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Aircraft Section Chief Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CREW CHIEF, AVIATION PAINTER

Pensacola, FL · On-site

$21 - $26.75/hr

Requires easy mobility around various sections of aircraft and the dexterity to operate spray equipment efficiently and in a timely manner. Requires the ability to wear a respirator without ...

CREW CHIEF, AVIATION PAINTER

Pensacola, FL

$21 - $26.75/hr

Requires easy mobility around various sections of aircraft and the dexterity to operate spray equipment efficiently and in a timely manner. Requires the ability to wear a respirator without ...

As qualified may perform Chief or Lead pilot duties as designated by the Site Supervision. * Must ... Plan and conduct aircraft technical inspections. * Inspect power plant hot section, cold section ...

Senior MAP Flightline Engineer

Mobile, AL

$103K - $142K/yr

Represent and act in the name of the Chief Engineering and the design offices of AIRBUS (by ... the sections, FAL and flightline activities, up to the aircraft ferry flight in all structure ...

Representing and acting on behalf of the Chief Engineering and the design offices of AIRBUS (by ... the sections, FAL and flight Line activities, up to the aircraft ferry flight in all structure ...

... aircraft, engine, and component leasing. This role blends hands-on execution with strategic ... Work with CFO and FP&A team to manage working capital from a treasury perspective in a parts ...

... aircraft, engine, and component leasing. This role blends hands-on execution with strategic ... Work with CFO and FP&A team to manage working capital from a treasury perspective in a parts ...

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Showing results 1-20

Aircraft Section Chief information

See salary details

$33K

$124.4K

$200.5K

How much do aircraft section chief jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for aircraft section chief in the United States is $124,409.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,000.00 and $146,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What do section chiefs do?

An Aircraft Section Chief oversees the maintenance, repair, and inspection of aircraft within their designated area, ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations. They coordinate work schedules, supervise technicians, and manage resources to maintain aircraft readiness and safety. Strong leadership, technical knowledge, and certification are essential for this role.

What is the highest paying job in aviation?

In aviation, the highest paying roles often include airline captains, especially those flying large commercial jets, and senior executive positions such as airline CEOs. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership skills, and can offer salaries exceeding several hundred thousand dollars annually.

What is the difference between Aircraft Section Chief vs Aircraft Maintenance Technician?

AspectAircraft Section ChiefAircraft Maintenance Technician
CertificationsFAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) license, leadership trainingFAA A&P license, specialized technical certifications
Work EnvironmentSupervisory role overseeing maintenance teams, coordination with engineersHands-on repair and inspection of aircraft components
Industry UsageUsed in military and commercial aviation for leadership rolesCommonly employed in maintenance hangars and repair stations

The Aircraft Section Chief typically holds supervisory responsibilities, overseeing maintenance teams and ensuring compliance, while the Aircraft Maintenance Technician focuses on performing technical repairs and inspections. Both roles require FAA A&P certification, but the Section Chief also needs leadership skills and experience managing teams. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations within the aviation maintenance industry.

What is the highest salary for aviation management?

The highest salaries for aircraft section chiefs or senior aviation management roles can exceed $150,000 annually, especially in large organizations or with extensive experience and certifications. Salaries vary based on factors such as location, size of the organization, and level of responsibility, with top earners often holding advanced degrees and specialized skills in aviation safety, maintenance, or operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Aircraft Section Chief, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Aircraft Section Chief, you need advanced knowledge of aircraft maintenance, leadership experience, and relevant certifications such as Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) or military equivalents. Familiarity with maintenance management systems, technical manuals, and diagnostic tools is also important. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills set outstanding section chiefs apart. These skills ensure safe, efficient operations and effective team management in high-stakes aviation environments.

What are some common challenges faced by an Aircraft Section Chief, and how can they be addressed?

Aircraft Section Chiefs often navigate the challenge of balancing team management with technical oversight. They must ensure their section maintains aircraft readiness while adhering to strict safety and compliance standards. Communication and delegation are key, as Chiefs coordinate between technicians, supervisors, and other departments. Proactive planning, ongoing training, and fostering a collaborative team environment help mitigate these challenges and ensure mission success.

How much do air force crew chiefs make?

Air Force crew chiefs, who are responsible for maintaining and servicing aircraft, typically earn between $40,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, rank, and location. They often receive additional benefits such as housing allowances, healthcare, and retirement options, and must complete specialized technical training and certifications.

What are Aircraft Section Chiefs?

Aircraft Section Chiefs are experienced aviation professionals responsible for supervising and managing a team of maintenance personnel within a specific section of an aviation maintenance unit. They ensure aircraft are maintained, repaired, and inspected according to regulations and safety standards. Section Chiefs coordinate workflow, assign tasks, monitor progress, and provide technical guidance to their team. They also maintain records, oversee quality control, and ensure compliance with all safety and operational procedures. This role is critical for maintaining aircraft readiness and supporting flight operations.
More about Aircraft Section Chief jobs
Infographic showing various Aircraft Section Chief job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,409 per year, or $59.8 per hour.
Chief Engineer, Autonomous Airpower

Chief Engineer, Autonomous Airpower

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA

$254K - $336K/yr

Other

Posted 24 days ago


Anduril rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
The Air Dominance and Strike (AD&S) Chief Engineering Team is a driving force behind the technical execution and strategic vision of our most critical programs. They are responsible for architecting a vision for product development and guiding multi-disciplinary teams to deliver effectively. They are expected to own the mission and to be deeply involved in building the eco-system that enables execution.
ABOUT THE JOB
You'll own the technical development of large aircraft from white paper sketches and conceptual design through detailed design, build, flight test, transition to production, and sustainment. This includes vehicle layout and conceptual design, airframe and propulsion system design and integration, guidance section development, payload and datalink integration, fabrication and flight test. These projects will be diverse in nature and require you to leverage your technical expertise as well as leadership skills to set objectives, build a team, and drive to completion. The ability to leverage your intuition and prior experience in programmatic level decision will play a key component in making sure the right design/analysis/ and test steps are being completed to ensure success without simply completing steps for the sake of the process that don't add value. The ideal candidate will leverage their experience executing and successfully completing prior highly optimized multi-disciplinary projects.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
  • Lead technical and programmatic execution of new and existing air vehicle systems design, fabrication, test, productization and sustainment.
  • Own the technical and programmatic success of your programs, establish technical and programmatic vision assemble teams of internal and external subject matter experts, and communicate that vision to them.
  • Set up trades to enable the exploration of early conceptual designs while working closely with technical SME's and Business Development teams to find the right solution to current and future gaps in the DOD capability to ensure the warfighter has the best solution for current and future conflicts.
  • Manage the detailed design of the system and subsystems including requirements development, sub-system trades and optimization, risk management etc. to ensure the appropriate consideration of design key performance parameters, schedule, costs and risks.
  • Coordinate the fabrication of prototype and low-rate production articles and subsystem/system level test efforts.
  • Support remotely deployed operations of your systems.
  • Work with senior leadership to ensure resource plans are adequate for work scope.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Deep understanding of unmanned aircraft at and above Group 3 class
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical or Software engineering, or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
  • Experience in a senior role leading air vehicle programs from initial concept through test and delivery to customers
  • Experience driving strategic direction in competitive landscapes, solving complex system optimization challenges under tight constraints.
  • Proven ability to deliver functional capabilities while aligning technical objectives with programmatic outcomes.
  • Demonstrated collaboration and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
  • Strong understanding of the "why" behind Vehicle and Systems design.
  • Experience working on mission critical DOD systems
  • Experience troubleshooting and analyzing remotely deployed systems.
  • Travel up to 50% to Customer and Test Sites
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

US Salary Range
$254,000-$336,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
  • Please always verify communications:
    • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to
  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

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About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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