Aircraft Mechanic

Army National Guard Units • Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a Washington Army National Guard Title 32 Excepted Service Unit Technician position, classified as WG-8852-12, located at Army Aviation Support Facility 1, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The appointment is permanent and in the excepted service. The position is advertised for enlisted applicants and may be used to fill one or more vacancies.

The Aircraft Mechanic manages, monitors, or performs maintenance, servicing, inspections, and documentation for one or more highly technical, high-performance military aircraft. The work may be performed in complex conditions, under time or mission constraints, and during all-weather or night operations. The mechanic coordinates and oversees lower-graded mechanics and certifies journey-level workers in other trades working on assigned aircraft. The position also conducts damage assessments and repairs, supports mission preparation and recovery, installs equipment for special missions, and expedites aircraft operations, including servicing, refueling, and reconfiguration for changing missions.

The mechanic performs preflight, thru-flight, and post-flight inspections and scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. Serving as a technical authority, the incumbent identifies and advises on repair requirements across airframe, mechanical, electrical/environmental, avionics, engine, and pneudraulic systems. The role coordinates with maintenance supervisors and production control personnel to report aircraft status, request services beyond facility capabilities or time constraints, and manage work assignments according to priorities, workload, parts, facilities, materials, and staffing. It includes inspecting work for compliance with technical publications, directives, and local policy; testing aircraft systems and components; and overseeing aircraft ground movement, launches, recoveries, parking, and servicing.

The position diagnoses aircraft system and component malfunctions using complex computerized and non-computerized test and diagnostic equipment, technical drawings, blueprints, wiring diagrams, and equipment specifications. It supports AVCRAD/DEPOT-level maintenance activities as required and ensures aircraft records accurately reflect status and airworthiness. The mechanic provides technical guidance to flight crews, may assist with aircrew debriefings, clears Red X status symbols for work performed by others, and performs in-process and final inspections and certifications. The incumbent may participate in maintenance test flights or operational flights as a crew member, Flight Engineer, or Technical Observer, as applicable.

The role makes decisions to maintain aircraft readiness and ensure maintenance meets safety, quality, and technical standards. It plans, develops, and delivers proficiency training to full-time support and supported-unit personnel, certifies trainee proficiency, and assesses personnel skills. The mechanic also prepares for and participates in readiness evaluations, inspections, mobilization, and support exercises. Additional duties may include structural firefighting, aircraft fire/crash/rescue, security, snow removal, munitions handling, facility and equipment maintenance, and emergency response. The position involves travel in military aircraft, operation of military vehicles and equipment, and temporary duty away from the assigned location as required. The incumbent must comply with safety, fire, security, environmental, and housekeeping regulations and properly maintain and protect materials and equipment.

Requirements

• Must meet military requirements: military grades E4-E7. Desired military assignment is 15T; applicants need not already hold the MOS or be assigned to the position, but the selected applicant must be assigned to a compatible military position and attain the MOS within one year of appointment.
• Must be qualified to clear Red X status symbols on aircraft forms for work performed by others; supporting application documentation must clearly show the applicant's name and demonstrate this qualification.
• Must have three years of experience and/or appropriate training in troubleshooting, repairing, maintaining, servicing, inspecting, and modifying aircraft, aircraft-installed equipment, and related ground support equipment.
• Must have experience and/or appropriate training demonstrating thorough knowledge of aircraft electrical, fuel, hydraulic, environmental, and mechanical systems and components; work-sequence planning and review; technical orders; maintenance regulations; and management operating procedures.
• Must possess or be eligible for the appropriate security clearance and obtain and maintain the position's SECRET clearance within one year.
• May be required to qualify for NGB Non-Aviator Flying Status and Class III flying duties.
• Must have a valid driver's license for the state in which the applicant lives or is principally employed; additional information specifies a valid Washington state and military driver's license.
• Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
• Must maintain membership in the Washington Army National Guard for continued employment.
• Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies, including hours outside the normal duty day.
• Must have general experience or training in removing and replacing aircraft parts, accessories, and components, making adjustments and settings to established specifications, and using hand tools and test equipment.
• Must have at least 36 months of experience or training installing, adjusting, aligning, troubleshooting, and functionally testing major and minor aircraft mechanical and pneudraulic systems during overhaul or modification.
• Must have experience coordinating other mechanics' work and scheduling maintenance to complete critical actions and ensure optimum workflow.
• Must be able to instruct lower-graded mechanics, military personnel, and other personnel in disassembly and reassembly of crash-damaged engines, transmissions, gearboxes, hydraulic components, and fuel controls sufficiently for return to a shipping container.
• Must have experience performing, coordinating, and/or overseeing aircraft work and periodic inspections, independently or with other mechanics or workers.
• Must be able to establish effective professional working relationships with coworkers and customers and contribute to a cooperative working environment.
• Must complete Army Avoidance Course training when beginning work if driving Army-owned or leased vehicles; must be able to obtain a Government Travel Card and attend schools deemed necessary by the supervisor.
• Must comply with the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment; a person convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the position's duties.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, who are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act must be registered to be eligible for appointment.

Nice To Haves

• Desired military assignment: 15T.
• Some positions may involve coordinating journey-level workers in other trades working simultaneously on aircraft or serving as the technical authority to advise on, examine, and approve aircraft airframe, mechanical, electrical, and pneudraulic repairs.
• May participate in maintenance test flights or operational flights as a crew member, Technical Observer, or Flight Engineer, as required.

Responsibilities

• Manage, monitor, or perform maintenance, servicing, inspections, and documentation for assigned military aircraft.
• Coordinate and oversee lower-graded mechanics and certify work performed by journey-level workers in other trades on assigned aircraft.
• Assess and repair aircraft damage; participate in mission preparation and recovery operations.
• Oversee installation of special-mission equipment and expedite servicing, refueling, and aircraft reconfiguration for changing operational missions.
• Perform preflight, thru-flight, and post-flight inspections and scheduled or unscheduled maintenance.
• Identify and advise on repair requirements for airframe, mechanical, electrical/environmental, avionics, engine, and pneudraulic systems.
• Coordinate with maintenance supervisors and production control on aircraft status, maintenance needs, work priorities, and services beyond facility capabilities or time constraints.
• Inspect workers' performance for compliance with technical publications, directives, and local policy.
• Conduct operational tests of aircraft systems and components; oversee aircraft ground movement; launch, recover, park, and service aircraft.
• Diagnose aircraft system and component malfunctions using test and diagnostic equipment, drawings, blueprints, wiring diagrams, specifications, and operating characteristics.
• Assist AVCRAD/DEPOT-level maintenance activities on assigned aircraft discrepancies as required.
• Maintain accurate aircraft status and airworthiness documentation in ULLS-A and other records.
• Provide technical guidance to flight crews, assist with aircrew debriefings, and clear Red X status symbols for work performed by others.
• Perform in-process and final inspections of work on assigned aircraft and components and certify compliance with procedures and quality standards.
• Participate in maintenance test flights or operational flights as a crew member, Technical Observer, or Flight Engineer, as required.
• Plan, develop, and conduct proficiency training; certify trainee proficiency and assess assigned personnel's skills.
• Prepare for and participate in readiness evaluations, inspections, mobilization, and support exercises.
• Perform additional duties as assigned, which may include firefighting, aircraft crash/rescue, security, snow removal, munitions handling, facility and equipment maintenance, or emergency response.
• Travel in military aircraft, operate military vehicles and equipment, and perform temporary duty away from the assigned location as required.
• Comply with safety, fire, security, environmental, and housekeeping regulations and ensure materials and equipment are properly maintained and protected.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package, with access to a range of benefits for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type and the hiring agency can provide details.
• Certain incentives may be available pending funding and approval, but are not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED