Director of Maintenance
Location: Hybrid (80% remote 20% onsite) with a location in Mount Pocono Municipal Airport 188 Airport Drive, Tobyhanna, PA (KMPO) and other company, aircraft, and vendor locations as required.
This is a hybrid position and is not required to be based at KMPO.
Travel to KMPO will be required, along with travel to aircraft bases, vendor facilities, inspection locations, and other company locations as needed.
Reports to: President
Position Type: Full Time, Salary, Exempt
Background:
Axcess Air and its affiliated companies provide aircraft charter, aircraft management, maintenance, and flight-training services. Our strong focus on safety, regulatory compliance, customer service, and operational excellence has set us apart. As our operations grow, we are transitioning from a primarily general aviation and piston maintenance environment to increased support of turboprop and jet aircraft, including a growing number of turbine aircraft under management.
Summary:
The Director of Maintenance (DOM) is Axcess Air’s senior maintenance leader, responsible for ensuring its aircraftremain airworthy and compliant with applicable regulations, operations specifications, maintenance programs, manuals, and company policies. The DOM will also coordinate maintenance activities across all Axcess companies, including [Company], while respecting each certificate holder’s separate authority and regulatory requirements. The role includes supporting maintenance budgeting, forecasting, performance monitoring, resource planning, and strategy.
This is a growth-oriented position focused on building the people, systems, vendor relationships, and capabilities needed to support turboprop and jet aircraft. The DOM will oversee maintenance management for owner aircraft operated under Parts 91 and 135 and work with senior leadership to establish maintenance priorities, staffing and capital plans, and measurable operating goals.
Director of Maintenance Responsibilities:
Serve as Axcess Air's FAA-accepted Director of Maintenance and ensure compliance with applicable Part 91 and Part 135 requirements, operations specifications, manuals, maintenance programs, and company policies.
Ensure company-operated aircraft are maintained in an airworthy condition and remove aircraft from service when safety or compliance requirements are not met.
Oversee scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for company-operated and managed aircraft, including piston, turboprop, and jet aircraft.
Develop, maintain, and improve maintenance procedures, inspection programs, manuals, records, and internal controls.
Ensure proper tracking and compliance for inspections, Airworthiness Directives, life-limited components, overhaul requirements, deferred discrepancies, MEL items, major repairs and alterations, and return-to-service documentation.
Maintain complete and accurate aircraft maintenance records and submit required FAA reports and documentation.
Provide maintenance management for owner aircraft, including maintenance planning, forecasting, budgeting, cost control, warranty and program coverage, and downtime coordination.
Coordinate aircraft onboarding, conformity, pre-purchase inspections, major maintenance events, AOG support, and return-to-service planning.
Review vendor estimates, scopes of work, invoices, and maintenance records to ensure work is necessary, properly completed, documented, and reasonably priced.
Recruit, lead, train, and mentor maintenance personnel and ensure they are properly qualified for their assigned responsibilities.
Select and oversee qualified maintenance providers, repair stations, manufacturers, and other technical resources.
Work closely with aircraft owners, pilots, flight operations, safety, aircraft management team members, finance, the flight school, the company’s repair station, and company leadership.
Monitor aircraft reliability, investigate recurring discrepancies, conduct internal reviews, and implement corrective actions and process improvements.
Maintain a thorough and current knowledge of all applicable regulations, including 14 CFR Parts 43, 65, 91, 119, and 135, FAA guidance, Airworthiness Directives, manufacturer maintenance requirements, and evolving turboprop and jet maintenance practices, and incorporate relevant changes into company procedures and maintenance programs.
Assist with the general management of the maintenance function, including the development of annual operating and capital budgets, periodic forecasts, staffing plans, and resource priorities.
Monitor financial and operational performance against budgets and forecasts; identify significant variances, risks, and opportunities and recommend appropriate action.
Participate in strategic planning for Axcess's maintenance operations, including turbine capabilities, service offerings, facility needs, staffing, tooling, technology, vendor relationships, and long-term growth.
Communicate clearly and professionally with the FAA, aircraft owners, employees, vendors, and company leadership.
Be available for time-sensitive maintenance decisions, AOG support, and occasional after-hours needs.
Director of Maintenance FAA Qualifications:
The candidate must meet the requirements of 14 CFR 119.71(e), unless the FAA grants an applicable deviation under 14 CFR 119.71(f):
Hold an FAA mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings; and
Have three years of experience within the preceding six years maintaining aircraft as a certificated mechanic, including, at the time of appointment, experience maintaining the same category and class of aircraft used by Axcess Air; or
Have three years of experience within the preceding six years repairing aircraft in a certificated airframe repair station, including one year in a capacity responsible for approving aircraft for return to service.
The candidate must also be qualified through training, experience, and expertise; understand applicable aviation safety standards, regulations, operations specifications, maintenance and airworthiness requirements, and company manuals to the extent of the position's responsibilities; and discharge the duties of the position in a manner that meets legal requirements and maintains safe operations, consistent with 14 CFR 119.69.
Additional Requirements:
FAA mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings required.
Inspection Authorization (IA) strongly preferred. If required by the final scope of duties, the candidate must obtain and maintain it.
Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible aircraft maintenance experience, including meaningful leadership, supervisory, or maintenance-program responsibility.
Substantial Part 135 maintenance experience and a strong practical command of both Part 91 and Part 135 requirements. Prior FAA-accepted DOM experience is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated turboprop and/or business-jet maintenance experience. Experience transitioning or expanding a maintenance organization into turbine aircraft is highly desirable.
Experience managing owner aircraft, external maintenance facilities, engine and airframe programs, major inspections, AOG events, maintenance budgets, and technical records.
Ability and desire to research, continue learning, identify authoritative source material, and develop sound, documented solutions when an answer is not immediately known.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, sound judgment, integrity, attention to detail, and the ability to explain difficult maintenance decisions clearly and professionally.
Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
Proficiency with computerized maintenance-tracking systems including CAMP and / or similar maintenance tracking systems, electronic records, Microsoft 365, and related maintenance-management software.
Demonstrated commitment to using technology to improve maintenance operations, compliance, recordkeeping, reporting, and managed-aircraft oversight.
Bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance management, engineering, aviation, or a related field preferred. Equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
Demonstrated commitment to safety, compliance, quality, customer service, and continuous improvement.
Travel and Availability:
This is a hybrid position and is not required to be based at KMPO.
Travel to KMPO will be required, along with travel to aircraft bases, vendor facilities, inspection locations, and other company locations as needed.
Ability to travel by ground and air and provide after-hours support when operationally necessary.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to work in office, hangar, ramp, and outdoor environments
Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods
Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and aircraft maintenance platforms
Ability to enter and work in confined spaces, including aircraft compartments
Ability to bend, kneel, crouch, and reach overhead as required
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally (as operationally required)
Ability to hear and communicate effectively in noisy environments (hangars, flight line)
Ability to use hands and fingers for handling tools, documents, and computer equipment
Ability to visually inspect aircraft, components, & documentation, including close & distance vision
EEO:
Axcess Air and its affiliated companies provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibit discrimination and harassment based on any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities.
What We Offer:
Our benefits include PTO, sick leave, and holiday pay, in addition to the company covering 80% of employee medical insurance premiums beginning at 90 days of employment, as well as a 401(k) plan with matching employer contributions.