Aircraft Mechanic Lead: Relocation Bonus Eligible

County of Santa Barbara; Santa Ynez (CA); On-site; USD 104,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation reimbursement

Sign-on incentives

Time off accruals

Overtime / incident pay

Job summary

County of Santa Barbara is seeking a full-time Aircraft Mechanic Lead for the Santa Ynez Valley, supporting the Air Support Unit of the Fire Department. You will supervise maintenance, perform inspections, and ensure airworthiness for multiple aircraft types used in incident response and rescue missions.

Ideal candidates bring leadership experience and FAA‑certified airframe and powerplant credentials, with strong knowledge of FAA regulations and safety standards.

Qualifications

• FAA Mechanic Certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings.
• Three years of post‑certificate experience on turbine helicopters preferred.
• Ability to lead a team of aircraft mechanics and coordinate maintenance activities.
• Knowledge of FAA regulations, manufacturer specifications and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Plans, schedules, and performs maintenance on ASU helicopters and fixed‑wing aircraft.
• Leads and guides aircraft mechanics; ensures work complies with FAA rules and standards.
• Coordinates with pilots and managers regarding aircraft status and needs.
• Performs return‑to‑service inspections and approves aircraft for flight.
• Assists with aircraft maintenance budget and prioritizes projects for availability.
• Maintains comprehensive maintenance records per FAA and manufacturer mandates.
• Provides technical direction and reviews work for quality and compliance.
• Identifies tools and equipment needed to improve efficiency.
• Ensures hangar and work areas meet safety and cleanliness standards.
• Supports certification/licensing requirements and participates in training.
• May operate departmental vehicles and participate in test flights.
• May drive fuel trucks and maintain fuel usage records.

Skills

Helicopter maintenance

Technical leadership

FAA regulations

Education

FAA Mechanic Certificate with Airframe and Powerplant

Tools

Aircraft maintenance tools

Job description

County of Santa Barbara is seeking a full-time Aircraft Mechanic Lead for the Santa Ynez Valley, supporting the Air Support Unit of the Fire Department. You will supervise maintenance, perform inspections, and ensure airworthiness for multiple aircraft types used in incident response and rescue missions.

Ideal candidates bring leadership experience and FAA‑certified airframe and powerplant credentials, with strong knowledge of FAA regulations and safety standards.