Policy Specialist - Future Safety & Innovation

Policy Specialist – Future Safety & Innovation 

Salary: Up to £65,000 subject to experience

Contract Type: Full Time Permanent

Security Level: BPSS

Visa Restrictions: This position does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

Location: Gatwick / Hybrid working - This role requires you to be on-site for approximately 2 days per week in the office at Aviation house

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

You will be working within the Future Safety & Innovation (FS&I) Safety and regulatory Policy Team within the FS&I Policy team providing technical policy expertise to enable policy change across the FS&I remit, along with providing expert interpretation of current FS&I policy areas and regulations. You will be researching on work done by academia and other regulators and identify the best aspects of it to be incorporated into the CAA rulemaking structure. You will be drafting technical means of compliance and guidance material for all emerging and innovative aviation technologies.

You will liaise with the public and industry colleagues, and you establish and build suitable working relationships to identify and recommend suitable courses of action to the Policy lead, and the FS&I Policy manager.

Key Accountabilities

• Produce regulatory guidance material for use by Safety and Airspace Regulations Group (SARG) and industry.    
• Identify and address technical issues in all innovative areas of aviation such as UAS, eVTOL, Hydrogen.
• Assess and recommend recognition of technical standards for UK regulation.
• Draft technical means of compliance, linking to technical standards where necessary, to support key regulatory frameworks
• Conduct technical analysis of the standards developed and ensure it meets the level of safety targets
• Conduct research of various technical material and derive appropriate policy positions and develop technical tools to enable applicants to fulfill the means of compliance.

• Policy developed consistent with safety and business needs, including CAA Business and programme and individual action plans, and external drivers.
• Write and maintain Policy and Guidance documents to a high standard.
• Standards, legislation and requirements are developed using SMART principles and are practicable and effective.
• Contribute as Chair or member of working or study groups as applicable.

About You - Essential Criteria 

• An Engineering degree, preferably areas in Electrical / Aerospace / Mechanical domains, or Sciences such as Physics or Mathematics.
• Significant industry experience in a technical role in one or more of automotive, aerospace, rail or marine industries.
• Experienced working with technical standards in industry or for a standards development organisation.
• Basic knowledge of aviation regulation, ideally within the domain of innovative technologies such as UAS, eVTOL, Hydrogen.
• Experience in one or more areas of systems engineering, flight physics, propulsion, structures, electrical systems, software, hardware in an engineering discipline
• Able to write effective technical guidance material for use by a general audience.
• Able to analyse technical material and determine if it meets CAA safety objectives
• Confidently develop requirements, means of compliance and guidance material proportional to a target level of the safety
• Able to identify new work proactively and recognising the subsequent impacts of that work on objectives and other’s work.
• Can analyse complex technical topics and produce simple, effective briefings and written explanations to general audience and decision makers.
• Ability to analyse regulatory work with a high attention to detail and then provide solutions.

• Work collaboratively with a team of experts and able to manage periods of higher workload, prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• Capability to train and mentor others to deliver on the technical means of compliance and guidance material
• Ability to communicate effectively via the written word and verbally at all levels.
• IT literacy in MS Office applications.

Desirable

• Proven ability to write effective technical guidance material for use by a general audience.
• Previous experience in a technical role in a Part 21 or UAS or eVTOL industry
• Awareness of CS-23, CS-25, CS-E and UAS regulations both in the UK and other countries
• Understand systems engineering and safety, reliability principles
• Knowledge of hazard analysis tools such as Bowtie, STPA
• Risk management training and practical experience.
• Knowledge of wider aviation matters, including knowledge of relevant international rulesets.
• Basic ability to use AI tools (such as developing Retrieval augmented generation (RAG) models) to accelerate policy development
• Experience within, or working closely with, a government organisation.

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. To be vetted you must have the right to work in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken. For more information on BPSS clearance please visit - BPSS clearance

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: 25 January 2026

Interview Date: Early February 2026 (onsite at Aviation house).

The CAA values high ethical standards and personal integrity among employees. If invited for interview you will be asked to complete a declaration of interest.

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.