Aircraft Maintenance Controller

Stratolaunch; California; On-site; USD 82,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Maternity and Parental Leave

401(k) with 50% match up to $11,500

Job summary

Stratolaunch in Mojave, CA seeks an Aircraft Maintenance Controller (Flight Test & Operations) to coordinate maintenance for flight test programs, ensuring aircraft are safe, airworthy, and mission-ready. You will track status, coordinate quick-turn inspections, and maintain real-time updates with flight test crews, program managers, and engineering.

This role supports dynamic test schedules, documents maintenance actions, and aligns with FAA regulations and company policies.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of aircraft maintenance experience, ideally in flight test or experimental programs.
• Knowledge of standard maintenance scheduling practices in the aircraft industry.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and follow test requirements and instructions.
• Proven troubleshooting and decision-making under high-pressure conditions.
• Experience with maintenance tracking systems and staffing assignments.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and track status of aircraft assigned to Maintenance / Operations.
• Provide real-time updates on aircraft status and tasking to programs and management.
• Coordinate rapid maintenance actions to support high-tempo test schedules.
• Ensure maintenance is documented and aligned with engineering test requirements and FAA guidance.
• Assist in planning ground/test events and ensure aircraft readiness.
• Coordinate both planned and unscheduled maintenance around evolving test schedules.
• Develop short- and mid-range maintenance forecasts to align with milestones.
• Balance resources across multiple test aircraft and facilities to maximize availability.
• Plan and coordinate parts ordering, tooling, and external vendors.
• Serve as the central communication link between engineers, pilots, maintenance crews, and operations.
• Provide timely updates to leadership on readiness, discrepancies, and recovery actions.
• Coordinate with engineering for resolution of discrepancies or test-specific requirements.
• Work with supply chain/logistics to ensure parts availability for repairs.
• Ensure compliance with FAA regulations and company policies.
• Maintain records of maintenance actions and configuration changes.
• Support conformity inspections and engineering review boards as required.
• Promote safety, FOD, and tool-control practices during flight test operations.

Skills

Maintenance scheduling

Engineering drawings interpretation

Troubleshooting & decision-making

Maintenance tracking systems

Staffing & priority management

MS Project / Visio / MS Office

Team collaboration

Organization & accuracy

Education

A&P license (preferred)

IA (Preferred)

Flight line or flight test experience (Preferred)

5+ years aviation experience

Tools

Microsoft Project

Visio

MS Office 365

Job description

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

The Aircraft Maintenance Controller (Flight Test & Operations) serves as the central point of coordination for all maintenance activities supporting flight test programs and special operations. This role ensures experimental and production aircraft are maintained in a safe, airworthy, and mission-ready condition by coordinating scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, Modifications, and any other issues in real time, and maintaining close coordination with flight test crews, Program managers, and engineering teams. The controller facilitates timely execution of maintenance by supporting the organization successfully through dynamic test schedules, rapid configuration changes, and operational availability.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor and track the status of aircraft assigned to Maintenance / Operations department
• Provide real-time Updates on aircraft status and tasking to programs and management.
• Coordinate rapid maintenance actions to support high-tempo test schedules, including quick-turn inspections and configuration changes.
• Ensure all maintenance performed is documented and aligned with engineering test requirements and regulatory guidance.
• Assist in planning of ground test, taxi test, and flight test events by ensuring aircraft readiness through support of Crew chiefs / Ground operations leads / Engineering
• Coordinate both planned and unscheduled maintenance around evolving test schedules.
• Develop and manage short- and mid-range maintenance forecasts to align with program milestones.
• Balance resources across multiple test aircraft and facilities to minimize downtime and maximize availability.
• Plan and coordinate Parts ordering and delivery, tooling, and outside vendors.
• Serve as the central communication link between engineers, pilots, maintenance crews, and operations.
• Provide timely updates to leadership on aircraft readiness, discrepancies, and recovery actions.
• Coordinate with engineering for resolution of discrepancies, modifications, or test-specific requirements.
• Work closely with supply chain/logistics to ensure parts availability for mission-critical repairs.
• Ensure compliance with FAA experimental regulations, company policies, and engineering requirements.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of maintenance actions and configuration changes in the tracking system.
• Assist in documentation of conformity inspections and configuration control for flight test instrumentation.
• Support audits, conformity checks, and engineering review boards as required.
• Promote strict adherence to safety, FOD, and tool control practices during flight test operations.
• Participate in incident/accident investigations and contribute to root cause analysis for corrective actions.
• Support continuous improvement of maintenance processes tailored to the unique demands of test programs.
• Integrate New maintenance / repair / and overhaul (MRO) software across all aircraft as they are delivered.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum [5+] years of experience in aircraft maintenance, preferably with flight test or experimental programs.
• Strong knowledge of aircraft industry standard Maintenance scheduling practices.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, test requirements, and experimental work instructions.
• Excellent troubleshooting and decision-making skills under dynamic, high-pressure conditions.
• Proficiency in maintenance tracking systems.
• Experience in staffing assignments and deconfliction of competing priorities
• Proficiency with Microsoft project, Visio, and all other common Microsoft 365 / Microsoft office applications
• Team player with exceptional interpersonal skills
• Self motivated to accomplish tasking with a high degree of accuracy.
• This role required utmost organizational skills to maintain a standardized daily product.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• A&P license (preferred)
• IA (Preferred but not required)
• Flight line or flight test experience (Preferred)
• 5+ years in aviation field dealing with aspects of this positions responsibilities

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• This position is in Mojave, CA
• Must use a computer for extended periods and access operational work areas, with or without reasonable accommodation. Follow site safety requirements and use required PPE around noise, weather, and moving equipment.
• Ability and willingness to support flexible or off-shift hours and weekends when operational needs dictate; occasional mission travel may be required.
• 4/10 Schedule
• 2-5 years relevant experience:$71,000-$86,000
• 5+ years relevant experience: $82,000-$101,000
• Eligible for up to 10% annual bonus

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.

Benefits and our location(s) :

• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law :