Aircraft Restoration Technician

USS Lexington Museum; Corpus Christi (TX); On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

The USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi, TX seeks a full-time Corrosion Abatement and Aircraft Restoration Technician to perform restoration of aircraft and exhibits, including sanding, priming, painting, and safe handling of chemicals. The role requires moving displays, applying markings, and maintaining records while supporting team efforts to preserve historic assets.

You will operate heavy equipment, assist with new display construction and tour routes, and work with volunteers and other

Qualifications

• Knowledge of restoration processes for metal and aircraft components.
• Familiarity with paints, solvents, and surface prep methods.
• Understanding of safety practices and chemical handling.

Responsibilities

• Restore aircraft: corrosion abatement, sanding, priming, painting.
• Apply markings on aircraft and engines.
• Move and position aircraft and displays on hangar bay or flight deck.
• Relocate displays for events and restore afterwards.
• Perform corrosion abatement, repair and restoration tasks.

Skills

Restoration knowledge

Metal prep

Paint application

Safety compliance

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Corpus Christi, TX 78402. Position Type: Full Time. Salary Range: $15.00 - $15.00 Hourly. Scope: Corrosion abatement repair and restoration of aircraft and exhibits. Preservation of the USS Lexington aircraft and engines, using various chemical guns, knowledge of tools, and machine operation. Acts independently or in a semi-supervised status. This position provides support for technical, physical, and artistic knowledge for museum-related restoration concerns.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for corrosion abatement-repair and restoration of aircraft. This includes sanding, sandblasting, priming, and painting.
• Ensure application of markings on aircraft and engines.
• Ensure aircraft are moved and spotted to an assigned location on Hanger Bay and/or Flight Deck maintaining continuity of displays.
• Moves/relocate displays, aircraft, engines, etc. for special events and returns them afterward.
• Corrosion abatement, repair, and restoration.
• Priming and painting of designated equipment such as the JLG, life raft pods, sign panels, transformers, etc. Also assorted pieces of display equipment.
• Assist with maintaining records of all aircraft such as completion of work, materials, moves expended, etc.
• Works as a team member with other departments and volunteers to ensure assigned projects are completed timely.
• Operates and maintains #3 A/C elevator as directed by Chief Restoration and Director of Operations.
• Assist in the construction of new displays and tour routes in addition to assisting other departments as directed.
• Safety Standards, store chemicals, ladders all equipment/supplies that are safety prevention that may be hazardous.
• Time management relevant to assigned projects.
• Procurement of materials.
• Collateral assignments.
• Operate Heavy Equipment such as forklifts, scissor lifts, and JLG.
• Must be capable of understanding and implementing Lexington's Safety Program.
• Must be capable of understanding and implementing Lexington's Heavy Weather Plan.
• Perform any other job duties as delegated by the Director of Operations.

Qualifications

Knowledge Required: Should be knowledgeable in all aspects of restoration, each area requires interior and exterior expertise in the manner of preparation of metal condition, usage of various chemical agents, and paint variations. Should be fully aware of Federal, State, and Maritime guidelines in the proper application of preservations and paints.

License/Certification Requirements

Valid Texas driver's license and an insurable driving record.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; outside weather conditions and vibration. The noise level in the environment is moderate. Exposure to chemical agents, painting supplies, fumes, prepares surfaces with proper tools that may release paint particles, moving sand from sand basting and dust from power sanding.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is continuously required to use continuous hand, arm and finger manipulation while performing the daily painting job function; continuously walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and standing/walking on steel railways requiring balance. Environment requires climbing steep stairwells. Comfortable clothing and shoes with non-skid soles are required. The employee is frequently required to lift 25-50 pounds. The vision requirements include: clear concise, close/distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.