---
title: 'Director, Civil Certification at Supernal'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-civil-certification-supernal-irvine-bnang2eg358w'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-07'
---

# Director, Civil Certification at Supernal

- **Company:** Supernal
- **Location:** Irvine, CA
- **Compensation:** $259k–$317k
- **Posted:** 2026-07-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/supernal/jobs/7812929003

## Job description

Rise above. Are you ready to take human possibility to a new dimension with us?

Supernal is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company that’s developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle and the ground-to-air ecosystem to support the emerging industry. By creating a sustainable, integrated, and human-centered ecosystem, we are committed to taking a thoughtful and responsible approach to entering the AAM market with a product that meets the high level of safety and reliability in today’s air transportation system.

The future of mobility starts with people. We believe in creative thinking and collaboration to help build a better mobility experience for everyone, improving people’s ability to move – whether for work or play. Join our dynamic team as we strive to be a part of something greater where potential powers tomorrow!

Supernal provides an inviting open-space workplace designed to foster collaboration, which aligns with one of our core values. This position is required to work on-site 5 days a week.

What we do:

This role will serve as the leader of the Civil Certification team with the responsibility to manage and facilitate the Type Certification process between Supernal and the Regulatory Authorities throughout the project lifecycle. In addition to being a primary technical liaison with the FAA, you will coordinate the planning, strategy, and execution of all activities, deliverables, and artifacts related to Certification, including the Production Certification and foreign validation efforts with other international aviation authorities. The role will interact directly with Company leadership, the entire Engineering organization, the Test & Evaluation group, Program Management, the Quality team, and the Policy team to achieve program Certification objectives. The ideal candidate should have a proven track record of aircraft certification experience, with palpable enthusiasm for establishing an organizational culture around compliance and safety, and a passion for bringing new, innovative aircraft to market.

This role requires presence in office 5 days a week.

What you can do:

- Lead the planning and strategy for Certification by defining Certification program objectives and priorities, and disseminating that information to appropriate stakeholders
- Coordinate with Regulatory Authorities by serving as the primary point of contact throughout the project lifecycle, including but not limited to: pre-application discussions, administration of the Partnership for Safety Plan and MOA, technical discussions around certification issues, TCBMs, as well as facilitating technical responses to address Issues papers
- Ensure the Supernal organization and its products are compliant with FAA regulations, directives, policies, and guidance
- Identify resources and staffing needs to build the required team needed to accomplish Civil Certification department goals
- Manage the performance of Civil Certification Projects
- Manage the generation and maintenance of various Certification artifacts such as the PSCP, the TC Application, Compliance checklists, SLCPs, Certification test plans, special conditions, conformity plan, compliance showing data, and others
- Interpret FAA regulations and work closely with engineering to ensure they are translated into clear, verifiable requirements that are implemented into the design
- Develop conformity processes and establish infrastructure to ensure compliance with data retention requirements
- Identify and manage Certification issues, risks, and special conditions, including the establishment of a system for reporting issues to the appropriate regulatory entities
- Coordinate and deploy DER resources to support the certification project needs
- Manage the Civil Certification team to address company and program needs and objectives
- Review and incorporate feedback for certification plans to gain concurrence between internal stakeholders and Regulatory authorities
- Participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR), safety reviews, and Certification readiness reviews as required
- Develop and deploy training materials across the Supernal organization to increase knowledge of the civil certification process and its key concepts
- Drive company participation in relevant standards development groups and key industry organizations
- Ability to travel up to 10% domestically and internationally

What you can contribute:

- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- 15+ years of experience in aircraft certification, airworthiness, or regulatory compliance. The candidate will have ideally worked a minimum of one entire end-to-end Certification program (TC/ATC/STC) from conceptual design through post-certification activities (Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered, especially with a demonstrated history of working with the FAA)
- Practical experience with 14 CFR Part 23, Part 25, Part 27, or Part 29 Certification programs
- Experience with implementation of certification guidance and industry standards such as FAA Orders (8110 series), relevant Advisory Circulars, ARP4754 & ARP4761, etc.
- Experience with clean sheet design FAA Type Certification projects
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent listening and comprehension skills
- Ability to effectively prioritize and proactively deliver communications and follow up
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent customer service skills
- Must have the ability to independently prioritize and accomplish work within time constraints
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality
- Self-motivated and growth-minded personality
- Familiarity with product lifecycle management tools (i.e. Enovia, 3DX)
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite
- Must have the ability to independently prioritize and accomplish work within time constraints
- Understand the regulatory framework, procedures and responsibilities governing the certification of aeronautical products in the United States and other Foreign Countries
- Detail oriented with strong planning and execution skills

You may also be able to contribute:

- Experience working on eVTOL aircraft considered a plus
- DER designation from the FAA considered a plus

Base pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge and location. This position is also eligible for a bonus as part of total compensation.

The pay range for this position is: $259,200—$316,800 USD

Click [HERE](https://jobs.supernal.aero/benefits) or visit: https://jobs.supernal.aero/benefits to view our benefits!

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background check. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other category or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation at: ta-support@supernal.aero

This position may include access to certain technology and/or software source code subject to U.S. export controls laws and regulations. If an export authorization from an applicable US regulatory agency is required in connection with your employment, your employment is contingent upon Supernal’s receipt of such regulatory authorization(s) and your continued compliance with all conditions and limitations pursuant to such authorization(s).

## About Supernal

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Supernal is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, part of Hyundai Motor Group, developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and the ground-to-air ecosystem to support a new era of urban air transportation.
- **Entity Type**: Private (subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group; spun out in 2021)
- **Headquarters**: Irvine, California, United States (moved from Washington, D.C. in 2023)
- **Founded**: 2020 (as a startup within Hyundai Motor Group)
- **Founders**: Supernal was created inside Hyundai Motor Group; founding leadership included Jaiwon Shin (former CEO, departed August 2025) and David McBride (former CTO, departed 2025). The company is currently led by an interim COO, with Dr. Farhan Gandhi appointed as CTO in May 2026. [ocregister.com](https://www.ocregister.com/2025/09/05/supernal-ceo-cto-out-at-hyundais-aircraft-startup-in-irvine-part-of-leadership-shakeup/) [supernal.aero](https://www.supernal.aero/newsroom/supernal-appoints-new-cto-to-lead-next-phase-of-aam-evolution/)

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) / Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft development
- **Target Customers**: Initially B2B partners (infrastructure operators, municipalities, fleet operators) with eventual B2C focus for passenger service
- **Mission**: “Make advanced air mobility a safe and reliable option for everyday transportation.” [supernal.aero](https://www.supernal.aero/)

## Products & Services
- **S-A2 / eVTOL Aircraft**: An electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle designed for four passengers plus a pilot. Supernal has built a technology demonstrator that completed tethered test flights in March 2025. The aircraft aims to turn a 45-minute car commute into a 10-minute flight. [supernal.aero](https://www.supernal.aero/)
- **Vertiport & Ecosystem**: Supernal is developing the full ground-to-air infrastructure, including vertiports that integrate with existing transit (robotaxis, buses, trains) and a clean-energy ecosystem for charging and operations. [supernal.aero](https://www.supernal.aero/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Investment**: Supernal has received approximately **$1.7 billion** in investment from Hyundai Motor Group (as of September 2025, per the Orange County Register). [ocregister.com](https://www.ocregister.com/2025/09/05/supernal-ceo-cto-out-at-hyundais-aircraft-startup-in-irvine-part-of-leadership-shakeup/)
- **Key Metric (Headcount)**: Approximately **315 employees** as of mid-2026 (LinkedIn), down from ~500 in mid-2025 after multiple rounds of layoffs. The company announced 296 layoffs in February 2026 as part of a consolidation into its Irvine HQ. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/supernalaero) [ocregister.com](https://www.ocregister.com/2025/09/05/supernal-ceo-cto-out-at-hyundais-aircraft-startup-in-irvine-part-of-leadership-shakeup/)
- **Notable Investors / Parent**: Wholly owned by **Hyundai Motor Group**, with deep access to automotive manufacturing, automation, supply chain, and R&D capabilities.
- **Growth Signals**: Despite a pause in the aircraft program after leadership departures, Supernal appointed a new CTO (Dr. Farhan Gandhi) in May 2026 and is repositioning as a “lean, high-efficiency organization” focused on certification and technical validation. The company is prioritizing FAA coordination and aircraft concept refinement. [supernal.aero](https://www.supernal.aero/newsroom/supernal-appoints-new-cto-to-lead-next-phase-of-aam-evolution/)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Hyundai Backing**: Access to world-class manufacturing, automation, supply chain expertise, and significant capital from one of the largest automotive groups globally.
- **Holistic Ecosystem Approach**: Developing not just the aircraft but also the vertiport and clean-energy infrastructure, aiming for seamless integration with existing urban transit (robotaxis, public transport).
- **Experienced Talent Pool**: The team includes many hires from aerospace leaders (Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Lockheed Martin) and eVTOL competitors (Archer, Joby), plus automotive engineers from Hyundai/Rivian/Tesla. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/supernalaero)

## Strategic Focus
- **Certification & Commercial Viability**: After a strategic realignment, Supernal is focusing on FAA certification, aircraft concept refinement, and building a sustainable business model. The new CTO’s expertise in rotorcraft aeromechanics aligns with this goal.
- **Operational Efficiency**: The company is operating as a “streamlined, high-efficiency organization” to stabilize operations and reduce burn rate, with a sharpened focus on business and operational development.
- **Tempered Timeline**: Rather than rushing to market, Supernal is emphasizing “building the right product and right market, first.” The original 2028 commercial service target is under reassessment. [supernal.aero](https://www.supernal.aero/newsroom/supernal-appoints-new-cto-to-lead-next-phase-of-aam-evolution/) [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/07/hyundais-evtol-startup-supernal-pauses-work-following-ceo-and-cto-departures/)

## Why Work Here
- **Pioneering Technology**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge eVTOL aircraft and shape a new mode of transportation with strong backing from Hyundai Motor Group.
- **Lean, High-Impact Team**: With the recent restructuring, the remaining team is small and focused, giving engineers and technical staff significant ownership over core technologies.
- **Location**: Based in Irvine, CA (Orange County) with access to test facilities in Mojave. The company has consolidated to a single HQ, indicating a more focused work environment.
- **Culture & Stability Notes**: The company has experienced significant leadership turnover, layoffs, and a program pause – job seekers should be aware of the instability, but the new leadership team (including a renowned CTO) aims to stabilize and advance the technical roadmap.
- **Work Policy**: Not publicly specified, but likely on-site at Irvine HQ given the manufacturing/engineering focus.

## Sources
1. [supernal.aero – Official Website](https://www.supernal.aero/)
2. [linkedin.com – Supernal Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/supernalaero)
3. [techcrunch.com – Hyundai's eVTOL startup Supernal pauses work after CEO and CTO departures](https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/07/hyundais-evtol-startup-supernal-pauses-work-following-ceo-and-cto-departures/)
4. [ocregister.com – Supernal CEO, CTO out at Hyundai’s aircraft startup in Irvine, part of leadership shakeup](https://www.ocregister.com/2025/09/05/supernal-ceo-cto-out-at-hyundais-aircraft-startup-in-irvine-part-of-leadership-shakeup/)
5. [supernal.aero – Supernal Appoints New CTO to Lead Next Phase of AAM Evolution (May 2026)](https://www.supernal.aero/newsroom/supernal-appoints-new-cto-to-lead-next-phase-of-aam-evolution/)

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