part 21 Applicant obligations. This role oversees system-level consistency across sizing, architecture, configuration control, and verification, while maintaining alignment with ARP4754A/ARP4761A processes. The position ensures cross-functional technical decisions support vehicle-level performance, safety, and compliance, and supports readiness for FAA Part 21 responsibilities by reviewing design milestones and identifying integration and certification risks.

Responsibilities

Review and assess engineering processes and technical governance to ensure alignment with FAA-recognized development standards, including ARP4754A, ARP4761A, DO-178C, and DO-254, across all program phases
Identify gaps between engineering processes and FAA-compliant systems frameworks, and define process enhancements required for certification readiness at major milestones
Lead the structured transfer and internalization of engineering systems, compliance methodologies, and certification governance to maintain Applicant-level configuration and compliance control
Review system architectures, system-level designs, and major technical decisions from a vehicle integration, safety, and certification perspective across all development phases
Ensure consistency of sizing assumptions, margin strategies, performance allocations, safety budgets, and architectural trade-offs at the vehicle level
Evaluate trade studies, configuration changes, and interface definitions for alignment with vehicle performance, safety targets, certification basis, and Means of Compliance
Monitor cross-functional interfaces (powertrain, flight controls, structures, avionics, etc.) to prevent architectural inconsistencies and maintain configuration coherence
Provide Supernal technical review positions and concurrence at major design milestones (SRR, PDR, TRR) and Configuration Control Boards for design baselines and significant changes
Identify vehicle-level integration, safety, compliance, and certification risks from technical activities and require mitigation within delegated authority
Ensure technical outputs—including requirements, verification artifacts, compliance data, and configuration records—remain aligned with Supernal’s FAA Part 21 Applicant obligations and certification strategy
Escalate material technical deviations or certification risks to Supernal leadership when exceeding delegated authority or impacting Applicant obligations

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, electrical, mechanical engineering, or related field is required; advanced degree preferred
Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in aircraft systems engineering, integration
Strong knowledge of SAE ARP4754A and ARP4761
Working knowledge of DO-178C and DO-254 in certified aircraft programs
Solid understanding of FAA certification frameworks, including 14 CFR Part 21
Experience supporting certification programs and engaging with regulatory authorities
Experience with requirements management and configuration control tools (e.g., DOORS)
Familiarity with MBSE methodologies and modeling tools (e.g., Cameo, SysML)
Ability to assess and improve engineering processes to ensure certification alignment
Strong system-level integration and architecture review capability
Ability to ensure vehicle-level design consistency across sizing, performance allocation
Capability to evaluate trade studies and configuration changes from a compliance perspective
Ability to manage cross-functional technical interfaces across multiple engineering domains
Strong risk identification and structured mitigation planning skills
Demonstrated ability to represent technical positions within engineering governance and key milestone / change reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR TRR, CCB)

Nice to have

Aircraft safety experience preferred