Aircraft Interiors Lead Technician (Soft Goods Crew Chief)

Elliott Aviation; Milan (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits on Day 1

Comprehensive healthcare coverage

Paid time off and holidays

401(k) Company Match

Technical and professional development

FUN!

Job summary

Elliott Aviation is seeking an experienced Aircraft Interiors Lead Technician to spearhead refurbishment projects and mentor a team of interior technicians. You will oversee seat refurbishment, upholstery repairs, and cabin modifications, ensuring quality, safety, and customer satisfaction from kickoff to delivery.

In this hands-on leadership role, you will coordinate resources, maintain FAA compliance, and drive best practices in soft goods installation and interior workmanship across varied

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 5+ years in aircraft interiors, upholstery, seating, or cabin refurbishment.
• FAA Repairman Certificate.
• Leadership or supervisory experience.
• Ability to obtain airport security credentials.

Responsibilities

• Lead aircraft interior projects from planning through final delivery.
• Coordinate labor, materials, vendors and resources to support schedules.
• Monitor progress against labor estimates, goals, quality standards and timelines.
• Ensure FAA compliance with regulations and OEM manuals.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to interior technicians.

Skills

Aircraft interiors

Leadership

Supervisory experience

Upholstery

Education

High School Diploma or GED

FAA Repairman Certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Lead Aircraft Interior Projects. Mentor Technicians. Deliver Exceptional Results.

At Elliott Aviation, we believe aircraft interiors should reflect the same quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail as the aircraft itself. We are seeking an experienced Aircraft Interiors Lead Technician (Soft Goods Crew Chief) to lead aircraft interior refurbishment projects while providing technical guidance and mentorship to a team of skilled interior technicians.

This is a hands-on leadership position responsible for overseeing aircraft seat refurbishment, upholstery repairs, cabin interior modifications, soft goods installation, quality control, project execution, and customer satisfaction from project kick-off through aircraft delivery.

Whether working on a Citation, Learjet, Hawker, Falcon, Challenger, Gulfstream, King Air, Pilatus, Embraer, or other business aviation aircraft, you will play a critical role in delivering exceptional results for our customers while helping develop the next generation of aviation interior professionals.

What You'll Do

Lead Aircraft Interior Projects

• Take ownership of assigned aircraft interior projects from planning through final delivery.
• Coordinate labor, materials, vendors, and resources to support project schedules and customer commitments.
• Monitor project progress against labor estimates, production goals, quality standards, and delivery timelines.
• Communicate effectively with customers, project managers, supervisors, vendors, and team members throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure customer aircraft, equipment, and components are protected throughout all phases of maintenance and refurbishment.

Perform and Oversee Interior Work

• Inspect, repair, refurbish, modify, and install aircraft seats and interior components.
• Evaluate cabin furnishings, upholstery, seat assemblies, sidewalls, headliners, panels, carpeting, and trim for functionality, damage, and overall quality.
• Support aircraft seat refurbishment, aircraft upholstery repair, cabin refurbishment, interior installations, and aircraft interior modifications.
• Coordinate repairs through approved vendors, OEMs, or qualified internal personnel when required.
• Ensure all work complies with FAA regulations, approved technical data, OEM maintenance manuals, burn requirements, and company procedures.

Lead and Develop Technicians

• Assign and prioritize daily work activities for team members.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and hands-on training to interior technicians.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, professionalism, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Support technician development and skill progression within the Aircraft Interiors department.
• Help establish and maintain best practices related to aircraft upholstery, soft goods installation, and interior refurbishment.

Ensure Quality and Compliance

• Review work packages, maintenance records, labor entries, and project documentation for accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain compliance with FAA Repair Station requirements and company quality standards.
• Ensure proper documentation, inventory allocation, sign-offs, and labor reporting.
• Verify aircraft interiors meet customer expectations and quality standards prior to delivery.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 5+ years of aircraft interior, aircraft upholstery, aircraft seating, cabin refurbishment, or aviation soft goods experience.
• Previous leadership, lead technician, crew chief, or supervisory experience.
• FAA Repairman Certificate.
• Working knowledge of FAR Parts 43, 91, 135, and 145.
• Basic Microsoft Office proficiency.
• Ability to obtain and maintain airport security credentials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Business aviation experience.
• Experience in an FAA Part 145 Repair Station environment.
• Aircraft seat refurbishment and modification experience.
• Experience leading teams in an MRO, aircraft completion center, maintenance facility, or aircraft interiors operation.
• Elliott Production Inspector (Blue Stamp) qualification or ability to obtain.
• Experience supporting VIP interiors, corporate jet interiors, business jet interiors, or aircraft cabin modification projects.

Aircraft & Interior Experience We Value

• Aircraft upholstery
• Leather upholstery
• Aircraft seating systems
• Seat installation and repair
• Seat modifications
• Aircraft furnishings
• Aircraft trim shop operations
• Cabin refurbishment
• Interior installation
• Pattern making
• Sewing and upholstery craftsmanship
• Aircraft interior maintenance

We Offer

• Benefits on Day 1
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage
• FREE Generic prescriptions
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 401(k) Company Match
• Technical and professional development
• FUN!

Compensation

The base hourly range for this role is $35.00 USD - $45.00 USD. The pay range provided is a good faith estimate representative of experience levels. Specific compensation for this role will be determined by several factors including but not limited to; minimum and preferred qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, education, experience and location.

Physical Requirements

• Routinely lift up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift up to 100 pounds.
• Stand for extended periods while frequently bending, kneeling, squatting, crawling, and reaching.
• Work inside aircraft cabins, hangars, elevated work platforms, and confined spaces.
• Work around varying temperatures, noise, chemicals, solvents, and aviation-related materials.
• Maintain compliance with all company safety policies and environmental requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Elliott Aviation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.