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.