UAS Inspector (Non-Certified Ops)

The Irish Aviation Authority; Dublin; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Irish Aviation Authority seeks a UAS Inspector (Non-Certified Ops) to enforce drone regulations, promote safety, and regulate the UAS market in Ireland.

The role involves issuing certificates of competency, authorisations, and LUCs; conducting risk-based oversight, audits, and investigations; and advising on standards and regulations across departments.

Qualifications

• A relevant third level qualification or equivalent aviation experience.
• At least five years’ experience working in UAS operation and/or regulation.
• Experience and understanding of safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Detailed knowledge of relevant International, EU and Irish regulations.

Responsibilities

• Issuing, amending, suspending, limiting, or revoking certificates of competency of remote pilots.
• Issuing, amending, suspending, limiting, or revoking operational authorisations and LUCs.
• Verifying completeness and issuing confirmations of receipt for operational declarations.
• Carrying out risk-based oversight and audits of UAS operators, recognised entities, and economic operators.
• Investigate incidents of non-compliance by UAS operators and recognised entities.
• Provide information and support to UAS operators on safety promotion, clarification, and regulations.
• Advise the UAS Manager and provide technical advice to other departments.
• Carry out Market Surveillance Authority duties and coordinate with State MSAs.

Skills

UAS operation

Regulatory requirements

Safety standards

Education

A relevant third level qualification or equivalent aviation experience

Job description

The Irish Aviation Authority is the civil aviation regulator for Ireland. We are responsible for the regulation of safety, security, and consumer interests. Our responsibilities are set out in the framework of applicable global, European, and national legislation/regulation. For more information, please visit our website: About the Irish Aviation Authority.

Mission: The Irish Aviation Authority regulates to the highest professional standards to ensure a safe, secure, sustainable and consumer-focused civil aviation environment. We support world-class performance and innovation in Irish and global aviation.

Values: Our values reflect what we believe in and how we behave when engaging with each other, our clients and partners, and the society in which we live.

Safety First: We Uphold the highest standards of Civil Aviation safety and security in everything we do for the benefit of aircraft passengers and aviation personnel and in the public interest.

Costumer Focussed: We protect the rights of consumers, ensuring a safe, secure and efficient civil aviation experience.

Sustainability: We Support the development of aviation in a sustainable manner that meets the present demands for safeguarding the needs of the future.

Integrity and Accountability: We Act with transparency, fairness and responsibility in all our decisions and actions.

Professionalism: We Maintain the highest levels of expertise, ethics, responsiveness, efficiency and conduct in our work, and we recognise our true strength is in our people.

Collaboration: We Work closely with stakeholders to promote trust, alignment and shared success.

Respect and Inclusion: We Value diverse perspectives and foster an inclusive, respectful workplace and stakeholder environment.

Job Description

The IAA seeks a highly motivated individual for the role of UAS Inspector (Non-Certified Ops). The purpose of this role is to enact the IAA’s program for the promotion and regulation of drones, including market surveillance, ensuring the highest level of safety, security, and protection for citizens.

Job requirements

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The UAS Inspector responsibilities include:

Issuing, amending, suspending, limiting, or revoking certificates of competency of remote pilots.

Issuing, amending, suspending, limiting, or revoking operational authorisations and LUCs.

Verifying completeness, issuing confirmations of receipt, and issuing confirmations of completeness for operational declarations.

Carrying out risk-based oversight and audits of:

UAS operators that have submitted a declaration, hold an operational authorisation, or an LUC.

Recognised entities.

Model clubs and associations that hold an authorisation.

Economic operators with respect to market surveillance.

Investigate incidents of non-compliance by:

UAS operators operating in the ‘open’ or ‘specific’ categories.

Recognised entities.

Economic operators with respect to market surveillance.

Assist in the maintenance and preservation of documents, records, and reports concerning UAS operational authorisations, declarations, certificates of competency of the remote pilots, LUCs, recognised entities, and economic operators with respect to market surveillance.

Provide information and support (includes giving advice on regulations and standards) to UAS operators for the purpose of:

Safety promotion

Clarification

Policy announcement

Technical information

Advise the UAS Manager on specific or general matters concerning UAS and provide technical advice and support to other departments internally.

Periodic meetings with UAS pilots, operators, industry, recognised entities, and economic operators.

Exercise corrective action (administrative and if necessary legal measures) to ensure compliance with the required standards.

Assist in the provision of technical advice in the development of safety standards and in the development of regulations in relation to UAS.

Represent the UAS Manager, where required.

Provide OJT to other UAS Inspectors.

Carry out functions of the Market Surveillance Authority role of the IAA.

Carrying out inspection of:

Economic operators (manufacturers, importers, authorised representatives, distributors and fulfilment service providers)

Directing economic operator to conduct corrective actions and checking the implementation thereof.

Assist with maintaining a database of economic operators to record test reports, certificates of conformity, etc

Assist in establishing procedures and processes

Co-ordinate with other State MSAs and Customs.

Actively participate with counterparts in other member states though EU Commission UAS Administrative Cooperation Group.

Skills and Qualifications

The successful candidate should have the following qualifications and skills:

Required

A relevant third level qualification or equivalent aviation experience.

At least five years’ experience working in UAS operation and/or regulation.

Experience and understanding of safety standards and regulatory requirements.

Detailed knowledge of relevant International, EU and Irish