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Structures Expert

Type of Selection: Internal and External

Contract Type: Temporary agent

Grade: AD07

Deadline for application: 30/04/2026 at 23:59 CET

Experience Level: Professional

Approx. number of candidates on reserve list: 12

Location: Cologne, Germany

Monthly gross compensation (€): 7,876.27 - 8,207.25

Our employees are our most valuable asset. We therefore offer a wide range of benefits.

EASA is the leading aviation authority in Europe. A career at EASA means contributing to our vision for an ever safer and greener civil aviation. As an EASA employee, you will be making a difference to the lives of about 500 million fellow Europeans: this is our shared purpose and it could be yours, too. From our headquarters in Cologne, Germany, you will work with top experts in a multicultural work environment. Diversity and Inclusion are part of our DNA and innovation is at the heart of what we do. We ensure that aviation is safe in all phases: beginning with the certification of the aircraft to the rules for the air operation and crew. For more information about the Agency please consult our website and take a look at our organisation structure. Are you interested to contribute to our mission? Then see below what it takes to accomplish the role.

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity and non-discrimination. To further enhance the diversity of our workforce, we particularly encourage applications from female candidates.

Job Overview

In the respective domain, 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:

Provide expert advice and contribution to complex certification for the determination of the applicable certification basis, the definition of the level of involvement by selecting compliance demonstration items 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.
Develop and contribute to the definition of interpretative material and special conditions as well as assess requests for deviations or for equivalent level of safety to address new technologies, unconventional uses, and proposals for novel compliance demonstration.
Ensure investigation of in-service occurrences and defects in the domain of expertise and contribute to the agreement of adequate corrective actions to maintain acceptable safety standards as well as to ensure follow-up of those actions wherever necessary.
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.
Provide inputs and support to Design Organisation Approval 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.
Follow allocated occurrences and identify potential corrective actions in 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 4 years attested by a diploma in the aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, process engineering, automotive engineering or other relevant subjects in the scope of the profile. After obtaining the diploma, at least 6 years of relevant professional experience acquired in positions corresponding to the nature of the duties of the job profile
OR
Alternatively, completion university studies of at least 3 years attested by a diploma in the aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, process engineering, automotive engineering or other relevant subjects in the scope of the profile. After obtaining the diploma at least 7 years of relevant professional experience acquired in positions corresponding to the nature of the duties of the job profile
Proven professional experience of, at least, one of the areas of fixed wing aircraft or rotorcraft structures: static strength, fatigue & damage tolerance, materials & manufacturing, crashworthiness & impact conditions, loads, aeroelasticity, vibration & buffeting.
Applied knowledge of EASA technical regulatory framework, including Certification Specifications CS-23, CS-25, CS-27, CS-29 and/or CS-E.

* 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.
Professional experience in project certification acquired either in a National Aviation Authority (NAA)/Qualified Entity/Armed Forces or in industry.
Exposure to simulation techniques in the diciplines of static strength, fatigue & damage tolerance, materials & manufacturing, crashworthiness & impact conditions, loads, aeroelasticity, vibration & buffeting.

[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

Aircraft Structures (Design, development, certification, modeling, or testing of fixed‐wing aircraft or rotorcraft structures)

Technical and safety standards relevant to fixed wing aircraft or rotorcraft structures

Familiarity with certification processes, techniques, methods, and specifications

Part 21 - CAW

Establishing the acceptable means of compliance for hard and soft rules

Behavioural Competences

Quality Orientation

Teamwork

Critical Thinking

Flexibility & Change Adaptability

Communication

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)

Application & Selection Process

How to apply

We can only accept applications that are submitted in English through our Recruiting tool. Before sending your application, make sure it is complete and contains the document(s) specified in the vacancy notice. Please also ensure that your candidate profile, all relevant fields and the answers to the pre-screening questions are correct. You may review and amend data demonstrating compliance with the eligibility and selection criteria only until the closing date of applications for the respective selection procedure.

For further information take a look at How we hire. In case of questions or technical issues, email us at recruit@easa.europa.eu. Attach a description and screenshot of the error.

To check if you are meeting the minimum education qualifications required for the job, consult the information published by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO): Examples of minimum qualifications

Important note on diplomas obtained outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or Norway: If your application is found eligible on the basis of diploma(s) obtained outside these countries, we might ask you to provide proof of accreditation by one of the European Union Member States. This applies also to diplomas obtained in the UK after 31 December 2020.

Make sure you are meeting the language requirements: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and assess your language skills. Language certificates are not required at the stage of application, unless specified in the vacancy.

Selection Process

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted via E-mail. If your application has been rejected following the initial screening, the status in your candidate profile will be automatically updated to "Not admitted". Invitations to the shortlisted candidates are sent once the evaluation of applications is completed (this may take up to two months after expiry of the deadline to apply). Pre-selection exercises, online tests and interviews with the Selection Board usually take place remotely. If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list from which you might be considered for similar positions within EASA. Learn more about our Selection and Onboarding process. Take a look also at our comprehensive information on Benefits, get to know Our people and find out what Life in Cologne is like.

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