AIRCRAFT ELECTRICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION

Wiring diagrams on the bench, a half-assembled EWIS harness on the table, and a release-to-service deadline two weeks out. That is the ordinary pressure an Aircraft Electrician navigates, and when the role is done poorly, non-conformances slip through to acceptance testing, airworthiness certification stalls, and production schedules collapse. The Aircraft Electrician owns the installation, inspection, and operational validation of avionics assemblies and electrical systems within commercial and production aviation environments governed by standards such as Part 21G and IPC J-STD-001. This is a hands-on, bench-and-aircraft role where technical precision and documentation discipline carry equal weight.

As the Aircraft Electrician, you install, test, and certify electrical and avionics systems on production aircraft, from initial assembly through final operational acceptance, ensuring every system meets written airworthiness standards before release. You work within a cross-functional production team spanning manufacturing engineering, quality, and flight test, where your sign-off on wiring integrity and system performance directly determines the aircraft's path to certification.

Career Impact: Hands-on experience with eVTOL platforms and IPC J-STD-001 certified soldering places Aircraft Electricians at the technical frontier of next-generation aircraft production, a credential increasingly sought by commercial OEMs and MRO operators.

Business Impact: Every avionics system that clears operational acceptance testing on schedule keeps production delivery commitments intact and prevents costly rework that erodes program margin.

Growth Opportunity: Electricians who build depth in EWIS assembly and Part 21G compliance typically advance into avionics systems lead or manufacturing engineering technician roles as program scope expands.

• Install and verify EWIS harness assemblies, cable runs, and junction boxes on production aircraft to airworthiness specifications.
• Remove and replace avionics LRUs, including radio receivers, transmitters, and transceivers, ensuring modifications meet applicable technical data.
• Perform operational acceptance tests on completed avionics and automatic flight control systems to confirm each system meets release standards before handover.
• Troubleshoot electrical faults in integrated systems during initial installation and reinstallation, isolating root causes using wiring diagrams and schematics.
• Calibrate and align antenna arrays, including setting directional antennae to compass heading, to achieve specified signal sensitivity.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, log entries, and non-conformance documentation in compliance with production control requirements.
• Coordinate with manufacturing engineering and quality teams to resolve discrepancies and implement modification instructions within scheduled milestones.

• Bachelor's degree in aviation technology, electrical engineering technology, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of aircraft electrical or avionics maintenance experience, with demonstrated hands-on work on production or MRO aircraft.
• Soldering certification to IPC J-STD-001 and familiarity with ANSI/ESD S20.20 electrostatic discharge standards.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply wiring diagrams, schematics, and manufacturer technical publications to maintenance and repair tasks.
• Proven competency in using precision test and measuring instruments to evaluate electrical circuit performance.
• Working knowledge of electrical and electronic principles as applied to avionics systems, flight controls, and power distribution.
• Physical capability to meet the demands of daily aircraft maintenance tasks, including working in confined spaces and at height.

• Experience within a Part 21 G-approved design or production organisation, or equivalent regulatory framework.
• Familiarity with eVTOL or hybrid-electric aircraft electrical architectures, including high-voltage system awareness.
• Prior involvement in FOD control programs and configuration management practices within a production or certification environment.
• Journeyman-level background with documented experience in cable harness assembly, power distribution systems, or automatic flight control system installation.

• Non-conformance closure rate, measuring how quickly identified wiring or assembly faults are resolved before next-stage inspection.
• First-pass acceptance test rate, reflecting the proportion of avionics systems that clear operational testing without rework.
• Documentation accuracy score, tracking the completeness and error rate of maintenance log entries and modification records.
• Schedule adherence on assigned installation milestones, measured in days' variance against the production release plan.
• Antenna alignment deviation, measured against compass-rose specification tolerance on completed installations.
• Typical tools: wiring diagram software (commonly Adobe Acrobat or OEM viewers); soldering and inspection stations (commonly IPC J-STD-001 certified bench equipment)

• Base Salary Range: $58,000 to $82,000 per year, depending on experience and certification level
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus of 3 to 7 percent of base salary, where offered
• Equity: Equity is uncommon at this level; stock purchase plans are available at larger OEMs
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution standard
• PTO: 10 to 15 days annually, plus federal holidays; accrual-based plans are common
• Common Perks: Tool allowance, on-site training programs, shift differential pay for night production schedules

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required for all positions using this template. Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background check, which may include verification of prior employment and education records. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the hiring process and employment, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

The Aircraft Electrician owns the build and delivery of modern EWIS and avionics assemblies within a cross-functional team spanning flight test, manufacturing engineering, and quality. Working alongside multi-skilled aircraft technicians, the role shapes safe ground testing outcomes and robust FOD and configuration management practices that keep the program on track toward service release.

Key Responsibilities

• Work alongside a diverse team of multi-skilled aircraft technicians.
• Build modern EWIS and avionics assemblies.
• Deliver safe ground testing procedures.
• Work in accordance with aircraft processes until service release.
• Resolve issues and manage non-conformances.
• Develop and maintain robust configuration and document management practices.
• Develop and govern world-class tool control and FOD control processes.
• Work cross-functionally with related departments, including flight test, manufacturing engineering, and quality.

Required Qualifications

• An educational background as an aircraft electrician or within the electromobility industry is required.
• Formal vocational electrical qualifications in aviation are required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with fixed-wing or rotary aircraft.
• Proven experience working within a Part 21G organisation is preferred.
• Experience working with eVTOL or electrical aircraft is highly desirable.
• Comfortable working in dynamic, fast-moving, and transformative environments.
• Demonstrably high learning agility, particularly results agility.
• Strong communication skills appropriate to an international working environment.
• Fluent English language skills are essential.

Embedded within the 2nd MXG and 307th MXG at Barksdale AFB, the Aircraft Electrician delivers organizational, intermediate, and depot-level maintenance on B-52 aircraft across avionics, flight controls, hydraulics, and structural systems. Working closely with lower-level technicians and drawing on technical publications and schematics, this position builds mission-ready aircraft capability in direct support of U.S. Air Force operations.

Core Functions

• Remove, install, align, and check integrated avionics systems.
• Remove and install LRUs, operationally check externally mounted avionics equipment, and perform modifications.
• Make entries in aircraft logs and records.
• Provide guidance and technical expertise to lower-level technicians throughout all aircraft modifications and maintenance efforts.
• Maintain, repair, and modify aircraft structures, structural components, and engines of complex to extreme difficulty.
• Maintain and repair aircraft components, including flight controls, engines, hydraulics, pneumatics, fuel systems, and mechanical components.
• Apply technical knowledge of airframe and power plant systems to determine equipment malfunctions and restore equipment condition and operation.
• Apply professional technical knowledge and guidance to solve complex problems by interpreting technical data such as blueprints or manufacturer manuals.

Qualifications & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent with successful completion of related military or commercial courses.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience, with at least 2 years of recent experience in B-52 aircraft maintenance support, including 2 years as an aircraft electrician.
• Coursework in basic electronics, mathematics, general science, physics, and mechanics is desirable.
• Knowledge of electrical, electronic, microelectronic, mechanical, and indicator principles, theory, and application relating to electrical systems and maintenance directives is required.
• A thorough understanding of symbols used in wiring diagrams, blueprints, and schematics is required.
• Skilled in identifying and isolating integrated systems malfunctions, analyzing performance, and operating integrated avionics systems to determine operational condition.
• Skilled in removing and replacing aircraft parts, accessories, and components, with the ability to make adjustments and settings according to established specifications.
• Ability to use and interpret testing and measuring devices.
• Experience with aircraft modifications is a plus.

Reporting to the MAI SQ of the New Jersey National Guard, the Aircraft Electrician leads organizational and intermediate-level maintenance by analyzing malfunctions, troubleshooting, and certifying aircraft electrical, environmental, and associated test equipment systems. Partnering with flight operations and maintenance teams, this Title 32 Excepted Service position strengthens mission readiness through precise wiring procedures, calibration, and documented maintenance compliance.

Primary Duties

• Analyze malfunctions using schematics, logic, and wiring diagrams, computer data, and factory drawings.
• Remove and replace components or assemblies down to the lowest level authorized by depot.
• Perform organizational and intermediate-level maintenance modifications as required.
• Modify and update electrical and environmental support equipment according to applicable technical publications.
• Perform precise and advanced wiring maintenance procedures on aircraft.
• Locate and tie in electrical systems with aircraft armament, electronics, and instrument systems.
• Adjust and calibrate the components of the various electrical systems.
• Document maintenance actions and man-hour expenditures on maintenance forms and computer systems.

Skills & Qualifications

• Specialized experience in installing, maintaining, repairing, and modifying electrical systems and major substation components is required.
• Specialized experience in diagnosing malfunctions and determining remedies where complex relationships exist among different electrical system circuits is required.
• Specialized experience in making electrical repairs using precision measuring equipment and common hand tools is required.
• Specialized experience in setting up and operating computerized multiple circuits is required.
• Specialized experience in testing and analyzing aircraft electrical circuitry and interconnecting cabling of systems such as navigational computers, radar, and related equipment is required.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, wiring diagrams, and schematics.

Sitting at the intersection of electrical systems expertise and aeronautical standards compliance, the Aircraft Electrician shapes the inspection, commissioning, repair, and packaging of aviation devices and electronic components across the full maintenance lifecycle. Operating across assembly, evaluation, and documentation tasks, this role delivers airworthy systems by upholding aviation guidelines and specifications in every work activity.

Duties

• Set up, assemble, and package electrical and electronic components.
• Inspect, commission, and repair devices and aviation systems.
• Disassemble and reassemble aircraft equipment parts and components.
• Implement evaluations and adjustment tasks with related documentation.
• Comply with guidelines, standards, and aviation specifications.

Requirements

• Completed professional training as an aircraft electrician or electronics technician for aeronautical systems is required.
• Extensive experience in the maintenance of aircraft.
• Strong knowledge of electronics.
• Fluent German and good English language skills are required.
• Strong attention to detail.

A key member of the aircraft production team, the Aircraft Electrician I builds complete avionics systems, including FM, AM, VHF, HF, and UHF radio assemblies, SCAS, and automatic flight control systems from installation through final operational acceptance. Collaborating across maintenance, testing, and inspection functions, this position delivers airworthy, inspection-ready aircraft by resolving discrepancies and ensuring all systems meet written standards and technical specifications.

Functions

• Repair and install aircraft electronic radio and radar equipment, including FM, AM, VHF, HF, and UHF radio receivers, transmitters, transceivers, and related avionics components.
• Remove avionics equipment from aircraft and replace it with new or modified models, and assist in operational testing of all systems and components.
• Assist in assembling and installing complete avionics systems, accessories, SCAS, and automatic flight control systems.
• Remount and install equipment, and modify systems layouts, mountings, and tie-ins.
• Assist in troubleshooting entire systems during initial testing and reinstallation, particularly cable harness assemblies, junction and control boxes, power distribution systems, and conversion accessories.
• Assist in realigning antennae to achieve maximum sensitivity to signal strength and direction, and set directional antennae to compass heading on the compass rose.
• Assist in overall operational tests of all equipment and systems after installation, resolve last-minute discrepancies, and adjust controls and connections to permit inspection and acceptance.
• Work in accordance with written standards, technical data, and specifications.

Experience & Qualifications

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Soldering Certification to IPC J-STD-001 and ANSI/ESD S20.20 standards is required.
• A minimum of 3 years of prior experience at a journeyman level is required.
• Applies a working knowledge of electronic and electrical principles to maintenance and repair tasks using common test instrument readings and alignment.
• Skilled in the use of various types of common test equipment.
• Ability to read and apply reference materials such as wiring diagrams, blueprints, and maintenance and repair procedures.
• Ability to prepare forms and records related to aircraft maintenance.
• Proficiency in spoken, written, and reading English is required.
• Must meet physical requirements associated with daily assigned tasks.