Director of Regulatory

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• You will serve as the hands-on leader for not only Licensing, but also continuing to ensure expansion and compliance of our design approvals over time, in alignment with our mission objectives. In addition to being the primary technical interface with the FAA, Federal Ranges (i.e. Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral) and international partners. 
• Lead and growing a right-sized, world-class Regulatory Operations and Licensing team. 
• Set and communicate licensing program objectives and priorities including owning the plan for when we will achieve a high-level regulatory milestone all the way to specific document submission dates. 
• Liaising with the relevant Licensing authorities to demonstrate compliance with CFR Part 450 and compliance with RCC 319 and RCC 324 for ABL Vehicles. 
• Implement operational safety role and verify compliance with regulatory requirements for launch and ground operations. 
• Leading strategy and issue papers to define new approaches for non-traditional launch sites, rapid and responsive flights and scaling access to space.
• Ensuring critical cross-team efforts are well owned (including owning some yourself) such as driving to agreement with the FAA on adequate detect and avoid performance as well as the internal plan to exceed it, resolving a critical safety issue, or ensuring compliance with a cross-cutting regulatory requirement.
• Leading cross-functional regulatory milestone readiness reviews, assuring the cross-functional teams are aligned and the program is ready to submit a major Licensing amendment.
• Collaborating closely with the global policy team to ensure policy initiatives align with aviation launch regulatory objectives.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in aerospace engineering or equivalent.
• 10+ years of industry experience in progressive technical and leadership roles.
• 5+ years of direct experience working with government counterparts.

PREFERRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Experience building and leading teams.
• Experience completing regulatory certification with government counter parts. 
• Experience certifying launch vehicles with the FAA or Ranges. 
• Experience with FMEA analysis, and reliability analysis, and hazard analysis. 
• Ability to manage complex programs across multiple disciplines to complete on time.  
• Experience working at the FAA or Ranges on Flight Safety is a major plus. 

WHAT WE LOOK FOR:

• Critical thinking:  ABL engineers understand the “why” behind all design decisions, operational events and test outcomes.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity: ABL engineers must be comfortable defining their own pathway to an objective.
• End-to end ownership:  projects are delivered fully complete and ready for flight.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENTS:

• Ability to travel on short notice (Expect 10% travel).  
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.   
• Ability to use a computer to complete assignments.  
• Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and telepresence.   
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment.