Cabin Safety Expert - European Union Aviation Safety Agency (AD6, Cologne)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Union Aviation Safety Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Establish and maintain cooperation with Project Certification Managers, experts and certification specialists
• Provide expert advice on certification basis determination and compliance demonstration
• Verify compliance demonstrations for cabin safety domain
• Address novel design features and new technologies through special conditions and means of compliance
• Investigate in-service occurrences and defects, identify unsafe conditions and corrective actions
• Provide advice on development of airworthiness and environmental protection requirements
• Facilitate conflict resolution with stakeholders
• Support Design Organisation Approval oversight activities

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Completed university studies of at least 3 years in aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, process engineering, automotive engineering or other relevant subjects
• Experience: At least 3 years of relevant professional experience after obtaining diploma; proven professional experience in at least two of the domain expertise areas (Cabin installation and equipment, Crashworthiness and occupant safety, Fire Protection in pressurized areas, Occupant evacuation, Design for Security); applied knowledge of EASA technical regulatory framework with direct experience in certific…
• Languages: European Union language (C1), European Union language (B2), English (C1)
• Key skills: Certification Processes, Methods, & Specifications, Part 21 - CAW, Part 21 - IAW, Acceptable Means of Compliance for Hard & Soft Rules, Cabin Installation, English Drafting of Technical Documents, Learning Agility, Teamwork, Critical Thinking, Quality Orientation
• Eligibility: National of a Member State of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland; entitled to full rights as a citizen; fulfilled obligations imposed by applicable laws on military service; meet character requirements (police certificate confirming absence of criminal record); physically fit to perform duties (medical examination required)

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Assessment of Professional Skills and Behavioural Competences
• Police certificate verification
• Medical examination

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 5 years as Temporary Agent with possibility of extension.

Working arrangements: On-site in Cologne, Germany; 40 hours per week full-time with flexible working arrangements; relocation required.

Hiring unit: Cabin Safety domain of expertise.

Position details

Reference

EASA/AD/2026/1092

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

28 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Cabin Safety Expert at EASA based in Cologne at the AD6 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is EASA/AD/2026/1092. The role falls under the All Domains domain.

Type of Selection:Internal and External

Contract Type:Temporary agent

Deadline for application:24/09/2026 at 23:59 CET

Experience Level:Professional

Approx. number of candidates on reserve list:10

Location:Cologne, Germany

Monthly gross compensation (€):6,961.29 - 7,253.84

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 ourwebsite and take a look at ourorganisation 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 Cabin Safety domain of expertise, 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:

- Establish and maintain good cooperation with Project Certification Managers, other experts and certification specialists working for the applicant and the design approval holder (DAH), as applicable. - Provide expert advice and contribution to the determination of the applicable certification basis, the definition of the level of involvement for the compliance demonstration items identified by the applicant, 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. - Address novel design features, new technologies, unconventional uses, and proposals for novel compliance demonstration, through the development and the definition of special conditions, interpretative material and means of compliance, as well as through the assessment of requests for deviations or for equivalent level of safety. - Ensure investigation of in-service occurrences and defects in the domain of expertise and contribute to the identification of unsafe conditions and to the agreement of adequate corrective actions to maintain acceptable safety standards as well as to ensure follow-up of those actions wherever necessary. Participate to continued airworthiness meetings with the DAH when necessary and support accident Annex 13 investigations as required. - 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. - Facilitate the resolutions of conflicts with the stakeholders, through the timely involvement in the decision process of the technical and/or managerial lines, as appropriate. - Provide inputs and support to Design Organisation Approval oversight 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. - Investigate allocated occurrences and identify unsafe conditions and potential corrective actions in Continued Airworthiness (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 3 years attested by a diploma in the aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, process engineering, automotive engineering or other relevant subjects in the scope of the profile and, after obtaining the diploma, at least 3 years of relevant professional experience acquired in positions corresponding to the nature of the duties of the job profile*. - Proven professional experience in, at least, two of the domain expertise areas: - Cabin installation and equipment (including Emergency Medical Systems, VIP interiors, Crew Rest Compartments, Courier Compartments, etc.) - Crashworthiness and occupant safety (including crew and passenger seats and occupant restraint systems) - Fire Protection in pressurized areas (including materials flammability and fire protection systems) - Occupant evacuation, including emergency evacuation systems and crew procedures. - Design for Security (ref. CS 25.795).

- Applied knowledge of EASA technical regulatory framework, including direct experience in the certification of products, parts and appliances according to Part 21 requirements and direct involvement in the activities necessary for the demonstration of compliance with the requirements in the certification basis of products addressed in CS-23, CS-25, CS-27 and/or CS-29.

- 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 in the expertise domain. - Professional experience in project certification acquired either in a National Aviation Authority (NAA)/Qualified Entity/Armed Forces or in industry (acting as a Cabin Safety Compliance Verification Engineer in major changes or STCs designed by a DOA organisation). - Contribution to the development of Cabin Safety policies and technical documents published by international working-groups or standardisation bodies.

[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

Certification Processes, Methods, & Specifications

Part 21 - CAW

Part 21 - IAW

Acceptable Means of Compliance for Hard & Soft Rules

Cabin Installation

English Drafting of Technical Documents

Behavioural Competences

Learning Agility

Teamwork

Critical Thinking

Quality Orientation

Stakeholder Orientation

Time Management

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)

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AD6 runs from €6,961 (step 1) to €7,876 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €83,532 to €94,512 before tax and allowances. Steps increase automatically every two years; the figures here are taken from the salary grid in the EU Staff Regulations.

Eligible staff posted away from their country of nationality also receive an expatriation allowance worth 16% of basic salary (around €1,114 per month at step 1 of AD6) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Cologne. For a worked example see our correction coefficients guide and the EU salaries overview.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 28 August 2026, today.

The application deadline is 24 September 2026, 26 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 28 August 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at AD6 see our AD6 grade page; for headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at EASA see the EASA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Cologne see our Cologne location page; for related vacancies in the All Domains field browse our All Domains domain page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.