Airworthiness Inspector

• Positively influence and improve New Zealand’s aviation safety performance.
• Apply your operational knowledge and experience to enhance the safety and security of New Zealand’s aviation system.

• Role can be based in Wellington CBD, Christchurch Airport, Auckland Airport

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. 

About the role 
As an Airworthiness Inspector in our Certification and Monitoring Team, you will work closely with operators to positively influence and improve aviation safety performance. You will promote safety and best practices within the New Zealand aviation system, and as such, you will be required to exercise sound judgement and responsibility within an established operating framework.

You will be responsible for carrying out certification activities for organisations seeking to operate in the aviation system, and to ensure they meet the requirements for certification. This includes conducting certification assessments to determine requirements against the Civil Aviation Rules and to record certification decisions in a way that supports the CAA’s goals and objectives. 

This role can be based at Wellington CBD, Auckland Airport or Christchurch Airport.

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

What You’ll Bring
We are looking for an aviation professional who is passionate about safety and is able to demonstrate a sound understanding of the maintenance and administrative requirements for airworthiness for rotor wing aircraft.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:

• An ICAO Aircraft Maintenance Engineer licence with at least 5 years’ experience in aircraft maintenance or manufacturing support experience, or
• Hold an Engineering Diploma (or equivalent) in a relevant aviation discipline with aircraft maintenance or manufacturing support experience. 

If you meet the above criteria, the following is required to ensure you are successful in this role:

• Be able to demonstrate operational knowledge and experience.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work closely with external parties to provide clear and objective decisions about potential safety issues. 
• Be respected by others for your integrity, professionalism and aviation experience and be passionate about improving safety performance. 
• Bring a systems thinking approach combined with an ability to think critically and solve problems will be of benefit in your day-to-day work.
• Proven aircraft maintenance experience with rotor or fixed wing in the Part 145/135/125/121 environment.
• Supervisory and/or SMS experience in any of these environments.  

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. 

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submit your CV and Cover Letter. 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 Wednesday, 25 February 2026