Ampaire Inc. Manager, Aircraft Operations Camarillo, CA · Full time Company website

Ampaire is seeking a Manager, Aircraft Operations. This role will own maintenance and flight test of our aircraft as well our prototyping hangar facilities. Key qualifications include leadership experience with aircraft safety, maintenance, and flight test environments. The role is based at our Camarillo flight test center reporting to the CTO and involves occasional travel to Long Beach HQ and for remote flight campaigns. Director title for candidates with more experience and qualifications.

About Ampaire Inc.

Ampaire is revolutionizing air travel with hybrid-electric propulsion, pioneering the fastest, most practical path to sustainable aviation. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in sunny California at the Long Beach Airport, Ampaire has led the industry in real-world hybrid-electric flight innovation, achieving historic milestones since the first flight of its Electric EEL testbed in 2019. Our adaptable technology seamlessly repowers existing aircraft, slashing fuel consumption by 50-70% and enabling airlines to reduce costs and emissions without waiting around for new infrastructure or fuels. When futuristic airplanes arrive, we expect them to use our power systems too, and are already working on that behind the scenes. With flights spanning 30,000 miles across Hawaii, Scotland, Canada, Alaska, and beyond, Ampaire has proven hybrid-electric aircraft are ready now—not decades from today. In 2022, we introduced the world’s largest hybrid-electric aircraft, the Eco Caravan, which is now advancing through certification and commercialization. Backed by industry-leading partners, a $5B+ sales pipeline, and a bold vision for aviation’s future, Ampaire offers a career where your work will reshape an industry and leave a lasting impact on the world. This is an inflection point for Ampaire and a once-in-a-century moment for the industry. Are you ready to help redefine flight? Let's fly!

Description

Role and Required Responsibilities:

  • Manage operations and related facilities for our experimental hybrid electric aircraft fleet
  • Periodic and incidental aircraft maintenance
  • Aircraft inspections
  • Flight test planning and execution
  • Manage and support hiring of related staff and contractors
  • Aircraft technicians
  • Test Pilots
  • Flight test engineers
  • Manage retention, upkeep, and renewal of aircraft documentation (manuals, logs, airworthiness)
  • Manage organization, stocking, shipping, safety, and access to hangars and aircraft
  • Manage staff training for tasks in the hangars and aircraft
  • Participate in Test and Flight Readiness Reviews
  • Support experimental modifications in collaboration with engineering staff and contractors
  • Support ground testing with engineering team and test pilots
  • Support flight testing with engineering team and test pilots
  • Current fleet includes two hybrid Skymaster 337s and one hybrid Caravan 208B
  • Travel to Long Beach Airport a few times per month
  • Occasional travel to remote test locations to support missions with the experimental aircraft 
  • Reports to CTO

Desired Additional Responsibilities

  • Lead flight test planning, data analysis, and test execution in collaboration with project Chief Engineer and engineering staff
  • Manage experimental modifications in collaboration with A&P, engineering staff and contractors
  • Manage ground testing with engineering team and test pilots
  • Manage flight testing with engineering team and test pilots
  • Required Qualifications:
  • 8+ years of increasing responsibilities in maintaining and operating relevant experimental aircraft
  • Experience with maintaining and operating hangar facilities
  • Experience managing test pilots and mechanics/technicians

Desired Qualifications:

  • Experience with DARs for maintenance of airworthiness certificates
  • Relevant test pilot experience
  • Airframe and Powerplant A&P mechanic training certification
  • Inspection Authorization (IA) mechanic rating
  • Experience with electrified aircraft
  • Hands-on experience with operating high voltage (800V+) and high power (50 kW+) systems and safety practices
  • Experience with electrical prototyping and test


Salary

$175,000 - $260,000 per year