Manager Edinburgh Maintenance

Airbus Australia; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

On-site parking

Health plans

Free on-site physiotherapist

Confidential counselling services

Novated leasing options

Parental leave

Shopping discounts

Flight discounts

Car rental discounts

Professional development

Well-being program

Job summary

Airbus Australia Pacific is seeking an experienced Edinburgh Maintenance Manager to lead the MRO operations at RAAF Base Edinburgh. You will drive safety, technical rigor, and delivery across P-8A Poseidon and MC-55A Peregrine fleets, coordinating a skilled workforce and liaising with defence partners to ensure airworthiness and readiness.

You will oversee budgets, people, and programs while championing LEAN improvements and apprenticeship pathways in a high‑tempo defence environment.

Qualifications

• Part 66 licence or equivalent with related aerospace qualifications.
• 5–8+ years in technical and maintenance management within aviation.
• Proven track record leading large multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Deep knowledge of Part 145 and Part M (CASR, DASR, EASA).
• Experience as Responsible Manager is advantageous.
• Understanding of maintenance delivery, planning, engineering and supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage workforce delivering scheduled servicings, line maintenance, defect rectification and complex modifications for P-8A Poseidon and MC-55A Peregrine fleets.
• Coordinate tooling, personnel, and ground support to align with production schedules and SLAs.
• Champion a proactive Safety Management System prioritising well-being and fatigue management.
• Ensure compliance with DASR Part 145 and Part M regulations and Airbus defence frameworks.
• Manage site OPEX, drive LEAN and cost‑effective continuous improvement.
• Lead succession planning, apprenticeships, multi‑skilling, and mentoring to build a strong engineering culture.

Skills

People management

Stakeholder engagement

LEAN practices

Safety leadership

Education

Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence

Diploma of Aeroskills

Australian Diploma/Degree in Aerospace/Aviation Engineering

CEngA accreditation / postgraduate qualifications

Job description

Location: RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia

About the Opportunity

Airbus Australia Pacific has an exciting opportunity for an experienced, forward-thinking aviation leader to join our defence team as Manager Edinburgh Maintenance.

Based at the forefront of Australia's airborne intelligence capability at RAAF Base Edinburgh, you will spearhead maintenance operations across our critical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) enterprise precinct. In this role, you will lead and manage the Airbus maintenance workforce supporting two of the Royal Australian Air Force's premier ISR capabilities:

• P-8A Poseidon: A purpose-built, long-range maritime patrol aircraft delivering advanced surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capability to the Australian Defence Force.
• MC-55A Peregrine: The cutting-edge airborne electronic warfare and intelligence platform based on the Gulfstream G550, integrated directly into joint defence warfighting networks.
• MQ-4C Triton: A high-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system delivering persistent, wide-area maritime surveillance and strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability to the Australian Defence Force.

Collaborating with key defence stakeholders, including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, No. 10 Squadron RAAF, and the Surveillance and Response Group (SRG), you will ensure operational airworthiness, mission readiness, and engineering excellence across these vital national security assets.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Head of MRO, you will be responsible for the strategic leadership, operational oversight, and delivery of our embedded Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organisation at Edinburgh. Leading a dedicated team you will drive a culture of safety, technical rigor, and customer delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the workforce delivering scheduled servicings, line maintenance, defect rectification, and complex modification programmes for both the P-8A Poseidon and MC-55A Peregrine fleets.
• Ensure technical personnel, specialised tooling, and ground support resources are coordinated and prioritised in sync with customer production schedules and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Champion a proactive Safety Management System (SMS) that prioritises psychological and physical well-being, hazard reporting, fatigue management, and human factors mitigation.
• Ensure complete compliance with DASR Part 145 and Part M airworthiness regulations, as well as the Airbus Code of Conduct and Defence partner frameworks.
• Manage site operating expenditure (OPEX) in line with contractual frameworks, identifying LEAN continuous improvement initiatives across facilities, tooling, and workflows.
• Lead succession planning, apprenticeship pathways, multi-skilling initiatives, and grassroots mentoring to foster an inclusive, high-performing engineering culture.

About You

You are an accomplished, visible aviation leader with sound commercial acumen and a collaborative, pragmatic approach to resolving operational challenges. You thrive in dynamic, matrixed defence environments and take pride in empowering technical teams to perform at their best.

Qualifications & Experience:

• A Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence, Diploma of Aeroskills, or an Australian-accredited Diploma/Degree in Aerospace/Aviation Engineering (or equivalent recognised industry experience). CEngA accreditation or postgraduate qualifications will be highly regarded.
• 5–8+ years of technical and maintenance management experience within the aviation industry, ideally supporting complex military or transport-category aircraft.
• Proven track record in people management, with demonstrated success leading large multi-disciplinary teams in high-tempo maintenance environments.
• In-depth knowledge of Part 145 and Part M aviation maintenance legislation and regulations (CASR, DASR, or EASA). Recent experience acting in a Responsible Manager (RM) capacity is advantageous.
• Comprehensive understanding of the interdependencies between maintenance delivery, planning, engineering, and supply chain logistics.
• Demonstrated experience driving LEAN practices, operational excellence, and cost-effective continuous improvement initiatives.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence senior military and industry partners.

Note: Applicants must be Australian citizens eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Government defence security clearance (Negative Vetting 2) and satisfy pre-employment medical screening, including drug and alcohol testing.

Why Airbus?

At Airbus, we support your career development while offering a competitive framework that rewards outcomes and supports your lifestyle. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Work-Life Balance: Flexible working arrangements.
• Health & Well-being: Free on-site physiotherapist and confidential counselling services, comprehensive employee health plans, and corporate health insurance discounts.
• Financial Perks: Novated leasing options, generous parental leave, and broad shopping discounts across hundreds of retailers.
• Travel Benefits: Access to corporate discounts on flights, car rentals, and accommodation.
• Professional Growth: Continuous investment in your development via structured classroom, leadership, and digital learning platforms.
• On-Site Convenience: Free on-site parking at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

Airbus Australia Pacific is committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. Female candidates, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, and Defence veterans are warmly encouraged to apply.

Ready to Shape the Future of Defence Aviation?

If you are ready to make your mark on Australia's premier ISR platforms, we would love to hear from you.