Airworthiness Surveyor (General Aviation)

Salary: £70,000 to £72,000 plus a Market related Supplement

Contract Type: Full Time Permanent

Location: Gatwick / Hybrid

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

Security Level: CTC

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

Closing Date: 05jan 2026

Interview Date: Mid-January 2026

The Role:

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 General Aviation Unit (GAU) is responsible for the initial certification, continued and continuing airworthiness of approximately 18,000 GA aircraft, such as balloons, sailplanes, gyrocopters, and noncomplex aeroplanes such as light aircraft and helicopters, under both UK Part-21 and non-Part-21 (Annex I) regulations.

The Airworthiness Surveyor (GA) provides Regulatory and Safety Oversight for this fleet in accordance with the CAA’s General Aviation Strategy. Managing the CAA oversight, of such organisations as Combined Airworthiness Organisations, Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisations, Maintenance Organisations, Production Organisations, and Sporting Organisations

This role will require you to

• Investigate initial approval applications and recommending, when acceptable, the issuance of an organisation approval
• Investigate applications for change to organisation approvals and recommending, when acceptable, the issuance of the changed approval
• Perform periodic and unannounced oversight activities of approved organisations, in accordance with the agreed oversight plan, and determining if/when the oversight plan requires variation due to performance-based oversight, (PBO) principles
  • Conduct routine oversight activities of the organisation, for example, facilities, privileges, sites, core processes, sub-contracted functions
  • Assess the effectiveness of the organisation’s management system
  • Advise the organisation of any deficiencies, findings or safety risks, and requesting corrective action
  • Follow up on deficiencies to ensure appropriate action is taken in a timely manner
  • Submit reports on oversight activities completed
  • Review and approving, where applicable, an organisation’s documentation to determine it is accurate and available to those requiring it
  • Keep informed of an organisation’s development and changes and determining if changes are required to the planned oversight
  • Recommend the continuation of the organisation’s approval
• Review and approve the airworthiness aspects of specific approvals for air operators, in conjunction with the General Aviation (GA) and CAA Flight Operations (FO) department
• Review and approve aircraft maintenance programmes
• Perform Aircraft Surveys (physical/documentary) to verify conformity with the appropriate or UK requirements for C of A and Permit to Fly aircraft. Issue safety certificates on behalf of the CAA (Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA), Permit to Fly (PtF), Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC)).
• Ensure aircraft in-service defects are investigated and all necessary action taken to maintain safety standards. Take direct airworthiness safety intervention measures where necessary including in-service difficulties / incidents and accidents to ensure the continued safety of participants and third parties.
• Identify, categorise and share safety-relevant intelligence (e.g. occurrence reporting or Whistleblowing) to deliver oversight which considers statutory compliance obligations, just culture, risk and performance with a safety outcome focus. Escalate to the appropriate level within SARG risks which may lead to enforcement action, either on a regulatory or criminal basis.
• Evaluate, by physical survey, of aircraft, engines, propellers, equipment and components, or their modifications, to establish compliance with airworthiness requirements.
• Manage applications and investigations in accordance with international agreements between states, including bilateral procedures.
• Undertake type liaison responsibilities on aircraft and make recommendations as appropriate to colleagues inside and outside CAA, including other NAA’s, to ensure continued and continuing airworthiness standards are met.
• Assist with the airworthiness investigation into reported occurrences and, upon request of the AAIB, supporting the investigation of aircraft accidents
• Application and improvement of technical knowledge and skills to perform safety oversight duties.

About You:

Given the broad spectrum of expertise, we are looking for candidates that have performed similar roles within Maintenance and Continued Airworthiness Management Organisations or regulatory authorities. Ideally you will have Engineering degree, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s License or equivalent experience.

This role will require travel within the UK and Europe dependent on business activities, so you must have the ability to travel to remote locations within the UK

Essential Criteria:

• Proven expert and detailed knowledge of the functioning and management of the aviation industry preferably gained by working in an aeronautically related engineering discipline, along with the functioning of aviation regulation gained through relevant experience within an Airworthiness Authority or Approved Organisation.
• Proven ability to monitor, guide and control technical decisions on a wide range of major safety issues.
• Able to operate in various cultural business environments at all levels.
• Confidently able to manage a multiple number of widely differing challenges, whilst using sound judgment, lateral thinking and adaptable to foresee and plan for wider complex implications.
• Able to understand specialist issues and modulate technical views to account for wider business and political considerations, and to challenge information, propositions or assumptions affecting safety, including those of a deep technical nature, across a range of disciplines.
• Capable of making timely decisions and able to identify when to escalate issues.
• Confident communicator at all levels, having the ability to conduct technical conversation and engage with all stakeholders across various sectors, and confidently able to effectively deliver challenging and complex messages with clarity, tact and diplomacy
• Confidently produce accurate reports and the co-ordination of reports in support of day-to-day role.
• Able to use multiple IT systems, including all outlook platforms and bespoke in-house applications.

Relocation & Property – The CAA will be relocating from Aviation House, Our Gatwick/Crawley Office. We are currently working to understand our needs before we start our property search, which is expected to be within a 15mile radius of our current base, 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.

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 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

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.

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