Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

🎯 Role Definition

The Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) is responsible for ensuring the continued airworthiness and safe operation of aircraft by performing, supervising and certifying scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, inspections, repairs, modifications and testing in compliance with manufacturer instructions, aviation regulations (EASA/FAA/CAA), company procedures and safety management systems. This role combines hands-on mechanical/avionics expertise, regulatory knowledge, maintenance planning and clear technical record-keeping to deliver reliable aircraft availability while maintaining strict quality and safety standards.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Aircraft Maintenance Technician / Mechanic (A&P)
Avionics Technician / Electrical Technician
Apprenticeship or Technician role in Line/Base Maintenance

Advancement To:

Lead Aircraft Maintenance Engineer / Senior AME
Maintenance Supervisor / Base Maintenance Manager
Continuing Airworthiness Manager (CAMO) / Maintenance Planning Manager

Lateral Moves:

Reliability Engineer / Flight Operations Technical Support
Quality Assurance / Safety Manager
Technical Records or Materials & Logistics Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct thorough scheduled maintenance checks (A-check, B-check, C-check and D-check) on airframes and engines, carrying out detailed inspections, component replacements, adjustments and functional testing to meet manufacturer and regulatory requirements.
Inspect airframe structures, flight control systems, landing gear assemblies, hydraulic and pneumatic systems to detect corrosion, fatigue, leaks or structural damage, and determine necessary corrective action with full documentation.
Diagnose and troubleshoot complex mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic and avionics faults using test equipment, wiring diagrams, fault isolation manuals and manufacturer troubleshooting procedures to restore aircraft to serviceability.
Perform powerplant maintenance including engine removals/installs, borescope inspections, accessory replacements, compressor/turbine borescope checks and engine run-ups in accordance with OEM procedures and torque/clearance specifications.
Complete and certify maintenance entries and technical logbooks, issuing authorisations or Certificates of Release to Service (EASA Form 1 / FAA-acceptable release) after verifying compliance with maintenance actions and regulatory sign-off requirements.
Interpret and apply airworthiness directives (ADs), service bulletins (SBs), manufacturer service letters, engineering orders and temporary revisions to ensure mandatory corrective actions are planned and implemented on schedule.
Execute non-routine and unscheduled defect rectification during line maintenance operations, coordinating quick-turn troubleshooting, procuring parts and escalating to engineering or vendors when specialist support is required.
Carry out avionics testing and repairs including communication, navigation and surveillance (COM/NAV/ADS‑B/TCAS) systems, FMGC/FMS updates, flight instruments calibration and software/firmware installations per avionics maintenance manuals.
Perform structural repairs, composite patching, sheet-metal replacement and fastener changes to restore structural integrity, following repair schemes and liaising with structural engineers for non-standard repairs.
Conduct non-destructive testing (NDT) inspections such as dye penetrant, eddy current, ultrasonic or radiographic checks (or coordinate certified NDT technicians) to verify repair quality and detect subsurface defects.
Manage and maintain tool control, calibration records, ground support equipment and test apparatus to ensure precision work and regulatory compliance during maintenance activities.
Prepare detailed maintenance job cards, work scopes and resource estimates, coordinating with planning and operations teams to minimize aircraft downtime and optimize maintenance windows.
Liaise with flight operations and dispatch to evaluate Minimum Equipment List (MEL) items, determine deferred defect strategies, and ensure regulatory compliance when operating with deferred defects.
Supervise and mentor junior technicians and apprentices during maintenance tasks, providing on-the-job training, safety briefings and competency sign-offs to build a skilled maintenance workforce.
Coordinate with suppliers, OEM field service representatives and third-party MRO vendors for component repairs, warranty claims, parts exchanges and technical engineering support to expedite complex repairs.
Implement and maintain robust technical records for component life limits, time-in-service tracking, AD/SB compliance and maintenance history to support continued airworthiness and audit readiness.
Execute functional ground tests, system leak tests, taxi and engine runs, and aircraft operational checks after maintenance activities to validate system integrity prior to release to service.
Support depot-level modifications and Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) installations by following approved modification drawings, structural reinforcement plans and electrical harness routing instructions.
Participate in safety, quality assurance and internal audit programs, identify non-conformances, raise and follow-up corrective action reports (CARs) and drive continuous improvement initiatives across maintenance operations.
Ensure strict adherence to company safety management system (SMS), personal protective equipment (PPE) rules, hazardous materials handling procedures and environmental disposal guidelines during maintenance work.
Provide timely and clear technical reports and defect summaries to engineering, operations and management teams after inspections or incident investigations, including recommended remedial actions and risk assessments.
Maintain currency and competency for type ratings, regulatory licences and recurrent training (human factors, dangerous goods, ILS/avionics updates) to comply with licensing and operational requirements.
Support pre-buy inspections, acceptance checks and aircraft delivery handovers by performing comprehensive system verifications, logbook reviews and defect audits to assess airworthiness status.
Plan and execute scheduled consumable replacements (filters, seals, hydraulic fluids, life-limited parts), including coordination of parts provisioning, shelf-life checks and traceability documentation.
Participate in fleet reliability meetings and contribute defect trend analysis feedback, helping to prioritize recurring fault elimination projects and vendor-part quality improvements.

Secondary Functions

Assist the maintenance planning team with preparing man-hour estimates and materials requirements for upcoming base checks or heavy maintenance campaigns.
Support the technical records team by validating maintenance entries, updating component life tracking systems and ensuring accurate logbook reconciliation.
Contribute to continuous improvement projects such as lean maintenance workflows, 5S tool crib initiatives and reduction of aircraft on ground (AOG) turnaround time.
Participate in cross-functional incident or safety investigations and provide technical input for root cause analysis and preventive actions.
Provide ad-hoc technical support to flight crews and operations during irregular operations or AOG events, including troubleshooting guidance and clearance recommendations.
Help maintain a compliant tool calibration program by scheduling calibrations, updating calibration tags and verifying calibration certificates for critical test equipment.
Support vendor evaluation and qualification by assessing supplier technical capabilities, lead times and quality processes for critical components and repair services.
Assist in the development or revision of maintenance procedures, work instructions and task cards to reflect OEM updates, regulatory changes and optimized practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

EASA Part-66 B1/B2 licence or FAA A&P certification (or equivalent national AME license) with current privileges and type rating endorsements.
Proven experience with base and line maintenance on narrow-body and wide-body aircraft types (e.g., A320 family, B737NG/MAX, B777, A330/A350), including C-check and D-check work scopes.
Strong fault-diagnosis ability across airframe, powerplant and avionics systems using maintenance manuals, wiring diagrams and built-in test equipment (BITE).
Familiarity with maintenance tracking and technical records systems such as AMOS, TRAX, CAMP, Ramco or CHAMP for task planning and life-limited part tracking.
Competence in interpreting manufacturer Structural Repair Manuals (SRM), Component Maintenance Manuals (CMM), Wiring Diagram Manuals (WDM) and Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM).
Experience in applying regulatory compliance: Airworthiness Directives (AD), Minimum Equipment List (MEL) procedures, Service Bulletins and Continued Airworthiness requirements.
Non-destructive testing (NDT) awareness or certification (e.g., penetrant, eddy current, ultrasonic) or the ability to coordinate NDT operations effectively.
Hands-on experience with engine maintenance procedures, borescope inspections, bleed air systems, fuel systems, hydraulic systems and environmental control systems (ECS).
Proficient in using precision tooling and torque equipment, maintaining tool control and reading engineering drawings and repair schemes.
Ability to perform avionics software upgrades, performing post-installation verification checks and troubleshooting integrated avionics systems.
Knowledge of weight and balance, component removal/installation procedures and ground run/taxi test protocols.
Experience creating and reviewing technical reports, job cards and Certificates of Release to Service in accordance with company and regulatory standards.
Working knowledge of safety management systems (SMS), hazardous materials (HAZMAT) regulations and environmental disposal of aviation consumables.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail with meticulous record-keeping and a zero-tolerance approach to safety-critical errors.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills for rapid fault isolation and practical remedial action planning.
Clear verbal and written communication skills to produce precise technical reports and liaise with multidisciplinary teams including flight operations and engineering.
Ability to work under pressure during AOG or quick-turn scenarios while maintaining quality and compliance.
Team leadership and mentoring capabilities to develop junior technicians and foster a collaborative maintenance environment.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance scheduled tasks, unscheduled defects and regulatory obligations.
Customer-service orientation when dealing with internal stakeholders, pilots and third-party vendors.
Adaptability to changing schedules, regulatory updates and evolving OEM procedures.
Professional integrity and ethical conduct in certifying maintenance work and maintaining accurate records.
Continuous learning mindset to keep certifications current and absorb new technologies and aircraft systems.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with technical focus (math, physics, electronics) plus an accredited aircraft maintenance apprenticeship or trade certificate.

Preferred Education:

Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Technology, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent technical discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering
Aircraft Maintenance Technology / Avionics
Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
Composite Materials and Structural Repair
Quality Assurance / Safety Management Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3 to 10+ years of progressive aircraft maintenance experience, including both line and base maintenance environments.

Preferred:

5+ years with documented experience on the advertised aircraft type(s), prior sign-off privileges, and proven record of performing major checks, modifications and certification of releases to service.
Experience working with AMOS/TRAX/CAMP, familiarity with CAMO interfaces, and prior exposure to regulatory audits (EASA/FAA/CAA) or airline maintenance operations.