Mechanical Technician

ProFound People; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ProFound People is recruiting a Mechanical Technician to support maintenance, preparation, and deployment of fixed wing aircraft across workshop and field environments in Adelaide. The role involves hands-on inspections, field servicing, and rapid aircraft turnarounds during tests and development programs.

The successful candidate will bring practical mechanical aptitude, comfort with unfamiliar systems, and a proactive problem-solving approach.

Qualifications

• Background in mechanical trades or related hands-on technical discipline.
• Genuine mechanical aptitude and ability to work across unfamiliar systems.
• Experience in fast-moving, field-based or operationally demanding environments.

Responsibilities

• Carry out hands-on inspection, servicing, and mechanical maintenance across aircraft platforms.
• Support pre-flight and post-flight checks, launch and recovery operations in field campaigns.
• Troubleshoot mechanical faults in the field where procedures may not exist.
• Assist in developing and documenting maintenance procedures as the organisation builds its framework.
• Collaborate with engineers, aircraft maintainers, and ground control to keep campaigns on schedule.
• Maintain safety awareness and thorough maintenance documentation.

Education

Certificate III/IV in Engineering

Job description

An Australian research and manufacturing company developing advanced defence systems is expanding its field operations team and now hiring a Mechanical Technician to support the maintenance, preparation, and deployment of fixed wing aircraft across both workshop and field environments.

In this role, you will be the hands on backbone of the flight operations team, keeping aircraft serviceable and mission ready across a fast moving test and development program. Day to day, this means inspecting, maintaining, and troubleshooting mechanical systems, supporting pre-flight and post-flight activities, and working alongside engineers and aircraft maintainers to turn aircraft around quickly and keep the program moving.

You do not need an aviation background to succeed here. What matters is that you are genuinely mechanically minded, comfortable working across unfamiliar systems, and the kind of person who picks up a tool and figures it out rather than waiting for someone to write a procedure first.

You will be working in an environment where your practical instincts and adaptability will matter as much as your technical knowledge. This is a full-time role based in Adelaide, with regular deployment to remote test ranges across regional areas. Travel sits at roughly one to three weeks at a time, sometimes in genuine field and camping conditions.

Due to the nature of the work, Australian Citizenship is required.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out hands on inspection, servicing, and mechanical maintenance across fixed wing aircraft platforms.
• Support pre-flight and post-flight checks, launch and recovery operations, and flight line activities during field test campaigns.
• Troubleshoot mechanical faults and defects in the field, applying practical problem solving where established procedures may not yet exist.
• Assist in the development and documentation of maintenance procedures as the organisation builds out its maintenance framework.
• Work collaboratively across a multidisciplinary team including engineers, aircraft maintainers, and ground control personnel to keep test campaigns on schedule.
• Maintain a high standard of safety awareness and maintenance documentation across all activities.
• Deploy to remote and regional test sites and contribute across the broader team during field campaigns, pitching in wherever the program needs an extra set of hands.

Requirements

• A background in mechanical trades, field maintenance, or a related hands on technical discipline. Aviation experience is not required.
• Genuine mechanical aptitude and the ability to work confidently across unfamiliar systems and equipment.
• Experience working in fast moving, field based, or operationally demanding environments such as mining, oil and gas, agriculture, motorsport, marine, or defence.
• Comfortable with extended field deployments including remote and camping style conditions.
• A practical, resourceful approach to problem solving with a low dependence on rigid process and procedure.
• Strong safety awareness and attention to detail in maintenance documentation and task execution.
• Australian Citizenship is required due to the nature of the work.

Desirable but not essential

• Exposure to fixed wing or rotary aircraft maintenance environments.
• Certificate III or Certificate IV in Engineering or a related mechanical trade qualification.
• Experience working in a defence, experimental, or research and development environment.
• Familiarity with maintenance documentation and technical recordkeeping practices.
• Current driver's licence and willingness to operate vehicles in remote environments.