About Aspera

Most of the world's goods still move by ships because flying them has always cost too much. We think that's a solvable problem.

We are reviving the lost art of aircraft design to build the highest performing freighter aircraft on the planet. We want to enable a world where the cost of not flying is greater than the cost of flying and 100% of the world's cargo moves by the air. Our first aircraft is a 2,300 kg MTOW, 1,000 kg payload seaplane, cruising at 70 m/s across 2,000+ km stage lengths. The design is inspired by the biomimicry of sharks, whales, and dolphins. We have designed a retractable, hydrofoil-assisted takeoff architecture rather than a stepped hull.

We are a small, technical team that deeply cares about our art and believe in the fact that the cost of flying is an engineering problem.

The Role

We don’t believe that the most difficult problems are solved by following playbooks. They’re solved by people willing to write new ones.

At Aspera, we’re building a new kind of aircraft, and with it, navigating regulatory territory that few companies have explored.

We’re looking for a Policy & Regulatory Research Associate to research certification pathways, build relationships with regulators and policymakers, and help us establish international operations. You’ll work directly with the founders to turn regulatory research into clear strategies and execution.

What You'll Do

Decode regulatory frameworks

• Research aviation certification requirements, regulatory frameworks, and approval pathways across international jurisdictions.
• Understand how new aircraft designs move from prototype to commercial operations.
• Identify regulatory ambiguities, bottlenecks, precedents, and opportunities to accelerate certification.
• Study how other aerospace companies have navigated complex regulatory environments.
• Translate dense regulatory documents into clear, actionable strategies for the engineering and leadership teams.

Find the people who matter

• Identify key decision-makers across aviation authorities, government departments, certification agencies, and industry bodies.
• Build relationships with regulators, policymakers, technical experts, and industry stakeholders.
• Find creative ways to reach people who aren’t easily accessible.
• Coordinate conversations, meetings, and introductions between Aspera’s leadership and relevant authorities.
• Build and maintain a network of people who can help us navigate certification and international expansion.

Get into the right rooms

• Identify and attend relevant aviation, aerospace, regulatory, and policy conferences.
• Represent Aspera at industry events, government consultations, and ecosystem gatherings.
• Build relationships with people shaping the future of aviation.
• Track emerging regulatory developments that could affect our aircraft and operations.

Help us establish international operations

• Research requirements for establishing subsidiaries and operating entities in international markets.
• Identify potential local partners, consultants, legal advisors, and regulatory specialists.
• Map the talent ecosystem and proactively source exceptional candidates for regulatory, certification, and local operational roles.
• Help build the relationships and infrastructure required to establish our presence in new markets.

Turn research into action

• Own specific regulatory research projects from beginning to end.
• Develop actionable roadmaps for certification and regulatory engagement.
• Maintain a living database of regulatory contacts, requirements, timelines, and ongoing conversations.
• Identify roadblocks before they become problems and find creative, lawful ways around them.
• Work directly with the founders to turn regulatory strategy into execution.

What We’re Looking For

• Relentlessly resourceful. You don’t stop at the first unanswered email or the first person who says no. You find another way. We’re looking for street fighters who do not leave a region without dominating it.
• An exceptional researcher. You can go down rabbit holes, connect seemingly unrelated information, and emerge with insights nobody else has found.
• A natural relationship builder. You’re comfortable reaching out to strangers, navigating unfamiliar environments, and building genuine relationships.
• High agency. You don’t wait for instructions. You figure out what needs to happen and make it happen.
• Comfortable with ambiguity. You don’t need a playbook. You’re excited by the prospect of writing one.
• A strong communicator. You can take a 200-page regulatory document and explain what matters in two paragraphs.
• An unconventional thinker. You understand that regulations are systems designed by people, and navigating them requires understanding both the rules and the institutions behind them.
• Deeply persistent. You’re willing to spend weeks figuring out something that everyone else has given up on.

Ideal Qualifications

Prior experience in aviation, policy, law, or government affairs would be valuable, but resourcefulness, intellectual curiosity, and execution matter far more than credentials.

PS: We don't care about degrees or credentials. Send us proof of work!

How to Apply?

If you see yourself as a fit for this role, send us a short email at humans@asperaindustries.com introducing yourself and why you’d be a strong fit.

Include:

• Links to things you’ve worked on
• Your resume/portfolio
• Anything else you think we should know

How to Stand Out?

Tell us about something you took the initiative to figure out or make happen. What were you trying to achieve, how did you find the information or people you needed, and what did you do when you hit a roadblock?

We care more about how you think and follow through than the credentials on your resume.