Principal Aerostructures Engineer

As a Principal Aerostructures Engineer you will join our aerospace engineering team to support our activities within the aviation sector You will play a critical role in ensuring the airworthiness, compliance, and certification of aerostructural designs in accordance with EASA/UK CAA Part 21 requirements. Acting as a key technical authority within the Design Organisation Approval (DOA) framework, you will review, verify, and approve structural engineering deliverables, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance are maintained throughout the design lifecycle. - Location: Bristol - On Site: Hybrid - Clearance: Clearable - Experience Level: Senior 5+ years of experience Key Responsibilities: - Review and approve aerostructural designs in accordance with Design Organisation Approval (DOA) requirements - Ensure compliance with EASA and UK CAA Part 21 regulations and applicable certification standards - Assess and approve composite and metallic structural designs, analyses, and associated engineering documentation - Verify that engineering outputs meet airworthiness, safety, performance, and regulatory requirements - Support certification activities and provide airworthiness guidance throughout the product development lifecycle - Review structural substantiation reports, stress analyses, and design justifications - Provide technical oversight during design reviews and certification audits - Collaborate with design, stress, manufacturing, and certification teams to ensure compliance objectives are achieved - Support investigations into design issues, non-conformities, and airworthiness concerns - Contribute to the continuous improvement of DOA processes, procedures, and compliance practices Required Skills: - Strong knowledge of EASA and/or UK CAA Part 21 regulations - Experience working within a Design Organisation Approval (DOA) environment - Extensive understanding of aerostructures, including metallic and composite structures - Experience reviewing and approving structural engineering data and certification documentation - Knowledge of airworthiness regulations and aerospace certification processes - Strong technical judgement and decision-making capability - Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills - Ability to interpret engineering analyses, substantiation reports, and compliance documentation Required Qualifications: - A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience. - Significant experience within aerospace structural design, stress, airworthiness, or certification engineering - Previous experience operating within a regulated aerospace environment - Demonstrable experience supporting aircraft certification programmes Desirable Skills: - Existing DOA Signatory or Approver authorisation - Experience with both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft programmes - Knowledge of CS-23, CS-25, CS-27, or CS-29 certification requirements - Experience supporting certification audits and regulatory authority interactions - Familiarity with fatigue, damage tolerance, and structural integrity assessments - Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership