Certification Engineer

• Continue to grow both professionally and technically with exposure to a variety of projects.
• Enjoy technically interesting work due to the level of innovation in the NZ Aviation system.

• Impactful role where your work will influence the wider system.

 About our opportunity 

Are you experienced engineer looking to take on a fresh new challenge for 2026?  We are interested to hear from anyone coming from roles such as, aeronautical engineer; aerospace engineer; airworthiness engineer; aircraft design; engineer aircraft or certification engineer.

Our Certification Engineers assess new aircraft types, products, parts and appliances to ensure they meet the required standards detailed in the relevant Civil Aviation Rules (CAR), and to support wider Aviation Safety Oversight and CAA outputs as required.   We can offer a variety of projects with a focus on design safety and work within a regulator that embraces innovation.

This role is Wellington based but travel both domestically and international will be required from time to time.

The salary band for this position starts at $115,536 to a maximum of $161,412. Starting salaries will be based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, as well as internal relativities.

What You’ll Bring  

As a Certification Engineer you will be responsible for the assessment of aircraft designs, modifications, repairs, and other aircraft part and appliance approvals.

A key requirement of this role is for you to hold A Bachelor of Engineering Degree or equivalent in an aeronautical, electrical or mechanical discipline.

To be successful in this role you could have any of the following:

• Specialist aircraft airworthiness and design qualifications and experience, ideally in one or more of the following areas:
• Aircraft Structural Analysis
• Airborne Software Development Assurance
• Airborne Electronic Hardware Development Assurance
• Safety Assessment of Highly Integrated or Complex Aircraft Systems
• Flight Testing
• Human Factors Assessment of the Flight Deck
• A degree of diplomacy to deal with a variety of clients and maintain a professional demeanour
• Due to the travel component of this role, applicants must either hold a full and clean NZ driver’s licence or equivalent international driver’s licence.

About Us 

At the Civil Aviation Authority, we don’t just keep New Zealand’s skies safe and secure, we help shape the future of aviation. 

As the industry evolves, so do we, through innovative technology, new ways of working, and a team of people who are passionate about what they do.

Now’s the time to get on board. We’re building a forward-thinking, modern CAA, and we need people who want their work to matter. People who thrive on challenges, value collaboration, and want to make a positive impact every day. 

If you're ready to grow your career while helping keep one of New Zealand’s most vital sectors safe and secure, this is your opportunity. 

Our Values – Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Transparency, and Collaboration – represent the standards of behaviour we uphold and guide how we work at the Authority. We embrace diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive environment where our people feel respected, safe, and valued for their unique contributions. We recognise that our people drive our success.

Next Steps:

We welcome your online application through our careers site.  Please submit your CV and Cover Letter. We are unable to consider email applications.

Note: your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role. 

We want to ensure accessibility needs are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all. Therefore, please let us know if there is any support, we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to you.

For more information on the role please view the position description or contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@caa.govt.nz

 Applications close Sunday, 15 March 2026