Data Scientist

Resourcing Operations Manager at UK Civil Aviation Authority - BPS Level 1 & 2 Qualified - LEAN Certified - APM Project Fundamentals Qualified.

Contract Type:
Permanent, Full-time

Security Level: CTC

Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

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.

The Role

The role of Data Scientist sits within the Test and Evaluation (T&E) function of the Future Safety and Innovation (FS&I) department at the CAA. FS&I has been established to deliver the large programme of change that is required to enable aviation innovations in the UK. The Test & Evaluation (T&E) function’s main objective is to ensure the environment for testing is evolving and matures in line with the needs of innovators.

Through this the CAA hopes to enable a robust pathway to scalable operations.

The Test & Evaluation (T&E) function is expanding its analytical capability to support the safe introduction of emerging aviation technologies, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Hydrogen and new operational concepts. The Data Scientist will be responsible for building a robust, scalable analytical foundation to process, interpret, and present data from trials, test sites, and UAS operators.

This role is central to transforming raw operational and surveillance data into evidence-based insights that support regulatory decision-making, policy development, and the validation of testing requirements across the CAA. Additionally, you will help T&E team to establish a robust reporting and data infrastructure, providing guidance on the definition of test specifications, standards, requirements, pass/fail criteria and metrics.

This role will be instrumental in helping to deliver the aims and objectives of the UKs Future of Flight Plan. If being part of this unique opportunity is exciting, we want to hear from you.

• Collect, clean, structure, and maintain datasets received from UAS operators, including raw telemetry, surveillance data (e.g., ADS-B, radar), flight logs, incidents, operational reports, and summary datasets.
• Develop processes and tools for ingesting large volumes of heterogeneous data expected from current and future trials.
• Translate raw data into structured evidence to support hazard identification and risk modelling, operational performance assessment, and revisions to CAA published policy concepts such as Detect and Avoid (DAA), Electronic Conspicuity (EC), UTM & Atypical Air Environment.
• Ensure data quality, traceability, and consistency across the T&E ecosystem.
• Help T&E team to develop internal guidelines on data collection process which may include defining the test specifications, standards, requirements, pass/fail criteria, metrics and verification of the data gathered through existing and future airspace trials.
• Build strong internal networks with stakeholders across the CAA’s business and external networks with operators and maintain a strong feedback loop.
• Support building data-driven dashboards and reporting tools. Produce concise monthly, quarterly and ad-hoc reports and present analytical findings clearly to technical and non-technical audience.
• Design and embed scalable analytical workflows to prepare for the significant data expansion anticipated from FY26.

About You

Essential skills & Experience

• Flexible and adaptable mindset with evidence of working in highly dynamic and changing environments.
• Curious and quick learner, able to seek out information to inform the project and generate new ideas.
• Experience analysing technical or operational datasets (surveillance, telemetry, sensor data, or similar).
• Strong proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Python, SQL, Power BI, Alteryx).
• Ability to process, interpret, and visualise large datasets from multiple sources.
• Experience building or using dashboards, automated reporting tools, and reproducible analytical workflows.
• Strong statistical capability and ability to identify trends, anomalies, and correlations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex data for senior decision-makers.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work in a fast-moving environment.
• Proven ability to work on a project team with cross-functional capabilities.
• Degree in data science, engineering, computer science, or related discipline- or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience with aviation, UAS data, surveillance systems (e.g., ADS-B, radar), or aerospace telemetry.
• Knowledge of data governance and compliance in regulated environments.
• Experience working with cross-disciplinary technical teams (engineering, regulatory, policy).

Additional Information

For many appointments within the CAA, these roles require access to operationally sensitive…