Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Responsibilities:

Certification Strategy & Execution

• Lead certification pathways across FAA frameworks (e.g., Part 103, Part 21, Part 23, MOSAIC, experimental and special airworthiness categories)
• Develop and maintain certification roadmaps aligned with product and business strategy
• Draft and manage applications for: Exemptions, Special Airworthiness Certificates, Waivers & COAs
• Partner closely with engineering and flight test teams to ensure compliance alignment early in design

Regulatory Engagement

• Serve as primary Pivotal representative to: Aeronautical Authorities including FAA (and offices including AIR, AFS, FSDOs) and as well as international civil aeronautical authorities
• Support communication with FSDOs and other regulators, including proactive outreach and issue resolution.
• Prepare briefing materials, white papers, and engagement strategies for regulators
• Support and lead regulatory meetings, early engagement sessions, and audits

Global Market Entry

• Identify and execute pathways to enter new markets internationally
• Assess regulatory environments and define certification/operational strategies for each region
• Build relationships with local regulators and industry bodies
• Enable scalable approaches (e.g.,training local maintainers, operational approvals, public-use pathways)

Regulatory Intelligence & Foresight

• Stay ahead of evolving regulations (FAA MOSAIC, AAM frameworks, international equivalents)
• Drive Pivotal priorities with regulators while charting a way to actionable company regulations strategy
• Advise leadership on risks, opportunities, and timing implications
• Benchmark best practices across the industry

Operational Support

• Draft regulatory-facing documentation for executive review (you)
• Support development of: Operating manuals, CONOPS, Training frameworks
• Enable programs like EMS, public-use operations, and pilot deployments

Qualifications:

• 5+years in aviation regulatory, certification, or airworthiness roles
• Deep experience with FAA certification processes (Part 21, Part 23 strongly preferred)
• Familiarity with emerging aircraft categories (eVTOL, ultralight, experimental, UAS)
• Experience engaging directly with FAA, FSDOs, DERs, or ODA units
• Strong working knowledge of international certification frameworks (Transport Canada, EASA, CAA, etc.)
• Ability to operate both strategically and tactically (write + execute)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experienced Aeronautical Engineer or Mechanical Engineer with a history of driving technical standards on ASTM or similar organizations.
• Experience with exemptions, public-use operations, or novel regulatory pathways
• Background in startups or fast-moving environments
• Network within FAA or global aviation authorities

Attributes aligned with Core Values:

• Demonstrates a proactive safety mindset by embedding safety into daily operations, identifying and mitigating risks through assessments and training, encouraging open dialogue on safety concerns, and continuously improving protocols to ensure a safe work environment.
• Puts customers at the center of every action by deeply understanding their challenges, delivering exceptional value, and striving to exceed expectations to support their success as our core purpose.
• Actively seeks and values diverse stakeholder perspectives, builds cross-functional relationships, and fosters trust through empathetic, fact-based communication-committing to shared decisions for the greater good.
• Drives results with clarity and purpose by focusing on what matters most, adapting to change, taking initiative, and owning outcomes while aligning actions with a clear understanding of success at every level.
• Navigates ambiguity with resilience and bold thinking, challenges the status quo, and combines innovative ideas with practical best practices to overcome obstacles and drive progress.
• Fosters a high-performance culture grounded in respect, professionalism, and support-balancing high expectations with a healthy, collaborative environment and being a trusted, dependable teammate.