Lead Structures Aircraft Mechanic

Position Summary

The Lead Structures Technician is a hands-on working lead responsible for safely executing and coordinating aircraft structural repair, modification, fabrication, and approved composite repair activities. The role converts the production plan into clear daily assignments, leads the prework communication meeting, removes barriers, provides technical direction, and verifies that work is completed to approved data, quality requirements, and schedule commitments. The Lead remains productive on the aircraft while maintaining visibility of team progress, documentation, inspections, material needs, and emerging risk.

What Success Looks Like

Safe, compliant execution- Work is performed to approved technical data with hazards, deviations, and quality concerns addressed befor3e they become escapes.

Technical leadership- Complex repairs are understood, sequenced correctly, and elevated early when engineering or Quality support is required.

Plan ownership- Technicians begin the shift with clear priorities, resources, inspection points, and expected handoff dates.

Production Control- Progress, blockers, labor needs, parts, and documentation status are visible and communicated throughout the shift.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the assigned Structures work area and serve as the primary point of coordination between technicians, the Supervisor, Planning, Quality, Engineering, Materials, and supporting departments.
• Review the work package and production priorities before shift start; build a realistic daily plan that identifies assignments, technical data, tooling, materials, inspection points, dependencies, and expected completion targets.
• Conduct a concise prework communication meeting at shift start covering safety, the day's plan, critical-path work, resource constraints, quality considerations, and technician feedback.
• Assign work based on skill, authorization, workload, and aircraft priorities; continuously rebalance the plan when conditions change.
• Perform productive hands-on structures while providing technical direction, coaching, and real-time troubleshooting to the team.
• Perform and oversee structural repairs, modifications, installations, sheet-metal fabrication, precision drilling/reaming, fastening, and approved composite repair activities using current approved data.
• Interpret and apply SRMs, AMMs, engineering orders, drawings, blueprints, specifications, work instructions, and customer requirements.
• Confirm required tooling, materials, hardware, consumables, access, and support are available before work begins; escalate shortages early and support accurate parts ordering.
• Coordinate required in-process and final inspections with Quality and ensure work is not advanced beyond inspection hold points.
• Monitor workmanship, tolerance control, FOD prevention, tool control, PPE, housekeeping, and adherence to safety and environmental requirements.
• Ensure discrepancies, non-routines, labor charging, turnover notes, and maintenance records are accurate, complete, and updated during the shift.
• Provide clear shift turnover and status reporting, including completed work, work in progress, blockers, engineering requests, parts status, inspection needs, and next-shift priorities.
• Mentor technicians through demonstrations, task planning, feedback, and on-the-job development; reinforce accountability and respectful teamwork.
• Identify production, safety, quality, staffing, or schedule risk early and escalate with a recommended recovery plan.
• Support Lean, P3E, standardized work, root-cause problem solving, and continuous-improvement activities.
• Perform other duties consistent with the position and business needs.

Leadership Expectations

• Lead by example: follow the same safety, quality, attendance, documentation, and conduct standards expected of the team.
• Own the plan: arrive prepared, communicate priorities clearly, and maintain awareness of each active task without micromanaging.
• Create speak-up conditions: technicians are expected to raise safety concerns, plan conflicts, missing resources, technical unknowns, or better methods.
• · Make decisions within approved authority and stop work when safety, technical data, quality, or airworthiness requirements are unclear.
• · Recognize strong performance, address performance or conduct concerns promptly, and elevate matters requiring formal supervisory action.
• · Protect schedule without compromising approved data, inspection requirements, or workmanship.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least 8 years of aircraft structures experience in maintenance, repair, overhaul, or modification; equivalent depth of demonstrated experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated proficiency in structural sheet-metal repair, fabrication, modification, precision drilling, fastening systems, and interpretation of approved technical data.
• Prior experience as a lead, crew chief, senior technician, or recognized technical focal preferred.
• FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate preferred; an applicable FAA Repairman Certificate may be considered where permitted.
• Ability to communicate clearly, coach others, prioritize multiple work fronts, and make sound decisions within established procedures.
• Ability to use electronic maintenance, work-package, labor-charging, and technical-publication systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Commercial transport aircraft experience, particularly heavy-check or structural modification work.
• Experience with structural bonding, approved composite repair, jig or fixture work, precision layout, and Lockbolt/Huck installation.
• Working knowledge of production planning, Lean methods, visual management, and structured problem solving.
• Experience coordinating engineering dispositions, parts fabrication, tooling, and Quality inspection requirements.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Work safely while complying with FAA, OSHA, EPA, company, customer, state, and federal requirements.
• Wear required PPE, including a respirator when medically qualified and required by the task or OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.
• Work in confined spaces, at heights, on elevated platforms, and in varying hangar or ramp conditions.
• Lift, push, pull, position, and maneuver tools, equipment, materials, and aircraft components as required by the job.
• Work flexible schedules, alternate shifts, weekends, and overtime based on business needs.
• Meet applicable drug and alcohol testing, badge access, customer security, and safety-training requirements.

General Commitment

All employees are expected to demonstrate Embraer values, protect confidential and proprietary information, support a respectful and accountable workplace, meet attendance and schedule expectations, and maintain the highest standards of safety, integrity, quality, and customer service.

Embraer is and Equal Opportunity Employer