Airworthiness Surveyor

Airworthiness Surveyors (5145)

Salary: Up to £72,000 plus market-related supplement (dependent on experience)
Location: Gatwick, London, Manchester or Stirling (Hybrid)
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Security Clearance: CTC

Visa Restrictions: This position does not currently offer visa sponsorship

Closing Date: 2 August 2026

Interview Date WC 17th Aug 2026

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the UK's aviation and aerospace regulator, recognised internationally for its commitment to aviation safety. We are expanding our Airworthiness team and are excited to be looking for experienced aviation professionals to join us as Airworthiness Surveyors, including opportunities within General Aviation.

The Role

As an Airworthiness Surveyor, you will play a key role in maintaining and improving aviation safety across the UK. You will oversee a range of approved organisations, ensuring they meet regulatory requirements and operate safely.

Depending on your experience and area of expertise, your responsibilities may include:

• Assessing and approving organisations involved in maintenance, continuing airworthiness, production and training.
• Conducting audits, inspections and oversight activities of approved organisations.
• Evaluating management systems, safety performance and regulatory compliance.
• Reviewing and approving maintenance programmes and airworthiness documentation.
• Conducting aircraft surveys and inspections.
• Investigating safety concerns, occurrences and airworthiness issues.
• Assessing engineer licensing applications and supporting technical examinations.
• Supporting accident and incident investigations where required.
• Working closely with industry stakeholders to improve safety outcomes.
• Identifying risks and ensuring appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Contributing technical expertise to the development of airworthiness policy and oversight activities.

General Aviation Opportunities

Some positions will focus on General Aviation, covering aircraft such as light aeroplanes, helicopters, sailplanes, balloons, gyrocopters and ex-military. In these roles, you will oversee organisations and aircraft operating under UK Part-21 and Annex I regulations, conduct aircraft conformity inspections, issue airworthiness certificates and permits, and support the continued safety of the UK's diverse GA sector.

About You

This is an opportunity to influence aviation safety at a national level, work with a wide variety of organisations across the aviation sector and help shape the future of airworthiness regulation in the UK.

We're interested in candidates who have a strong aviation engineering or airworthiness background and a passion for aviation safety.

Essential Criteria:

• Relevant (aviation) engineering degree, or
• Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance License, or
• Relevant/experienced subject matter expert
• Experience in one or more of the following:
  • Aircraft maintenance
  • Continuing airworthiness management
  • Aircraft production
  • Maintenance training
  • Aircraft certification or licensing
  • Aviation regulation or oversight
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• The ability to make sound, evidence-based decisions.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proactive and self-motivated approach to work.

Desirable Experience

• Auditing and compliance monitoring.
• Safety management systems and risk management.
• Experience as a nominated postholder within an aviation organisation.
• Specialist knowledge of aircraft types or airworthiness disciplines.
• Previous regulatory authority experience.

Travel within the UK and occasionally Worldwide travel will be required.

Additional 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.

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 3 years.

If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.

For more information on CTC and SC clearance please visit - Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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

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 committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident employer, candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be guaranteed an interview. Find out more about the Disability Confident Scheme. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, 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

Explore What We Offer section on our careers website to find out about our benefits and how we support work-life balance.

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

Closing Date: 02Aug 2026

Interview Date: WC 17 Aug 2026

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.