UAS Airspace Expert

CAA; Crawley; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is seeking an UAS Airspace Expert to help shape UK airspace as part of the Airspace Regulation team. The role focuses on integrating UAS and Advanced Air Mobility within the UK’s airspace framework, ensuring safe, compliant evolution of airspace operations.

You will bring deep knowledge of UK airspace and air traffic operations, with experience or interest in UAS integration, and contribute to policy development, regulatory oversight, and evidence-based

Qualifications

• Excellent understanding of UK airspace and air traffic operations.
• Experience or interest in UAS operations or integration.
• Knowledge of UK SORA Air Risk methodology is desirable.
• Understanding of aviation law principles.
• Awareness of environmental impact of aviation.

Responsibilities

• Support integrating diverse airspace users within the Airspace Modernisation Strategy.
• Perform regulatory oversight to develop policies for UAS integration.
• Review airspace proposals and provide objective assessments of airspace impacts.
• Lay out conclusions of assessments to support transparent decision-making for approvals.
• Provide guidance to airspace sponsors and other interested parties on airspace issues.
• Assist in developing strategies for airspace design, use or change per DoT/CAA guidance.
• Act as the subject matter expert on airspace matters within the CAA.
• Collaborate with cross capability teams within Airspace Regulation and external sponsors.

Skills

UK airspace knowledge

Air traffic operations

UAS integration

Regulatory oversight

Analytical skills

Job description

UAS Airspace Expert

Location: Gatwick, GB

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Security Level: SC

Location: Aviation House – Gatwick- 40% in the office per month.

Visa Restrictions: This position does not offer visa sponsorship

Closing Date: 1st December2026

Interview Date: 14th - 18th December 2026

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 restructuring of UK airspace is facilitated through airspace change proposals submitted to the CAA by a range of aviation and non-aviation stakeholders. These proposals vary greatly in terms of size, operational complexity, and scale of consequential impacts, and are required to follow the CAA’s CAP1616 Airspace Change approval process. The Airspace experts within AR perform oversight of such proposals with respect to their impact on existing airspace structures, airports, and all users of airspace, ensuring modern standards for regulatory decision-making are fair, transparent, consistent, and proportionate.

The Role

Are you looking for an exciting new opportunity to influence the integration of new technologies such as UAS into UK airspace? The CAA is looking for a highly skilled expert, to join the rapidly expanding Airspace Regulation (AR) team during this exciting time as the UK looks to implement a new Airspace Modernisation Strategy. The strategy aims to create an aviation infrastructure for the future to make quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys whilst enabling new technology and user groups to safely integrate into UK Airspace.

You should have an in-depth understanding of UK airspace and air traffic operations, with an interest or experience in Uncrewed Air System (UAS) operations or integration. If you have the technical expertise and are excited by the idea of being involved in an opportunity like this, then the CAA wants to hear from you. This role provides the opportunity to be at the forefront of evolving airspace change proposals in the UK within a diverse technical team making key decisions. See your expertise help industry to meet the highest of safety standards in this highly rewarding role.

• Support integrating the demands of diverse airspace users such as UAS, e-VTOL/hybrid aircraft, General Aviation, Military Aviation, Commercial Aviation, Spaceports and Space Launch Operators, all within the framework of the Airspace Modernisation Strategy whilst ensuring that the assessment of airspace impacts have been appropriately considered.
• Perform regulatory oversight of the current airspace system to supporting development of polices to integrate new users such as UAS and Advanced Air Mobility.
• Review and scrutinise airspace proposals from a wide range of sponsors such as operators, innovation companies, airports, the military, spaceports, producing objective and independent assessments of the direct and consequential airspace impacts for each proposed airspace change design.
• Lay out the conclusions of these assessments and form a key part of the CAA’s transparent decision-making process for approvals.
• Provide advice, guidance and direction to airspace change sponsors or any other interested parties regarding airspace issues related to operations conducted both inside and outside controlled airspace.
• Assist in developing and implementing strategies and policies for the consideration of airspace design, use or change in accordance with the Department for Transport’s directions to the CAA, UK legislation and Government regulation and guidance.
• As an Airspace Regulator you will act as the subject matter expert on airspace matters within the CAA.
• Your role will sit at the very heart of the UKs developing airspace, where you will work within cross capability teams both within Airspace Regulation, across the authority, across Government and with external sponsors including, amongst many, UAS technology companies.

About You

• You will possess an excellent understanding of UK airspace and air traffic operations.
• Understanding or experience in UAS and how to safely integrate them with other airspace users. Knowledge of UK SORA Air Risk methodology is desirable, but not essential.
• Be innovative and able to develop novel solutions, based on expert knowledge and detailed understanding of Air Traffic Management and aviation law principles.
• A sound understanding of UK airspace, air traffic operations and emerging technology developments in the aviation industry.
• Awareness of the environmental impact of aviation, and of existing and developing strategies and actions to mitigate these.
• Knowledge of the CAA’s regulatory role, airspace change process, strategic plan and responsibilities is also desirable, but not essential.
• Experience as an air traffic controller, professional pilot or the ability to demonstrate an equivalent level of technical expertise.

The strengths and behaviours required

• A flexible and committed individual with the ability to prioritise and multi-task in a highly dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• A team player with a willingness to embrace new working methods, tackle a job and get it done.
• Good analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills to deal tactfully, diplomatically, and authoritatively with people at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to deliver clear, concise, and effective guidance, and unbiased conclusions.
• A motivated individual who takes responsibility to deliver high-quality and useful work.
• Able to work both independently and in small teams - with only 1 expert from each specialist field allocated to each proposal, once fully trained there is a high degree of autonomy involved, whilst also working closely with different subject matter experts from environment, consultation and other technical areas.

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 t his will need to be 5 years.

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

The CAA is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct. To help ensure transparency and protect the independence and reputation of the CAA, candidates invited to interview will be required to complete a Declaration of Interests form, disclosing any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence, or be seen to influence, their ability to perform the role objectively and impartially.

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, factuallyaccurateand taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has beenidentified(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.

Closing Date: 1st December2026

Interview Date: 14th - 18th December 2026

Job Segment: Military Intelligence, Law, Aerospace, Aviation, Government, Legal

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

No recruitment agencies please.