Design and Certification Specialist

Date: 2 Jul 2026

Location: Gatwick, GB (Hybrid)

Salary: Up to £72,000 plus a Market Related Supplement – dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Full Time Permanent

Security Level: SC

Visa Restrictions: This position does not (currently) offer visa sponsorship

Closing Date: 19 July 2026

Interview Date: 5th Aug 2026

We are the UK's aviation and aerospace regulator and recognised as a world leader in its field. Our activities are diverse, enabling the aviation industry to meet the highest safety standards, and we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to the constantly evolving aviation environment.

As a Design and Certification specialist, you will be responsible for supporting the overall business plan and the wider CAA, specifically in establishing and delivering the UK’s ICAO State of Design responsibilities.

Reporting to the Manager of the Office of the Chief Engineer, you will oversee standardisation and governance of activity conducted by the Design and Certification department, including certification, validation, and continued airworthiness of aircraft, systems, engines and propellers, across all civil aerospace domains.

Additional responsibilities include assuring the training and competency of the wider team, coordinating policy, rule making, and bilateral activities within Design and Certification, and industry and regulatory engagement to keep the CAA apprised of future projects and regulatory changes.

You will also work in accordance with CAA internal policies and procedures, and oversee organisations under Performance Based Oversight rules, applying proportionality based on complexity, risk and performance.

Proven knowledge of certification in one or more of the identified disciplines, with sufficient experience to have achieved a level of Certification Signatory or Compliance Verification Engineer (CVE) in industry, or expert knowledge gained through experience within an Airworthiness Authority.

• Propulsion / Propulsive Systems – including electric/hybrid drive systems
• Software
• Flight Test / Aerodynamics
• Performance
• Structure and Materials
• Hydro – Mechanical systems – including flight controls
• Electrical systems
• Avionic systems
• Power plant installations / fuel systems
• Cabin Safety / Environment Control Systems / Icing
• General Airworthiness / Project Certification Management
• Continued Airworthiness
• Human Factors
• Design assurance and safety assessment
• Aviation policy and/or rule making development or implementation
• Ability to monitor and manage technical decisions on a range of major safety issues
• Operate in various business areas within the D&C team
• Using experience to make sound judgments
• Resilience to work at pace and on various matters with the appropriate level of input
• Able to understand specialist issues and modulate technical views to account for wider business and political considerations
• Confidence to challenge information, propositions, or assumptions at a deep technical nature across disciplines
• Confidence to elevate issues as they arise
• Confidence to communicate at all levels and conduct technical conversation with stakeholders
• Attention to detail in report writing and delivery of information to support outputs
• Ensure aerospace products meet applicable initial and continued airworthiness standards, and that in‑service issues are addressed to maintain safety levels
• Escalate significant safety matters in accordance with the CAA regulatory safety management system (RSMS)
• Identify and coordinate research or contribute to areas of significant airworthiness concern, representing the CAA in decision‑making committees and working groups nationally and internationally
• Liaise with other regulators and accident investigation bodies in relation to accidents and events and their ICAO Annex 13 investigations or equivalent
• The desire to continually develop experience through project involvement and dedicated training

You must hold a valid passport that allows international travel without restrictions. The role requires support for time away from home for allocated projects and/or international collaboration.

Many appointments within the CAA require access to operationally…