Engineering Operations Administrator

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero); San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness plans

PTO 120 hours

Life Insurance

Supplemental Coverage

HSA

401(k) with company match

Paid Holidays

Casual work environment

Excellent location

Job summary

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) in San Luis Obispo, CA is seeking an Engineering Operations Administrator to enhance the efficiency of the Engineering department and manage executive reporting. The role focuses on operational cadences, tool optimization, and compliance across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Finance, and HR.

You will track department metrics, support capacity planning, and collaborate with leadership to implement process improvements in a fully on-site environment.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree or minimum 3+ years of experience in engineering administration, operations management, or executive support within a technical environment.
• Experience supporting technical/engineering teams or senior technical leadership required.
• Candidates should demonstrate strong organizational and data-tracking capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level operational and administrative support to engineering leadership.
• Develop and optimize administrative tools, intake frameworks, and tracking systems.
• Assist in tracking headcount, resource availability, and capacity planning.
• Drive alignment with cross-functional partners to resolve bottlenecks.

Skills

Workflow tools

Executive support

Data dashboards

Cross-functional liaison

MS Teams

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

Jira/Confluence

SharePoint

MS Teams

Excel

MS Office

Job description

Job Summary:
The Engineering Operations Administrator provides strategic administrative, operational, and organizational support directly to the Director of Engineering and the broader engineering leadership team. Rather than managing individual product projects, this role focuses on the overall efficiency, operational cadences, and administrative health of the Engineering department.
Exercising high independent judgment, the Engineering Operations Administrator acts as a primary operational liaison across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Finance, and Executive Leadership. This position manages departmental workflows, tracks department-level action items, optimizes engineering tools/processes, oversees administrative compliance, and assists with resource and capacity planning for the engineering organization.
Responsibilities and Duties:

• Provide high-level operational and administrative support to the Director of Engineering, managing executive reporting, department-wide communication, meeting cadences, and tracking high-priority leadership action items
• Develop, maintain, and optimize departmental administrative tools, intake frameworks, and tracking systems to ensure consistent operational performance across all engineering teams
• Assist in tracking overall engineering headcount, resource availability, and capacity planning to ensure engineering groups are effectively supported
• Drive alignment between Engineering and cross-functional partners (Operations, Quality, Finance, Supply Chain, and HR), ensuring smooth communication and timely resolution of operational bottlenecks
• Collect and analyze departmental metrics (e.g., engineering throughput, resource utilization, compliance tracking), turning data into actionable insights and executive presentations for leadership decisions
• Support departmental compliance initiatives (e.g., documentation retention, audit readiness, engineering standards adoption) in alignment with industry certifications and internal quality management systems
• Assist engineering leadership with departmental budget tracking, software license oversight, engineering tool procurement, and travel/expense administrative reviews
• Proactively identify operational risks, resource bottlenecks, or administrative constraints across the engineering department, recommending and implementing process improvements

Required Qualifications, Requirements, and Skills:

• Education & Experience:
  • BA/BS degree or minimum 3+ years of experience in engineering administration, operations management, or executive support within a technical environment
  • Experience supporting technical/engineering teams or senior technical leadership required
• Skills & Competencies:
  • Demonstrated proficiency in administrative workflow optimization and data tracking tools (e.g., MS Office Suite, SharePoint, Jira/Confluence, MS Teams, Excel)
  • Exceptional organizational, critical-thinking, and time-management skills with high attention to detail
  • Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to compile departmental data into executive summaries and visual dashboards
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to interact effectively with executives, engineers, suppliers, and external partners
  • Ability to exercise independent judgment, maintain confidentiality, and execute processes with minimal supervision
• Preferred Background:
  • Aerospace or manufacturing industry experience preferred
  • Basic familiarity with engineering change processes and ISO9001/AS9100 quality standards is a plus

Comprehensive Benefits & Perks:

• Health & Wellness: Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans - including a 100% employer-paid option covering both employees and their families.
• Paid Time Off: Enjoy 120 hours of PTO, 80 hours accrued plus an additional 40 hours of holiday break pay in addition to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day off.
• Life Insurance: $25,000 employer-paid life insurance policy, with the option to purchase additional coverage for employees and their families.
• Supplemental Coverage: Access optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness with Skin Cancer coverage.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Take advantage of a tax-advantaged HSA to manage medical expenses.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) with a company match to support your financial future.
• Paid Holidays: Enjoy 9 paid holidays throughout the year.
• Work Environment: A casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming company culture.
• Ideal Location: Work in an area that offers an outstanding quality of life - a perfect place to live, work, and play!

Company Overview:
Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) is a leader in aerospace engineering, product development, and manufacturing, dedicated to delivering high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to the industry. We specialize in cutting-edge system design, rapid product development, precision manufacturing, comprehensive testing, and technology demonstrations to support the evolving needs of the aerospace community. Committed to excellence, on-time delivery, and continuous growth, we invest in infrastructure to expand our manufacturing and aftermarket capabilities while maintaining the highest standards of engineering services.
At ESAero, we don’t just build products, we engineer solutions that propel
the aerospace industry forward.
**This position is fully on-site at ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA**
ESAero is an equal opportunity employer.
E-Verify participation required for employment.
Must present proof of authorization to work in the United States.
Must be able to pass background check and drug test
Pay Range: $70,400-90k Salary Exempt