UTM Technical Lead – Systems

About the role

The Civil Aviation Authority is seeking a Technical Lead to drive the development and integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) within the UK airspace. This senior position will work closely with industry partners, policy teams and other technical streams to ensure safe, efficient and secure unmanned aircraft operations.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare and contribute to technical artefacts that advance the understanding of UTM systems.
• Review and assess technical artefacts produced by external parties for eventual system approval.
• Collaborate with related streams such as Electronic Conspicuity (EC), Detect and Avoid (DAA) and System Wide Information Management (SWIM) to map technical dependencies.
• Work with policy and legislative teams to align technical solutions with regulatory requirements.
• Resolve day‑to‑day technical challenges related to UTM implementation and data management.

Required profile

• Proven experience in technical leadership within aviation or related safety‑critical domains.
• Strong understanding of UTM concepts, airspace integration and industry standards.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and with external stakeholders.

Required skills

What we offer

• Competitive salary up to £70,000.
• Hybrid working model based in Gatwick.
• Opportunity to shape the future of UK aviation and unmanned aircraft operations.