F-35 WIPT Weapons Certification Engineer

Weapon Systems Engineer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO), Weapons Integration Product Team (WIPT) providing Platform Stores Integration (PSI). The primary responsibilities will be for assigned projects related to Airworthiness, requiring significant depth of experience in weapons and stores certification and integration to provide Developmental Test (DT), Operational Test (OT) and Fleet Flight Clearances.

Coordinates, informs and communicates efforts with various JPO teams, NAVAIR and AFLCMC Subject Matter Experts (SME), Prime Contractor, subcontractors and government certification entities, as required. This position is located at Eglin AFB, Florida, and is eligible for telework. Essential Job Functions: Work with weapons integration and Airworthiness certification SMEs in preparing evidence to support DT, OT, and Fleet Release Flight Clearances/Military Flight Releases.

Review and comment on flight clearance requests, engineering change proposals, and preliminary specification change notices. Support weapon airworthiness and certification engineering planning activities by preparing and managing the execution of weapons-centric Engineering Data Requirements Agreement Plans (EDRAP), Airworthiness Plans (AP), Certification Basis (CB) and Airworthiness Certification Agreement Plans (ACAP).

In supporting these activities, the incumbent will coordinate and aggregate EDRAP, AP, CB, and/or ACAP artifacts, disseminate them to NAVAIR and/or AFLCMC for review and consolidate their responses to provide a unified, timely response. Represent the F-35 Weapons IPT at technical reviews and all systems engineering meetings, as required.

Draft, review and comment on weapons certification documentation, publications and correspondence and assist in the planning of the Joint Stores Certification Working Groups (JSCWG). Track action items from the JSCWGs and devise courses of action for closure. Maintain weapon airworthiness certification training briefing and provide training to new PSI and integration engineers on the engineering artifacts and evidence underpinning DT/OT/Fleet Release Certification packages.

Host and/or participate in weekly weapon certification meetings and prepare/represent team at weapon team staff meetings. Host and/or participate in reoccurring meetings with the NAWCWD SMEs and Class Desk to further understand and/or authorize new weapon capability on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Participate in weapon integration meetings to tailor airworthiness/certification evidence required for DT/OT/Fleet Flight Clearance Releases.

Organize SME input to support the creation of System Safety Risk Acceptance and new weapon approvals by US Service Safety Boards (NNMSB/WSESRB). In support of the Weapon Certification Engineer(s) and Weapon Lead Engineer, continually audit and improve the engineering evidence supporting DT/OT/Fleet Flight Clearances, Military Flight Releases and F-35 Flight Series Data.

Submit weekly status reports on Integration to WIPT leadership to include weapon(s) roadmaps. Prepare monthly inputs for F-35 Air Vehicle / Mission Systems briefings to leadership.

Required Skills

Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required. Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or STEM related field plus 12 years relevant experience in a Weapon or Aircraft Systems Program Office/Program Management Office. Muat be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance for the duration of employments Must be able to obtain and maintain program security clearances.

Knowledge of qualification and approvals requirements for weapons and stores and knowledge of aircraft/stores design, development and certification procedures. Ability to review proposals and engineering drawings using engineering knowledge to evaluate the proposed design against F-35 JSF requirements. Ability to work effectively with weapons/stores manufacturers, in-service support organizations, weapons IPTs, qualification, approval and acceptance authorities as well as with all related JPO IPTs.

Working knowledge of DoW acquisition lifecycle process & relevancy to assigned weapon(s) system. Demonstrated knowledge of fighter aircraft weapons practices and policies. Military tactical weapons background is preferable. Demonstrated ability to gather and analyze a variety of weapons program information, make sound judgments concerning weapons integration activities, and effectively communicate recommendations orally and in writing to senior military and government leadership.

Good briefing, interpersonal and diplomatic skills. Travel once per month (2/month on occasion) and 3-5 days/trip. Foreign travel is unlikely but possible. Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and Adobe Pro.