Senior Certification Engineer

Matternet is building the next-generation unmanned delivery platform with autonomous drone networks that move critical goods faster, cleaner, and at lower cost. We work with partners across healthcare, logistics, food, and retail to deliver everything from medical items to everyday essentials, safely and reliably.

We're seeking an experienced Regulatory and Certification Engineer to lead Matternet's airworthiness and regulatory compliance work as we expand BVLOS operations across the US and internationally. Matternet holds FAA Type and Production Certifications, and a Part 145 Repair Station. This role will help extend and maintain that certification basis as we add capability, scale operations, and pursue new approvals under Part 108. You'll work closely with Engineering, Flight Test, and Safety to translate regulatory requirements into documentation, evidence, and submissions, and act as a key point of contact with the FAA and other regulators.

In this role, you will:

Own and drive the technical substantiation strategy for new design and modification approvals, ensuring the certification package is defensible, complete, and traceable to applicable requirements

Build and maintain compliance matrices, means-of-compliance documentation, and certification plans for structures, propulsion, flight controls, electrical systems, and software as they apply to new designs.

Review engineering designs and proposed modifications for certification impact; identify when a change is major vs. minor, and what substantiation (analysis, test, similarity) is required.

Interface with FAA representatives (ODA, ACO, or equivalent UAS oversight office) on certification basis discussions, compliance findings, and issue papers.

Partner with flight test, systems engineering, and manufacturing to ensure design intent is preserved through production and that conformity is demonstrable.

Develop risk assessments and safety analysis using frameworks like the Specific Operational Risk Assessment (SORA) and hazard tracking matrices

Prepare and submit regulatory filings needed for new operational approvals (e.g., BVLOS waivers, Part 135 additions, new operating locations)

Track regulatory developments and rulemaking (FAA and international) and assess their impact on Matternet's aircraft, operations, and roadmap

Maintain and update controlled regulatory documentation (e.g., flight manuals, maintenance manuals, statements of compliance) in line with configuration/change control processes

Represent Matternet in engagement with regulators, industry standards bodies, and certification consultants as needed.

Requirements

7+ years with aviation certification and regulatory work, ideally with hands-on experience preparing or supporting FAA design/modification approvals (STCs,, TC amendments, or equivalent).

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, well-organized regulatory documentation

Deep working knowledge of Part 21 certification processes, compliance documentation, and how designs are substantiated to an approved certification basis.

Working knowledge of the consensus standards bodies most relevant to drone certification, and the ability to map them into a compliance strategy, including:

ASTM F38 (UAS) standard family

RTCA standards applied to UAS Familiarity with how the FAA accepts or references these consensus standards as means of compliance (MOC)

Comfortable working cross-functionally with Engineering, Flight Test, and Safety to gather technical information needed for submissions

Ability to manage multiple regulatory workstreams and deadlines in a fast-paced, startup/scale-up environment

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior or current DER designation (any discipline — structures, systems, flight test, etc.), even if not required for this role.

Direct experience with the 49 U.S.C. § 44807 exemption process for operating unmanned aircraft not eligible for airworthiness certification under Part 135, or familiarity with how that pathway interacts with a Type Certificate strategy.

Background in UAS, eVTOL, or other novel aircraft categories where certification bases were built from scratch or adapted from existing rules.

Experience with FAA BVLOS rulemaking (Part 108) or other emerging UAS regulatory frameworks.

Familiarity with SORA or UK CAA Operational Authorisation processes.

Proficiency with Jira and Confluence for managing certification plans, compliance matrices, and traceability across engineering and regulatory workstreams.

Proficiency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) for day-to-day documentation and cross-functional collaboration.

Benefits

At Matternet, we’re advancing a new era of logistics, one where autonomous drones deliver what matters faster, cleaner, and more efficiently. We know our mission is challenging, but it's worth it, and we are committed to taking care of the people who make it possible.

Compensation: The expected starting range for this role is $170K–$195K, based on San Francisco Bay Area market data. This range reflects the target starting pay for candidates who meet the minimum qualifications for the role. Final compensation will depend on factors such as your experience, skills, level, location, and potential impact.

Total Rewards: In addition to base pay, our compensation packages include equity and benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage, flexible spending accounts (FSA), unlimited paid time off, company holidays, and a 401(k) plan.