Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) Lead

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Donation matching
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Profit sharing
• Training & development
• Tuition assistance
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources

Location: Hybrid (Washington, DC metropolitan area preferred); travel up to four weeks at a time to FAA field facilities for assessment activities, including possible night and weekend shifts Employment Type: Full-Time About AKIVA AKIVA is an AI-native engineering firm specializing in enterprise services, domain-specific solutions, and high-performance infrastructure from strategy through deployment. We build innovative systems that drive measurable results for commercial enterprises and government agencies. AKIVA is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Position Overview AKIVA is seeking an Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) Lead to drive the planning, execution, and reporting of FAA Air Traffic Organization audits, assessments, and Independent Operational Assessments (IOAs). You will lead a small assessment team, partner with FAA program leadership on assessment strategy and scope, and ensure every plan, procedure, briefing, and report meets FAA technical and editorial standards. The role suits a senior assessment professional comfortable in a hybrid technical-program-management posture across high-visibility safety acquisitions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead assessment planning across audits, assessments, and IOAs, including scope definition, resource estimates, and milestone schedules
• Author and iterate IOA Implementation Strategy and Planning Documents, IOA designation documents, IOA Program Management Plans, IOA plans, IOA procedures, IOA reports, and IOA briefings for senior management
• Coordinate audit and assessment data collection at FAA field facilities, including extended on-site travel and surge support
• Maintain the In-Service Review Checklist Tool, manage user accounts, maintain templates and guidance documents on the In-Service Decision Executive Secretariat webpage, and post final Records of Decision
• Maintain In-Service Decision briefing sheets for continuous tracking of ISD activities
• Develop and maintain a file-sharing platform with a consistent program file structure, including archived historical data
• Provide technical editing and configuration management of IOA documents, including process documents, templates, work instructions, and job aids
• Coordinate with the Program Manager on assessment status, financial status, and staffing forecasts; contribute to monthly status reports and program management reviews
• Mentor assessment analysts and review their work products before submission to the federal program office
• Ensure all assessment deliverables comply with FAA writing standards and are Section 508 compliant

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aviation, Operations Research, Computer Science, or a related field (equivalent experience may be substituted)
• 8+ years of professional experience in operational assessments, safety audits, system safety, or a closely related discipline
• 5+ years leading assessment teams or major audit/IOA workstreams
• Demonstrated experience producing federal-grade technical documentation, including plans, procedures, briefings, and reports for senior government leadership
• Demonstrated experience facilitating multi-stakeholder reviews and capturing decisions, action items, and follow-through commitments
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and executive-level business-writing skills
• Ability and willingness to travel up to four weeks at a time, including possible night and weekend shifts at FAA field facilities
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, and at least one collaboration / file-sharing platform
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credential
• Must be authorized to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aviation, or related discipline
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or comparable program management credential
• Prior FAA Air Traffic Organization, FAA Office of Airports, or DoD test and evaluation experience
• Familiarity with FAA Safety Management System (SMS), Safety Risk Management, In-Service Decision (ISD), and Independent Operational Assessment (IOA) processes
• Familiarity with FAA writing standards (FAA Order 1000.36A) an

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