SkyGrid, a Boeing, Avathon Company, exists to open the sky for autonomous flight. Based in Austin, Texas, SkyGrid builds ground based high-assurance third-party services to enable the safe operations and airspace integration of highly automated and autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid also acts as a key operational nexus for advanced air mobility, integrating and managing data, infrastructure, access, and traffic to support seamless and efficient air traffic services.

The SkyGrid team is searching for a Regulatory Affairs and Certification Specialist. This person will chart a new path that has not yet been traveled within the aviation industry, by engaging with regulatory parties (FAA, EASA, CAA, CASA, RTCA, AIA, ASTIM, AUVSI, ICAO, etc.) and joint venture, Boeing Government Operations office, to help define the regulatory construct for SkyGrid’s next generation ground based airspace integration system that is enabling unmanned and autonomous aircraft systems.

Our ideal candidate will be comfortable with a level of unknown and the ability to solve complex issues independently along the way. The end result will be the delivery of a product that meets customer and regulatory needs as well as the company’s financial and strategic objectives. The successful candidate has a passion for aviation, extensive experience with the FAA, and enjoys working with a team of regulators, operators, engineers, and customers who share that same passion. If you have a background in aviation and management with the desire to thrive in a non-traditional faster-pace aviation program, this is the right role for you.

Performance Objectives:

• Developed regulatory roadmap to achieve near term, mid-term and far term approval goals and identified the key regulators and industry partners to achieve those goals.
• Identified the priority order of which regulators will be beneficial for SkyGrid to engage with.
• Identified certification risk areas and proposed alternate methods or approaches.
• Formed close relationships with applicable regulators and began the certification project.
• Executed the roadmap identified during first 6 months as planned.
  
  
  

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement strategies to ensure operational airspace integration success in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Working closely with the national (FAA) and international (EASA, CAA, CASA, GCAA, GACA, etc.) regulatory communities to reach agreement on unmanned and autonomous regulatory strategies/framework.
• Define regulatory engagement strategy and process for SkyGrid.
• Develop and foster relationships with business-related regulatory agencies, external stakeholders, and policy-oriented think tanks.
• Track and analyze pending and existing legislation, regulations, news releases and public policy issues, most notably in the areas of aviation safety & security, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Third Party Service Providers, cyber, digital and data, assessing potential impacts to SkyGrid and the wider unmanned and autonomy sector.
• Providing insight on regulatory and safety policies in each country to actively promote understanding of policies within SkyGrid, articulating both risk and opportunities relative to business goals.
• Serving as the engineering focal point for regulatory & technical issue communications between regulatory agencies and business unit & enterprise engineering leadership.
• Lead and champion initiatives with the regulators and industry stakeholders.
• Translate regulatory discussions and agreements into internal program scope and relay discoveries to stakeholders.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel to domestic or international sites approximately 30% of the time, sometimes at short notice.
• Represent SkyGrid in industry committees such as RTCA, ICAO, etc.
• Mentor other team members, lead projects for the department as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  
  

Preferred Requirements:

• Ability to lead through influence
• Long-term, strategic thinking skills
• Communicate complex technical issues to audiences with varying backgrounds
• Ability to independently develop direction and role; comfortable with significant ambiguity
• Experience working with commercial aviation aircraft certification/validation procedures and processes
• Open-minded and comfortable working in a partnership environment, while being a champion for functional, safety, and regulatory priorities
• Develop and coordinate certification program plan for regulatory engagement
• Experience working collaboratively with external companies and/or organizations in certification and/or safety matters
• Held at least one engineering position that focuses on airplane-level certification, safety and/or performance
• Experience in public relations
  
  
  

Minimum Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Science, Engineering, or Business Management
• 10+ years or more of related experience in aerospace/aviation industry
• Experience working in or interfacing with regulatory/government bodies
• Must be able to work in self-initiated basis and in a team environment
• Ability to make sound decisions that may have significant monetary or schedule impact to the program
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills in English, other languages helpful
• Ability to concisely present information to all levels of management, staff, customers, and regulator
• Must be a US based person
  
  
  

Join Our Team and Enjoy Exceptional Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage from Day One: Enjoy immediate access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, including HSA and FSA options
• Generous Retirement Contributions: Benefit from an automatic company 401k contribution program, with no match required, plus an additional company matching program to boost your retirement savings
• Calm Annual Membership: Prioritize your mental health with complimentary access to mindfulness and meditation resources
• Discounted ClassPass Membership: Stay active and healthy with access to thousands of fitness studios and gyms nationwide
• Investment in Your Growth: Receive an annual stipend for learning and development to support your continuous education and skill development
• Engaging Team Activities: Participate in quarterly team-building events and celebrations organized by our dedicated culture committee
• Fully Stocked Kitchen: Enjoy a variety of snacks and beverages to keep you fueled throughout the day
  
  
  

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

An employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, if it does not pose undue hardship.