Maintenance Director, Australia Ops — Launch Readiness

Zipline; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Zipline Australia is seeking a Head of Maintenance to lead aircraft and ground systems maintenance for launch sites in Australia. You will drive airworthiness decisions, establish a hands-on maintenance team, and build the discipline that supports dependable growth.

The role requires coordinating with engineering and compliance, serving as Maintenance Controller under CASA, and aligning operations with our Central Coast and Lake Macquarie sites as we scale in 2027.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on maintenance in automotive, autonomy, aviation, or related field.
• Experience in establishing, building and leading operational teams.
• Experience leading daily execution in a safety-sensitive or regulated maintenance environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage inspections, repairs, maintenance backlogs, and return-to-service workflows.
• Ability to earn and maintain Zipline Repairman certification for authorized safety-sensitive maintenance functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily maintenance execution and approved airworthiness determinations for local systems and fleet assets.
• Own workflow from asset receiving and conformity checks through inspection, repair, documentation, and return-to-service coordination.
• Set maintenance schedules, shift coverage, backlog priorities, and work-in-progress to meet operational readiness goals.
• Conduct maintenance planning to support continued airworthiness and fleet health programs.
• Hire, coach and lead technicians and supervisors to high performance levels through training, clear expectations, direct feedback, and performance accountability.
• Track and improve asset downtime, uptime, turnaround, first-time-fix quality, backlog closure, and technician productivity.
• Enforce maintenance SOPs, safety protocols, qualification practices, and audit-ready recordkeeping.
• Partner with engineering and compliance to root-cause recurring issues, resolve escalations, and improve maintenance processes.
• Monitor performance KPIs and ensure the safe and efficient execution of maintenance operations.
• Act as Maintenance Controller under Zipline Australia's ReOC with CASA.
• Operate as part of a global maintenance team, and act as the key connection point between Australia and HQ maintenance teams

Skills

Maintenance leadership

Team leadership

Airworthiness

Regulatory compliance

Job description

Zipline Australia is seeking a Head of Maintenance to lead aircraft and ground systems maintenance for launch sites in Australia. You will drive airworthiness decisions, establish a hands-on maintenance team, and build the discipline that supports dependable growth.

The role requires coordinating with engineering and compliance, serving as Maintenance Controller under CASA, and aligning operations with our Central Coast and Lake Macquarie sites as we scale in 2027.