Senior Aeronautical Structural Engineer – Aircraft Design & Certification

Senior Aeronautical Structural Engineer – Aircraft Design & Certification

Employer: ITPS (Canada) Ltd.
Location: London, Ontario
Department: Aircraft Modification & Maintenance
Reports To: Vice President, Aircraft Modification and Maintenance
Employment Status: Full-time, Permanent

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week

 

Role

ITPS Canada is seeking an experienced Senior Aeronautical Structural Engineer to support the design, development, modification, and certification of aircraft and airborne systems across a range of special mission aviation programs. This role will support both type-certified and limited category aircraft, working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, regulatory authorities, and flight operations personnel to ensure designs meet operational, safety, and airworthiness requirements.

Scope

The successful candidate will work on uniquely modified aircraft, including advanced platforms featuring fly-by-wire systems, as well as products and technologies supporting in-flight simulation and airborne training environments. The ideal candidate will possess strong experience in aircraft structural design, systems integration, certification planning, and regulatory compliance, with direct exposure to Transport Canada certification activities and Means of Compliance development. This position also plays a key mentorship role, supporting junior and intermediate engineers while contributing to engineering process improvement and configuration-controlled product development.

Aircraft Design & Development

• Lead and support structural design and modification activities for special mission aircraft and airborne systems.
• Develop engineering design solutions for aircraft structures, installations, and mission equipment integration.
• Produce engineering substantiation, technical documentation, drawings, and compliance evidence supporting certification activities.
• Support design development from conceptual phases through implementation, testing, and continued airworthiness activities.
• Participate in aircraft modification programs involving both fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms.

Certification & Regulatory Compliance

• Support certification programs in accordance with applicable TCCA, FAA, and EASA requirements.
• Develop and propose Means of Compliance to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA).
• Prepare certification documentation including compliance reports, engineering analyses, test plans, conformity support documentation, and technical justifications.
• Interface directly with regulatory authorities, Design Approval Representatives (DARs), and certification specialists.

Engineering Operations & Configuration Management

• Work within configuration-controlled engineering environments using SolidWorks, PDM systems, Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
• Support design release processes, revision control, and technical data management.
• Coordinate with manufacturing, maintenance, avionics, flight test, and operations teams to support aircraft modification and sustainment activities.

Team Collaboration & Technical Leadership

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance and mentorship to junior and intermediate engineers.
• Participate in technical reviews, design reviews, and program planning activities.
• Support troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and corrective action development.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes, standards, and certification methodologies.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 6+ years of aerospace engineering experience involving aircraft design, modification, certification, and program execution.
• Experience supporting special mission, military, transport category, commuter category, or limited category aircraft programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with Transport Canada certification projects, regulatory engagement, and proposing Means of Compliance.
  
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering activities, schedules, technical deliverables, and project execution priorities within aerospace development programs.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent engineering activities and support program milestones in fast-paced environments.
• Experience mentoring and providing technical guidance to junior and intermediate engineers.

Standard Knowledge

• Stress analysis fundamentals including fatigue, damage tolerance, and joint analysis.
• TCCA Advisory Circular AC 507-001, Special Certificate of Airworthiness, Limited.
• TCCA Advisory Circular AC 500-016, Establishing Certification Basis of Changed Aeronautical Products.
• TCCA Advisory Circular AC 505-002, Airworthiness Control System for a Delegated Organisation (Aircraft Certification).
• FAA AC 25.1309-1B, System Design and Analysis.
• FAA AC 23.1309-1E, Equipment, Systems, and Installations.
• FAA AC 25.571, Damage Tolerance and Fatigue Evaluation of Structure.
• FAA AC 23-13A, Fatigue, Fail-Safe, and Damage Tolerance Evaluation of Metallic Structure for Normal, Utility, Acrobatic, and Commuter Category Airplanes.
• SAE ARP4754A, Guidelines for Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems.
• SAE ARP4761A, Guidelines and Methods for Conducting the Safety Assessment Process on Civil Airborne Systems and Equipment.

Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of aircraft structural design principles and airworthiness requirements.
• Experience developing certification strategies and Means of Compliance.
• Familiarity with aircraft safety assessment processes and system development guidance.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks, PDM environments, and engineering change management processes (ECR/ECO).
• Proficiency with finite element analysis tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, Patran, or Femap.
• Working knowledge of structural analysis methodologies and engineering substantiation practices.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.

Why Join ITPS?

• Work at Canada's largest flight test centre.
• Work on uniquely modified aircraft and advanced aerospace technologies.
• Contribute to programs involving missionized aircraft and airborne simulation platforms.
• Participate in complex aircraft development and certification activities.
• Collaborate with a highly skilled aerospace engineering and flight operations team.
• Gain direct exposure to regulatory engagement, advanced aircraft systems, and missionized platforms.
• Opportunities for technical growth, leadership, and participation in international aerospace programs.

AI Disclosure: We do not use AI to evaluate applicants or make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams.