Aircraft Maintenance Assistant

Are you passionate about preserving the extensive history of aviation and space exploration? As the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world, we house over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, tens of thousands of artifacts, dozens of exhibits and experiences, a world-class library, and a dedicated aviation restoration facility. This full-time position is ideal for someone with a background in automotive, aircraft or mechanical maintenance experience and your role will be essential in maintaining our Museum’s aircraft and spacecraft. If you are ready to contribute to our mission and committed to ensuring the care of our museum collections, then come and let your career take off at The Museum of Flight!

Summary

The Aircraft Maintenance Assistant supports the mission of The Museum of Flight by caring for, cleaning, and maintaining our aircraft and spacecraft artifacts. Care for these artifacts include dusting, light cleaning and performing basic maintenance tasks to ensure Museum exhibitory standards. This role works closely with their supervisor to schedule and perform the caring and corrosion control of the Museum’s aircraft collection. Reporting issues and making repairs as assigned are also requirements for this position. On occasion, this role supports and assists aircraft movement, disassembly, and reassembly.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Following is a summary of the essential functions for this job. Other duties may be performed both major and minor, which are not mentioned below. Specific activities may change from time to time. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

1. Dust and clean exterior of aircraft and spacecraft within Museum galleries including dusting elevated craft via mechanical lifts.
2. Create and maintain aircraft and spacecraft cleaning schedule to ensure Museum galleries meet cleanliness standards.
3. Perform and log corrosion control activities for aircraft and spacecraft as prescribed by Museum collection procedures.
4. As assigned, perform basic maintenance on aircraft such as proper tire service, aircraft strut service, solving oil leaks, and other minor repairs including assisting with disassembly and reassembly of aircraft and related structures.
5. Monitor inventory of cleaning products and supplies; keeping areas and contents stocked and organized; maintain and adhere to Safety Data Sheets, OSHA, WISHA, and Museum safety regulations.
6. Assist in cleaning, washing, and waxing of outdoor aircraft located on Seattle campus and the Restoration and Reserve Collection site in Everett.
7. Assist with the movement of aircraft on site at the Museum. May include marshaling, and the use of tugs to move and position aircraft.
8. Occasionally guide department volunteers and vendors.
9. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Associate Degree or other certification in a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years automotive, aircraft, or similar mechanical maintenance experience.
• Automotive and/or aircraft detail experience is highly preferred
• Experience working with museum exhibitory, public attractions, or similar cleaning/maintenance experience is preferred.
• Experience operating platform, scissor, or other mechanical lifts, a plus.

Knowledge

• Demonstrated basic knowledge of aircraft and their structures. 
• Demonstrated knowledge in the use and application of appropriate handling, storage, and disposal of solvents, abrasives, and cleaning materials.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Basic understanding of museum best practices regarding artifact handling, a plus.

Skills

• Good prioritization and organizational skills.
• Intermediate mechanical skills.

Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize work activities and use time efficiently. 
• Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative team environment with a variety of individuals and departments.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing. 

License & Certification

• Able to fulfill in-house certification in the operation of lift equipment that includes boom and scissor lifts.
• A current driver’s license is highly preferred.
• FAA Airframe & Powerplant license, ASE Mechanics certification, or similar, a plus.
• Ability to complete training and testing to obtain a King County International Airport Movement Badge, is  preferred.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The schedule for this position will be determined by the Supervisor.
• May require working additional hours including evenings and weekends based on Museum need.
• Occasional local travel may be expected for this position. 

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Moderate to heavy lifting up to 50 pounds or more with assistance. 
• The ability to bend, carry, reach to the side, front and overhead, push, pull, focus, walk, stand, twist and squat are often requirements for this position.
• Onsite attendance is essential to perform the duties of this position.
• Good balance and able to work on cat walks, in high elevation, confined spaces, and on lift platforms. 
• This position works around low voltage electricity and mechanical equipment. 
• Exposure to objects and chemicals that require strict adherence to safety guidelines. 
• Must be able to be physically active for the duration of a shift.
• This position will be required to work inside and outside near an active airport and may work during periods of inclement weather.

Benefits

The Museum of Flight offers full-time employees generous and comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, a 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% match after 1 year of service, Employee Assistance Program, as well as company paid life insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and long-term disability.

Paid-Time Off

Our paid time-off plans include 2 weeks of accrued sick leave and 2 weeks of vacation (80 hours each) per year, 10 paid holidays, and 2 floating holidays. 

Compensation

The hourly range for this position is $22.00 to $30.00 depending on experience. 

Should you receive an offer, please expect that it can fall anywhere within this range. A multitude of factors will determine a fair salary based on the following: scope of role within the organization, years of relevant experience, specific skills, and evaluation of capability to execute in role successfully (among other critical factors).

Important Information

The Museum of Flight is committed to reflecting the diverse community around us. We continue to listen, learn, and implement change so that we can become a more inclusive organization that addresses bias and inequity, and better serves our communities. We highly encourage persons of color, members of marginalized communities, women, non-binary, and LGBTQIA+ individuals to apply.

Prior to hire and once an initial offer of employment has been made, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

The Museum of Flight is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression.

This organization participates in E-Verify.