Maintenance Controller Supervisor - Mountain View - LTA Research

Description

The Maintenance Control Supervisor serves as the strategic leader responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and monitoring the maintenance workload across all divisions, branches, and work centers at LTA. This role provides proactive oversight of aircraft and equipment maintenance operations and manages all material requirements for production and operational teams. As a key member of the Maintenance Department's management team, the Supervisor ensures effective prioritization, resource alignment, and strict adherence to safety and regulatory standards to achieve LTA's business objectives. The Supervisor is accountable for establishing best practices, driving performance, and serving as the primary liaison to senior leadership regarding maintenance priorities and fleet readiness.
Responsibilities

• Centralized Management & Leadership: Act as the primary point of contact and authority for all maintenance actions, providing strategic direction and centralized control of maintenance priorities. Lead, coach, and mentor technicians to ensure safe, efficient, and productive workflow across all shifts and locations.
• Operational & Strategic Planning: Develop and execute comprehensive maintenance strategies, integrating daily and long-range planning to support flight test and operational schedules. Coordinate with cross-functional partners to balance immediate needs against long-term organizational goals.
• Workload & Performance Optimization: Proactively receive, evaluate, and prioritize work orders-including engineering tasks, NCRs, troubleshooting, and discrepancies-to maximize team productivity, minimize downtime, and deliver measurable gains in aircraft availability and reliability.
• Fleet Readiness & Executive Reporting: Maintain continuous awareness of fleet status and readiness. Provide clear, timely updates and executive-level briefings on aircraft material condition, limitations, and return-to-service forecasts to LTA leadership, supporting business decision-making and operational planning.
• Compliance, Records, & Audit Leadership: Ensure airship and equipment maintenance aligns with all approved technical data, company procedures, and FAA regulations. Set standards for accurate record-keeping and audit readiness, continually reviewing processes for compliance and regulatory excellence.
• Resource & Logistics Oversight: Oversee forecasting, requisitioning, staging, and optimization of parts, tools, and equipment. Actively manage department resources and budget allocations to support organizational efficiency and cost control.
• Safety & Quality Champion: Enforce strict adherence to safety protocols and quality assurance best practices. Lead regular reviews of FOD, Tool Control, Calibration, and Maintenance Department Safety programs. Drive a culture of operational safety and continuous process improvement.
• Policy & Process Development: Develop, implement, and continuously refine maintenance control policies and procedures. Promote standardization and adoption of best practices throughout the department to support organizational growth and mitigate risks.
• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management: Align maintenance programs with priorities across Program Management, Flight Test, Flight Operations, and Engineering. Facilitate department meetings, post-event reviews, and collaborative problem-solving efforts.
• Team Development: Lead performance management, training, and succession planning for maintenance staff. Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and professional development across all team levels.
• Continuous Improvement: Analyze operational data to identify trends, implement process improvements, and drive performance metrics for turnaround times, resource utilization, and quality outcomes.

Qualifications

• FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) license (14 CFR Part 65).
• 7-10 years of relevant aviation maintenance experience; at least 3 years in a supervisory or management capacity leading maintenance teams.
• In-depth knowledge of inspection, scheduling, reliability, and aviation logistics, with expert understanding of FAA regulations and best practices.
• Demonstrated People Leadership, Proven Decision-Making skills, and superior verbal and written communication abilities.
• Experience with maintenance management software (CMMS/EAM) and departmental budget/resource management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior management experience in Maintenance Control or Maintenance Operations Center (MOC).
• Direct experience with lighter-than-air vehicles/airships and/or large composite aircraft.
• Familiarity with DoD or commercial best practices (e.g., NAMP).
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance, Engineering, or related field.
Success Indicators
• Consistently achieved aircraft availability and readiness targets through effective resource and team management.
• Zero safety violations; positive audit outcomes.
• Strong record of on-time task completion, high first-pass yield, and effective parts staging.
• Proactive, clear communication and strategic alignment with LTA leadership and all operational stakeholders.
What We Offer
• Relocation assistance
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan (100% premium paid for individuals, ~70% for dependents)
• Company-paid life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurances
• Parental leave
• Generous PTO + 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) matching up to 6%
• Lunch and snacks provided every day, including accommodations for all dietary restrictions
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Yearly education stipend to obtain certifications or take classes in your field
• Fun events, swag, and the occasional airship ride
• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields
Compliance Requirements
• Criminal background check clearance
• Drug test clearance wherever applicable
$130,000 - $150,000 a year
The base salary range for this role is $130, ,000, which is determined based on experience, geography, and qualifications. The base salary is one component of the total compensation package, which includes a very competitive annual bonus, 401K Match, and other generous benefits. While we believe competitive compensation is a critical aspect of your decision to join us, we do hope you also spend time considering why our mission and culture are right for you.
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LTA Research & Exploration welcomes all candidates to apply including those with limited experience. We understand that candidates with a growth mindset and passion for working on the next chapter in aviation advancement can outweigh experience alone. We celebrate diverse origins and journeys and understand their importance in developing new technology. Rooted in our humanitarian mission, we want to serve the entire globe and have a team that represents those we wish to serve.
Lighter Than Air is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.