Job SummaryThe Avionics Supervisor is responsible for supervising, planning, and coordinating the daily operations of avionics manufacturing and field support, including maintenance, modification, troubleshooting, overhaul, and repair of electronic and mechanical devices used for air vehicles, ground control stations, ground data terminals, and ground support equipment. This role ensures work is performed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with FAA, company, customer, and technical requirements. The supervisor provides technical and operational leadership, supports off-site and flight operations, and serves as a key liaison with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and customer representatives.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:Leadership & Operations Management
- Supervises day-to-day activities of avionics personnel, including planning, scheduling, training, supervision, and work assignments.
- Coordinates and monitors avionics operations to achieve business, safety, quality, schedule, and cost objectives and to support delivery and flight commitments.
- Plans and coordinates maintenance, modification, troubleshooting, overhaul, and repair activities for air vehicles, ground control stations, ground data terminals, and ground support equipment.
- Ensures all work is accomplished in a safe manner and in accordance with established operating procedures, technical orders, and regulatory requirements.
- May make decisions that impact departmental priorities, resource allocation, and operational performance.
- Maintains the strict confidentiality of sensitive information and ensures all applicable laws, regulations, and obligations are observed wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the company.
Technical Oversight & System Support
- Provides technical and operational support for the installation, configuration, application, and maintenance of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) electronic equipment and associated ground systems.
- Conducts technical analysis and evaluation of product implementation to ensure customer specifications and end-user requirements are met.
- Coordinates and participates in activities with engineering, manufacturing, integration, pilots, maintenance, mechanics, and quality to ensure proper hardware and software configurations and to meet production and flight test schedules.
- Performs and oversees advanced troubleshooting and repair of ground and airborne electronic equipment, using product knowledge, engineering instructions, schematics, blueprints, and technical documentation to determine solutions to complex problems.
- Repairs or replaces components based on test results and system diagnostics; fabricates, installs, troubleshoots, and repairs wire harnesses and assemblies, ensuring proper routing and clamping.
- Performs installation, configuration, and testing of computer hardware, software, and networked systems; diagnoses and corrects malfunctions as required.
- Conducts inspections and preventative maintenance on ground and airborne systems and maintains required records and forms in accordance with company and customer specifications.
- Validates and verifies the accuracy of technical documents and procedures and may participate in the development and improvement of department policies, procedures, and standards.
Flight Operations & FOF Responsibilities (as applicable)
- At the Flight Operations Facility (FOF), plans and oversees the testing and inspection of software and hardware changes at the system level to ensure flight safety.
- Coordinates maintenance and inspection schedules to support flight operations and test activities.
- Develops and administers appropriate procedures and standards for training and flight line operations.
- Operates UAVs, ground control stations, ground data terminals, and ground support equipment and subordinate systems at operational locations, as required.
Quality, Reliability & Continuous Improvement
- Develops and implements methods to improve product quality, reliability, and efficiency while inspecting work in progress and finished products.
- Analyzes operational and customer data to identify issues, trends, and opportunities for process and product improvements.
- Ensures FAA maintenance requirements and applicable technical orders are met and that configurations remain compliant and traceable.
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
- Analyzes customer requirements and evaluates product implementation to meet specifications and end-user applications; assesses customer needs for data interfaces and recommends coordinated product solutions.
- Represents the organization as a subject matter expert with internal and external customers, vendors, and other stakeholders.
- Provides extensive technical expertise and guidance to customers at operational locations on the installation, configuration, application, and repair of products and systems.
Training & Personnel Development
- Participates in the planning, attraction, selection, retention, and development of avionics personnel to ensure the availability of required technical talent.
- Provides guidance, direction, and on-the-job training to avionics technicians, less experienced staff, and internal/external customers in the use, troubleshooting, and maintenance of ground and airborne electronic systems.
- Develops and administers training materials, procedures, and standards to support consistent, high-quality operations and flight line activities.
Off-Site & Field Support
- Coordinates and monitors the schedule and technical efforts of avionics technicians supporting company and customer operations off-site.
- May be required to work extended hours and travel (CONUS/OCONUS) as needed to support operational commitments.
Other Duties
- Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Job Qualifications- Typically requires a Bachelors degree in a related technical field and nine or more years of progressive professional experience in manufacturing processes and procedures, planning, scheduling, and budget management. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
- Must demonstrate a strong technical understanding of avionics principles and practices.
- Must have proven project management and leadership skills, including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones.
- Must have the ability to identify issues, analyze and interpret data and develop innovative solutions to a variety of complex problems and strong analytical, verbal and written communication skills to accurately document, report, and present findings to a variety of audiences.
- May be required to represent the company on external projects, work extended hours, and travel as needed.
