Cabin Safety Expert

Job Overview

In the Cabin Safety domain of expertise, ensure product safety and environmental compatibility by providing expert knowledge to influence decisions in certification and continued airworthiness, contributing to the safe integration of innovative and more sustainable technologies.

General Accountabilities

In the respective domain:

• Establish and maintain good cooperation with Project Certification Managers, other experts and certification specialists working for the applicant and the design approval holder (DAH), as applicable.
• Provide expert advice and contribution to the determination of the applicable certification basis, the definition of the level of involvement for the compliance demonstration items identified by the applicant, and the agreement of applicants’ certification programmes.
• Verify the compliance demonstrations provided by applicants for the domain of expertise in cooperation with the certification teams and experts of other technical domains.
• Address novel design features, new technologies, unconventional uses, and proposals for novel compliance demonstration, through the development and the definition of special conditions, interpretative material and means of compliance, as well as through the assessment of requests for deviations or for equivalent level of safety.
• Ensure investigation of in-service occurrences and defects in the domain of expertise and contribute to the identification of unsafe conditions and to the agreement of adequate corrective actions to maintain acceptable safety standards as well as to ensure follow-up of those actions wherever necessary. Participate to continued airworthiness meetings with the DAH when necessary and support accident Annex 13 investigations as required.
• For the domain of expertise provide advice in the development of new airworthiness and environmental protection requirements, industrial standards, including relevant parts of EASA Certification Specifications and advisory- as well as guidance material.
• Facilitate the resolutions of conflicts with the stakeholders, through the timely involvement in the decision process of the technical and/or managerial lines, as appropriate.
• Provide inputs and support to Design Organisation Approval oversight activities as necessary.
• Provide technical inputs to support the other Agency’s activities such as Research projects or Innovation Partnership Contracts.
• Represent the Agency externally in international working-groups or standardisation bodies when requested to do so.

Specific Accountabilities

• Provide expertise to complex certification projects:
  • the determination of the applicable certification basis, including special conditions, equivalent safety findings, and deviation 
  • the definition of the level of involvement by selecting compliance demonstration items
  • the agreement of applicants’ certification programmes.
• Within the scope defined under level of involvement, verify the compliance demonstrations as shown by applicants for the domain of expertise in cooperation with the project certification managers (PCMs) and/or experts of other disciplines.
• Investigate allocated occurrences and identify unsafe conditions and potential corrective actions in Continued Airworthiness (CAW) domain and propose replies to safety recommendations.

Admission criteria

The following constitute eligibility and essential criteria for the role and for being admitted to the selection process. Candidates not fulfilling these criteria by the deadline for applications, will be excluded from the selection:

• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the European Union (at least level C1) and a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the EU to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties (at least level B2). One of the required languages shall be English[1].
• Be a national of a Member State of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
• Completed university studies of at least 3 years attested by a diploma in the aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, process engineering, automotive engineering or other relevant subjects in the scope of the profile and, after obtaining the diploma, at least 3 years of relevant professional experience acquired in positions corresponding to the nature of the duties of the job profile*.
• Proven professional experience in, at least, two of the domain expertise areas: 
  • Cabin installation and equipment (including Emergency Medical Systems, VIP interiors, Crew Rest Compartments, Courier Compartments, etc.)
  • Crashworthiness and occupant safety (including crew and passenger seats and occupant restraint systems)
  • Fire Protection in pressurized areas (including materials flammability and fire protection systems)
  • Occupant evacuation, including emergency evacuation systems and crew procedures.
  • Design for Security (ref. CS 25.795).
• Applied knowledge of EASA technical regulatory framework, including direct experience in the certification of products, parts and appliances according to Part 21 requirements and direct involvement in the activities necessary for the demonstration of compliance with the requirements in the certification basis of products addressed in CS-23, CS-25, CS-27 and/or CS-29.

* This vacancy is open as well to Temporary Agents (2f) employed at EASA, in the grade bracket AD5 - AD9

The following constitute advantageous criteria for the role. Candidates not fulfilling these criteria will not be excluded from the selection:

• Proven experience in the domain of Continued Airworthiness or Standards Development Organisation in the expertise domain.
• Professional experience in project certification acquired either in a National Aviation Authority (NAA)/Qualified Entity/Armed Forces or in industry (acting as a Cabin Safety Compliance Verification Engineer in major changes or STCs designed by a DOA organisation).
• Contribution to the development of Cabin Safety policies and technical documents published by international working-groups or standardisation bodies.

[1] Mother tongue English speakers will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of a second EU language. English oral and written skills will be assessed throughout the assessment phase.

Selection criteria

The selection process is based on the assessment of the Professional Skills and Behavioural Competences listed below. While these are considered critical to perform the role effectively, candidates who do not meet all criteria may still be considered.

Professional Skills

Behavioural Competences

Mandatory Pre-Employment Requirements

Prior to recruitment, you will be requested to demonstrate that you:  

• Are entitled to the full rights as a citizen
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved (you will be asked to provide a police certificate confirming the absence of any criminal record) 
• Are physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post (you will be asked to undergo a medical examination in a centre indicated by EASA)

Conditions of employment

Contract: 5 years contract as Temporary Agent 2 (f) with possibility of extension
Working hours: 40 hrs per week (on a full-time working pattern). Flexible working arrangements
Salary: Step in grade upon recruitment based on years of work experience. Additional allowances depending on personal situation
Location: Cologne, Germany (relocation is required)