Design and Certification Specialist- Software

Salary: £68,000-72,000 , plus a Market Related supplement (MRS) after successful completion of training and probation £29,896.

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Location: Gatwick / Hybrid

Required Security Level: SC

Visa Restrictions: This position does not currently 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 UK CAA is continuing to expand its team of Design & Certification Specialists to deliver our state of design responsibility for traditional, fixed/rotary wing and innovative products. Your main role will be to confidently deliver certification and validation projects for the CAA. It will also involve liaison with the UK industry & other aviation authorities.

1. Software up to IDAL A
   • Knowledge of IMA design and architecture
   • Familiarity with avionics communications protocols including ARINC, AFDX and serial interfaces.
   • Familiarity with single core and multi-core certification requirements
   • Experience with software and hardware integration and formal verification methods
   • Knowledge and be well versed in procedural and Object orientated programming languages.
   • Hands-on experience (preferably leading) SOI audits.
2. Airborne Electronic Hardware (AEH) up to IDAL A
   • Hands-on experience of Hardware Architectures and design processes related to hardware RAM/Flash Based FPGAs, ASICs, COTS processor/devices, PDH.
   • Familiarity with avionics communications protocols including ARINC, AFDX and serial interfaces.
   • Hands-on experience (preferably leading) SOI audits.
   • Experience in verification methods, RTL, Post-Layout, Hardware integration. Experience with Advanced Verification Methods is a plus.
   • A process-oriented mindset, but with the capability to assess technically complex hardware and certification aspects for AEH

3. Development Assurance (DA) up to FDAL A
   • Experience in defining the scope of and leading System Reviews per ARP4754A/B.
   • Familiarisation with various safety analysis techniques per ARP4761 and how they are applied to derive safety objectives.
   • The ability to review and analyse aircraft, system, sub-system, and item architectures with respect to safety objectives (including a good understanding of the decomposition of Functional to Item Development Assurance Levels).
   • An understanding of system life‑cycle processes.
   • Confidence in critiquing proposed requirements analysis, decomposition, and traceability.
   • Experience in managing interfaces and ensure cross‑discipline consistency – decomposition through indenture levels from aircraft to items.

About You: You will have experience in the certification of highly complex systems and their development and integration, Software Certification and/or Airborne Electronic Hardware (AEH) and/or Aircraft System Certification, with experience in performing Stage of Involvement Audits (SOI) and/or System Reviews (SRs) with the regulatory bodies. 

Essential Minimum Criteria:

• Proven aerospace experience; preferably having worked for an approved aerospace organisation.
• Confidence in leading, guiding, challenging, and influencing technical decisions on multiple projects.
• An engineering degree, equivalent qualification or demonstrated industry experience, with a proven aerospace background.
• Proven knowledge of the certification process
• Experience in managing and leading a team involved in civil certification programmes.
• The ability to oversee, guide and manage technical decisions on a range of projects.
• Demonstratable skill in operating across a broad set of environments at varying levels.

• The ability to think laterally to identify the wider implications and confidently make decisions.
• Resilience in working at pace and making timely decisions.
• The ability to understand specialist issues and modulate technical views to account for wider business and political considerations.
• Confidence in challenging information, propositions, or assumptions across a range of disciplines.
• The ability to decide the level of information required to make decisions affecting safety.
• A focus on safety with the confidence to escalate issues as they arise.
• Confidence in communicating at all levels, conducting technical conversations, and engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstratable skill in authoring thorough reports and be able to deliver information clearly and concisely.

Desirable Criteria:  

• The desire to continually develop experience through project involvement and dedicated training.

Additional Security Information: For many appointments within the CAA, these roles require access to operationally sensitive infrastructure and/or Nationally Protected information. For these roles the post holders must undergo National Security Vetting and achieve the appropriate level of clearance. If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application. SC - To be vetted we will usually expect a reasonable period of residency in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken. For this role this will need to be 5 years. For more information on SC clearance please visit - Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Relocation & Property: The CAA will be relocating from Aviation House (Our Gatwick Office) to new premises in a few years’ time. Our move is driven by strategic, operational, and environmental considerations. We will be moving to a new local home, up to a 15-mile radius of Aviation House, to minimise disruption for our valued colleagues and customers. We are now working with colleagues and visitors to understand what we need in our new office before we start our property search. We will sell Aviation House and land, vacate the site, and move to new premises, but we do not expect to move before 2028

Inclusive Recruitment: We are passionate about diversity and ensuring all are included at the CAA. We are an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a member of the Disability Confident scheme, applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a role with us will be guaranteed an interview. We use fair and inclusive selection approaches to hire the best person for the job based on merit alone. If you require an adjustment for any reason, please let us know.

Use of Artificial Intelligence by candidates in the CAA recruitment process: We recognise that many of our candidates find Artificial Intelligence to be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected on that basis.

Working With Us: We are on a journey towards being increasingly adaptable, where our colleagues collaborate as part of cross-functional teams. This approach ensures we never stop learning together. It also means that you may become involved in activities that take you out of your day-to-day role, providing you with opportunities to develop and grow your career with us.

We have embraced hybrid working and offer flexible working patterns, being open to having a conversation about what works for you. We know where and when we work is important in achieving a work-life balance. We offer a range of excellent benefits such as flexible working arrangements, free onsite gym at Gatwick, discounted gym membership for London, 28 days annual leave, additional 5 days leave purchase scheme, a generous pension scheme and much more!

Our Values: Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone – For more information please Click Here

Closing Date: 10 April 2026

Interview Date: Mid to end April – In person Aviation House, Gatwick

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

No recruitment agencies please.