Aircraft Performance Engineer

Job Description & Skills/Qualifications Required

Flight Operations
NadiWestern
 
 
 
 

Aircraft Performance Engineer

The Aircraft Performance Engineer is responsible for the development, validation, maintenance, and regulatory compliance of Aircraft Performance and Weight & Balance data used in flight operations. This includes takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, obstacle clearance, engine-out procedures, airport analysis, payload-range calculations, and performance software supporting operational manuals and dispatch functions.

The role ensures all performance data, calculations, tools, and procedures comply with applicable aviation regulations, manufacturer requirements, and the company Safety Management System (SMS), maintaining high standards of technical accuracy and operational safety.

In addition, the Aircraft Performance Engineer supports the development of Aircraft Performance and Weight & Balance processes and training programs for Technical Crew Type Certification, in line with company requirements and CAAF regulations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Develop, validate, and maintain takeoff and landing performance computations, including climb, cruise, obstacle clearance, drift-down procedures, ETOPS/EDTO assessments, runway analysis programs, airport operating restrictions, and weight & balance limitations.
  • Conduct en-route performance analysis and operational assessments covering new airport introductions, new route launches, special airport operations, high-altitude airports, mountainous terrain operations, and engine-out procedures.
  • Perform technical evaluations of aircraft operational capability and performance limitations for specific airports.
  • Update, validate, and maintain aircraft performance databases, airport databases, and flight planning system engineering parameters.
  • Review, assess operational impact, and disseminate all relevant NOTAMs affecting aircraft performance across the airline network to ensure compliance, safety, dispatch accuracy, and risk management.
  • Ensure continuous compliance with ICAO requirements, including Annex 6, Annex 8, Annex 14, Annex 19, and PANS-OPS (Doc 8168).
  • Maintain compliance with applicable civil aviation regulations, including FAA, EASA, CASA Australia, CAA New Zealand, Transport Canada, and Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) requirements.
  • Ensure adherence to operational requirements including Air Operator Certificate (AOC), Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM), Minimum Equipment List (MEL), Configuration Deviation List (CDL), Safety Management System (SMS), and Continuing Airworthiness Management requirements.
  • Maintain strict compliance with manufacturer documentation and requirements, including Airbus, Boeing, and ATR AFM, FCOM, performance programs, software documentation, Flight Operations Service Bulletins, and Airworthiness Directives.
  • Recognise Aircraft Performance Engineering as a highly safety-critical function with direct impact on takeoff and landing performance, obstacle clearance, engine-out safety margins, payload limitations, and regulatory compliance.
  • Understand that errors may result in runway overruns, tail strikes, obstacle collisions, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), regulatory breaches, aircraft damage, serious injury, or loss of life.
  • Apply zero-tolerance standards for non-compliance, exercising strict technical diligence, independent verification, engineering traceability, and adherence to documented procedures.
  • Escalate safety concerns immediately, suspend approvals when safety margins are uncertain, and ensure no non-compliant data is released for operational use.
  • Ensure all engineering outputs are fully validated, independently checked, properly documented, traceable to source data, version controlled, audit-ready, and retained in accordance with regulatory requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

  • Degree in Engineering, preferably Aeronautical Engineering, or a university degree majoring in Physics & Mathematics or hold a Commercial Pilots License
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills required
  • Must be computer literate in MS Office applications
  • Minimum of three (3) years' experience in Flight Operations Engineering environment. Teaching experience would be essential but not necessary.

All shortlisted applicants will be contacted for next steps of the recruitment process.

Job Functions

Other Professional

Industry

Airline