Senior Inspection & Airworthiness Engineer

Location: Turweston, Northamptonshire (with travel as required)

Salary: £47,000 - £53,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications

Contract: Full-time

About the Role

The Light Aircraft Association (LAA) is looking for a motivated and knowledgeable Senior Inspection & Airworthiness Engineer to join our Continuing Airworthiness Team. This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in supporting one of the most diverse and fascinating recreational aircraft fleets in the UK.

The LAA oversees the airworthiness of more than 500 different aircraft types, ranging from vintage aircraft and amateur-built aircraft to modern factory-built designs. This extraordinary variety provides a unique engineering challenge, ensuring no two days are ever the same.

You will play a key role in supporting and developing our national inspector network, investigating technical and safety issues, providing expert airworthiness advice, and helping to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of Permit to Fly aircraft.

Working with aircraft owners, inspectors, engineers, regulators and industry partners, you will help shape airworthiness policy, improve safety standards, investigate technical issues, and contribute directly to the future of recreational aviation in the UK.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the training, mentoring, development and oversight of LAA Inspectors.

• Develop and deliver educational programmes for aircraft owners and Inspectors covering continuing airworthiness topics.

• Lead and coordinate investigations into in-service defects, technical issues, incidents and other airworthiness concerns, identifying and implementing appropriate corrective actions.

• Provide technical airworthiness advice and guidance to members, Inspectors and external stakeholders.

• Develop airworthiness guidance and technical documentation, including Type Acceptance Data Sheets (TADS), Mandatory Technical Directives (MTDs) etc.

• Assess Permit to Fly revalidation applications requiring engineering evaluation.

• Identify, assess and escalate significant technical, safety, quality and regulatory issues to the Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection.

• Conduct Aircraft Continuing Airworthiness Monitoring (ACAM) activities and technical audits.

• Deputise for the Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection when required.

Essential Requirements

We are looking for a candidate who can demonstrate:

• Strong technical knowledge of aircraft systems, maintenance practices and airworthiness principles.

• Relevant experience in light aviation engineering, light aircraft maintenance, continuing airworthiness, aircraft certification or a related discipline.

• A broad understanding of UK aviation regulations and continuing airworthiness requirements.

Essential Skills

• Excellent analytical, investigative and problem-solving abilities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear technical reports, guidance material and educational content.

• The ability to engage effectively and command the respect of aircraft owners, Inspectors, regulators and industry stakeholders.

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.

• A professional, collaborative and proactive approach to problem solving and stakeholder engagement.

Desirable Experience

The ideal candidate may also have some, or all, of the following:

• Experience with Permit to Fly aircraft.

• Hold, or have previously held, an aircraft engineering authorisation, licence or inspection approval relevant to light aviation operations, such as:

  • LAA Inspector Approval

  • UK CAA Part-66 Licence (B1 on light aircraft types or B3)

  • BCAR Full Group 3 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence

  • BMAA Inspector Approval

  • BGA Inspector Approval

• Knowledge of UK CAA regulatory processes and procedures.

• Experience conducting audits, compliance monitoring or quality assurance activities.

• Experience investigating technical occurrences, defects or safety-related events.

• Experience delivering technical training, coaching or mentoring.

Why Join the LAA?

This is an opportunity to combine your technical expertise with a genuine passion for aviation. You will work with a dedicated team supporting one of the most diverse and innovative light aircraft fleets in the UK, helping to shape airworthiness standards, improve safety outcomes and support the future of recreational aviation.

The role offers:

• A competitive salary of £47,000-£53,000.

• Pension contribution.

• Flexible working arrangements where operationally appropriate.

• The opportunity to make a direct impact on the safety and development of UK recreational aviation.

• A friendly and highly knowledgeable aviation team environment.

  
  

How to Apply

To apply, please send your CV together with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to [email protected].

Closing Date: 20^th November 2026

The Light Aircraft Association is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.