Head of Regulatory Approvals, Australia, Prime Air

Description

Amazon Prime Air is building a drone delivery service that will safely get packages to customers in 30 minutes or less. As Prime Air evaluates Australia and other countries, we are hiring a Head of Regulatory Approvals, Australia — the person responsible for navigating Australia's aviation regulatory system and securing every approval required to deliver to Australian customers by drone.

This role owns the full spectrum of Australian regulatory approvals: drone system certification and type approvals under CASA's regulatory framework, airspace authorizations and flight permissions, and the operating certificates and compliance frameworks that govern Prime Air's flight operations in Australia. You will be the primary relationship owner with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and will coordinate closely with Airservices Australia, state and local planning authorities, and community stakeholders.

This role is based in Sydney or Canberra, AU, and reports to the Leader, Prime Air Expansion — Asia Pacific. You will work in close partnership with Prime Air's global regulatory, engineering, legal, and public policy teams. Your success will be measured by the approvals you obtain, the timelines you hit, and — ultimately — Australian customers receiving drone deliveries.

Key job responsibilities
1. Drone System & Type Approvals
- Lead Prime Air's engagement with CASA on drone system certification and approval, including type acceptance and special airworthiness certificates, coordinating with Prime Air engineering to develop and submit complete technical documentation packages.
- Manage regulatory dossiers end-to-end: track submission status, respond to CASA technical queries, and maintain audit-ready approval records.
- Monitor Australian drone certification developments and advise leadership on implications for Prime Air's certification strategy.

2. Airspace Integration & Approvals
- Obtain all airspace authorizations for Prime Air operations in Australia, including CASA flight approvals and controlled airspace waivers under CASR Parts 101 and 102; engage Airservices Australia on flight route and UTM integration.
- Work with state, territory, and local governments on ground-level approvals, community consultations, and land use permissions for Prime Air flight corridors.
- Maintain ongoing airspace compliance: manage permit renewals, boundary updates, and change notifications as operations scale.

3. Operating Approvals & Ongoing Compliance
- Obtain all operating certificates required for Prime Air to conduct drone delivery in Australia, and develop operations manuals and safety management system documentation meeting CASA requirements.
- Serve as Prime Air's primary regulatory interface with CASA post-approval: manage the relationship, respond to inquiries, and ensure ongoing compliance with all approval conditions.
- Track Australian drone regulatory developments; assess impact on Prime Air's approvals and brief leadership proactively.

Basic Qualifications

- 5+ years of experience in aerospace, aviation, or a closely related technical field — in roles involving regulatory engagement, program management, or technical operations.
- Background in aerospace or aviation sufficient to engage credibly with CASA on technical certification and airworthiness matters, and to interpret and apply Australian civil aviation regulatory requirements.
- Prior engagement with CASA or another national civil aviation authority on aviation or UAS/drone approvals, including preparation and submission of formal regulatory applications or technical dossiers.
- Familiarity with Australia's drone regulatory framework and Specific Operations Risk Assessments (SORA).
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aviation, Engineering, Science, or a related technical or policy field; or equivalent professional experience.
- Must be based in or willing to relocate to Sydney or Canberra, AU.

Preferred Qualifications

- Regulatory certification and compliance experience: Hands-on experience leading or supporting the certification, type approval, or operational approval of an aerospace or aviation product — drone, aircraft, avionics, or related system — through a national aviation authority. Familiarity with certification plan development, compliance demonstration, and managing authority review cycles.
- Direct CASA UAS/drone approval experience: Prior experience obtaining BVLOS approvals or drone operating certificates directly from CASA, including familiarity with CASA's RPAS regulatory team's documentation expectations and review process.
- Aerospace engineering background: A degree or professional background in aerospace engineering is a strong plus — particularly for candidates interfacing with CASA on airworthiness and technical certification questions. Not required if offset by equivalent regulatory experience.
- Existing CASA relationships: Established working relationships with CASA's RPAS regulatory team that can be leveraged to accelerate Prime Air's approval timelines and navigate ambiguous regulatory questions.
- Safety case authoring: Experience writing safety cases or SMS documentation for aviation or UAS operations to a standard acceptable to a national aviation authority.
- Advanced degree: Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aviation, Law, Public Policy, or a related discipline.

Acknowledgement of country:
In the spirit of reconciliation Amazon acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

IDE statement:
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.