Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

An advanced aerospace and defence technology organisation based in Adelaide is expanding its maintenance capability and is looking for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer to support the inspection, maintenance, and deployment of experimental fixed wing aircraft operating in demanding field environments. This is a hands on, operational role that sits at the intersection of aircraft maintenance, rapid development, and real world deployment rather than a traditional line maintenance position within a mature airline or MRO.

You will work as part of a small, highly capable maintenance and engineering team responsible for keeping experimental and developmental aircraft serviceable across both factory and field operations. The role combines base maintenance with flight line and deployed support, contributing directly to the establishment of maintenance programs, procedures, and compliance frameworks as the organisation transitions toward a Part 145 aligned maintenance standard.

This position suits an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer who enjoys autonomy, responsibility, and variety, and who is motivated by working on non-standard aircraft in a fast moving environment where systems, processes, and maintenance packages are still being built. You will collaborate closely with engineers, maintenance leadership, and operations staff, with the opportunity to influence how aircraft are maintained, deployed, and evolved over time.

The role is based in Adelaide, with regular field deployments that may involve remote, hot, or dusty environments. Support for further certification and licence progression is available. This role is best suited to an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer who wants real ownership of aircraft maintenance, is comfortable working across factory and field environments, and values hands on responsibility over tightly constrained, repetitive maintenance work.

This role is open to Adelaide based candidates or those willing to relocate to Adelaide and requires Australian Citizenship. Relocation allowance is available.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on experimental fixed wing aircraft across airframe, flight controls, powerplant, and mechanical systems

• Conduct base maintenance, flight line maintenance, and deployed maintenance during operational exercises and trials

• Diagnose defects, carry out rectification and modifications, and perform functional testing in collaboration with engineering teams

• Contribute to the development of maintenance packages, inspection schedules, and internal procedures

• Accurately document maintenance activities, inspections, and defects in line with regulatory and internal requirements

• Act as a technical authority during field operations, coordinating maintenance and ground activities when deployed

• Work closely with engineers and maintenance management in an environment with evolving systems and limited legacy processes

• Promote strong safety, quality, and human factors practices in both factory and field settings

Requirements

• Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical) or equivalent civil or military qualification

• Hands on experience maintaining fixed wing aircraft, ideally in experimental, developmental, or military adjacent environments

• Solid understanding of aircraft mechanical systems and maintenance practices

• Comfortable working in environments with evolving processes rather than established airline style systems

• Willingness to undertake field deployments and operate in physically demanding conditions

• Strong documentation discipline and safety mindset

Desirable but Not Essential

• Exposure to Part 145 organisations or Part 21 experimental environments

• Background in defence or military aviation (Navy, Air Force, Army aviation, or defence primes)

• General aviation experience, including piston aircraft such as Cessna platforms

• Experience with rotary aircraft or mixed fleets

• CASA licence or willingness to work toward licence progression with employer support

• Experience supporting prototype aircraft, flight test programs, or rapid development cycles

Please reach out to ••••@profoundpeople.com.au for more info