Adaptation Specialist

NATS; Whiteley; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/remote working options

Modern office facilities

Agile working culture

Job summary

NATS is hiring an Adaptation Specialist to lead adaptation design, development and testing within the Integration & Adaptation (I&A) area. You will capture requirements, design solutions, document work products and coordinate with teammates to ensure timely delivery.

The role requires experience with real-time systems, a strong understanding of the Software Development Lifecycle, and the ability to mentor junior staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum HNC in Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience with large real-time systems, preferably safety-related or ATM.

Responsibilities

• Capture and assess requirements for adaptation design, development or testing.
• Design and implement adaptation solutions for development and test activities.
• Produce adaptation documentation to support design and testing.
• Review work and coordinate outputs from team members.

Skills

Real-time systems

Software lifecycle

ATC knowledge

Teamwork

Documentation

Stakeholder communication

Autonomy

Education

HNC in Engineering (or equivalent)

Tools

Linux

Visual Basic

Job description

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Closing Date: 26/10/2026

Job Purpose/Overview

Reporting to an Adaptation Team Leader the Adaptation Specialist will conduct adaptation design, development or test activities in accordance with Integration & Adaptation (I&A) BMS Processes.

Other Duties Include

• Responsible for capturing and impact-assessing the relevant Work Orders, ADDs, ATC Requirements Documents and ACCRs relating to the adaptation development and testing needs of I&A.
• Design and implement effective and accurate adaptation solutions for development and test activities, based on agreed requirements.
• Produce adaptation documentation to support design, development and test activities.
• Review work items and act as a co-ordinator for work produced by other team members.
• Act as a focal point to provide technical expertise for one or more systems.
• Investigate and diagnose problems and propose solutions.
• Provide estimates to the Adaptation Team Leader as required to achieve a particular change and contribute to the planning activity.
• Identify and feedback, in a timely manner, any issues that might impact adaptation deliveries.
• Support the Adaptation Team Leader in identifying and implementing improvements to the adaptation change process.
• Review and update documentation as directed by the Adaptation Team Leader.
• Provide input into the design, procurement and maintenance of tools and facilities required to develop and test adaptation.
• Attend meetings with Stakeholders, Customers or Suppliers as directed by the Adaptation Team Leader, in addition to departmental meetings.
• Provide training and mentoring for new or more junior members of the team, in accordance with the I&A Training Plan.
• Maintain yearly competency in at least one adaptation area as identified in the I&A Training Plan.
• Support the Adaptation Team Leader in maintaining the highest level of customer service.

Autonomy

• Expected to work unsupervised, on one or more assigned Development or Verification and Validation Tasks, following the NMS Manage Adaptations Process and any relevant Work Instructions, to ensure they are delivered to the agreed quality, cost and schedule.
• Has responsibility for delegating and supervising human resources under their control in order to achieve project goals.
• As technical lead, able to co-ordinate others and work unsupervised, with the autonomy to sign off and approve deliverables
• For assigned domain determine cost, resource and timescales for system/requirement changes.

Job Scope

• Capturing and impact assessing requirements and producing the adaptation design, development or test documentation, ensuring all requirements have been met.
• Ensuring that all activities of Adaptation development or testing have been conducted rigorously and documented correctly for acceptance, in accordance with departmental Work Instructions
• As a customer facing representative of the department, it is expected that the suitable candidate will have the ability to quickly develop relationships with the customer, understand their needs and identify effective adaptation solutions.

Essential Skills and Experience

• The job holder is expected to hold, as a minimum, an HNC (or an equivalent qualification) in an Engineering related discipline and have relevant engineering experience
• Proven experience in the engineering aspects of large real time systems, preferably in safety related environments and / or Air Traffic Management Systems (ATM).
• The job holder should have a good working knowledge of the Software Development Lifecycle
• Demonstrate an interest in ATC and NATS FDP Systems and their future development.
• Ability to absorb large amounts of detailed technical and/or ATC information in short timescales.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal and team-working skills.
• In addition to effective team working, the post-holder must be able to act as a focal point when required and work autonomously to a very high standard, including meeting critical deadlines set by the Adaptation Team Leader.
• Demonstrate the ability to listen to any feedback on performance and apply that feedback proactively, to maintain the highest standards that I&A and our customers expect.
• Demonstrate the ability to produce concise and accurate documentation.
• Demonstrable ability to explain technical problems and requirements issues clearly to a variety of customers and organisations.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of the wider NATS business and be able to apply that knowledge within the scope of this role.
• Additionally, it would be desirable, but not essential, to have a working knowledge of Linux or Microsoft Visual Basic

Additional Vacancy Information

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements. Find out more here.

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability.

Please note: All staff at NATS are subject to UK Security Vetting and Clearance (SC) and must maintain valid clearance throughout employment. We are unable to progress applications where an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements for clearance. For further guidance, please click here - Security Clearance - NATS.