Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Shop Foreman

🎯 Role Definition

The Jet Shop Foreman leads daily aircraft shop operations in a commercial or corporate MRO environment, supervising technicians, coordinating heavy and line maintenance activities, and ensuring safe, compliant, on-time return-to-service of jet engines and associated systems. The role balances technical oversight, people leadership, quality assurance, and operational planning to meet production targets while maintaining regulatory compliance (FAA, EASA, or equivalent) and minimizing AOG downtime.

Keywords: Jet Shop Foreman, Aircraft Maintenance Foreman, A&P Foreman, MRO Supervisor, engine shop lead, FAA/EASA compliance, AMOS, Trax, aircraft inspection, maintenance release.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior A&P Technician / Certified Aircraft Mechanic with turbine experience
Engine Shop Lead or Line Maintenance Lead
Maintenance Control Coordinator or Technical Records Specialist

Advancement To:

Maintenance Manager / MRO Operations Manager
Director of Maintenance or Base Maintenance Manager
Quality & Safety Manager or Chief Inspector

Lateral Moves:

Quality Assurance Supervisor
Technical Training Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Supervise, mentor, and evaluate a cross-functional team of licensed A&P mechanics, engine mechanics, composite technicians, and support staff in a high-volume jet shop, ensuring safe work practices and maintaining productivity targets.
Plan, schedule, and coordinate daily and weekly maintenance workloads for multiple jet platforms and engine types to meet on-time departure goals and minimize AOG events, adjusting assignments dynamically based on operational priorities.
Review, interpret and implement OEM maintenance manuals, service bulletins, airworthiness directives (ADs), and engineering orders to ensure all work is performed to current technical standards and regulatory requirements.
Inspect complex maintenance tasks, engine removals/installs, borescope inspections, and structural repairs to verify workmanship, conformity to technical data, and airworthiness prior to signing off maintenance releases.
Authorize and sign maintenance release documentation in accordance with company policy and aviation authority requirements, ensuring accurate logbook entries and traceable certification of work performed.
Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis for recurring mechanical, structural or avionics failures, coordinating with engineering, OEM technical support, and suppliers to implement long-term corrective actions.
Manage shop tooling, test equipment, calibration schedules, and jigs, ensuring all tools are serviceable, tagged, and compliant with tool control and calibration programs to avoid Foreign Object Debris (FOD) and miscalibration risks.
Oversee consumable and rotable parts inventory management, including kitting, shelf-life control, expediting critical parts, and coordinating with purchasing and material control to keep repair flows moving.
Coordinate heavy maintenance events (C-checks, engine removals, structural modifications) with planning, production control, and customer operations to ensure alignment of resources, space, and timelines.
Enforce and model safety management systems (SMS), hazard reporting, and permit-to-work processes, conducting regular toolbox talks and safety walkthroughs to maintain zero-tolerance for unsafe conditions.
Implement and monitor quality control processes, conducting internal inspections, non-conformance reporting, and corrective action tracking to sustain high audit readiness for FAA/EASA inspections and customer audits.
Develop and deliver structured training plans, on-the-job coaching, and competency assessments to upskill technicians on new platforms, tooling, and OEM procedures while maintaining certification currency.
Maintain clear, professional communication with customers, flight operations, and station planners regarding work status, estimated completion times, unexpected findings, and potential schedule impacts.
Manage labor and overtime allocation to meet production schedules while controlling cost overruns, tracking man-hour estimates vs. actuals, and recommending staffing adjustments.
Interface with engineering and reliability teams to validate repair methods, deviation requests, minor repair schemes, and service bulletin applicability prior to implementation.
Coordinate vendor repairs, component exchanges, and outsourced specialty work (NDT, composite repairs, heat-treat) including incoming/outgoing inspections and sign-off of vendor work packages.
Execute and document post-maintenance test procedures (engine runs, functional tests, system checks), collect and log test data, and ensure limits and parameters meet OEM specifications before release.
Prepare for and support internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and customer acceptance checks; compile required records, trending data, and evidence of compliance.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing principles, 5S, and process mapping to reduce turn times, scrap, rework, and to improve first-time fix rates across the shop.
Maintain up-to-date maintenance records, technical logs, and electronic data in MRO systems (AMOS, Ramco, Trax, CAMP) to ensure traceability of work, parts, and certifications.
Execute environmental and hazardous materials handling responsibilities, ensuring proper disposal, spill control, and regulatory compliance with OSHA and local environmental regulations.
Manage escalation and contingency for irregular operations, such as AOG responses or emergency engine changes, coordinating 24/7 resources when required to restore service quickly.
Establish performance metrics and KPIs (on-time completion, man-hours per task, rework rate, safety incidents) and produce regular performance reports for senior leadership and customers.
Champion cross-department collaboration with flight ops, procurement, quality, and engineering to streamline turn processes and reduce administrative friction.
Maintain strict configuration control and documentation when implementing modifications or STC work to ensure conformity with approved data and regulatory acceptance.

Secondary Functions

Support continuous improvement projects and Kaizen events focused on workflow optimization, material flow, and technician ergonomics.
Participate in fleet reliability meetings and contribute data-driven recommendations to improve dispatch reliability and reduce repeat defects.
Assist in budgeting, forecasting spare parts consumption, and justifying capital requests for tooling and test equipment.
Facilitate onboarding and orientation sessions for new hires, including safety, quality, and shop-specific process training.
Collaborate with HR on performance management, disciplinary actions, and workforce planning to maintain a stable, capable workforce.
Maintain relationships with OEM technical representatives and training providers to ensure access to latest technical guidance and refresher courses.
Provide input to engineering change requests (ECRs) and continuous airworthiness management to support fleet modification planning.
Execute special projects such as shop expansions, workflow redesigns, and implementation of new maintenance tracking software modules.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

FAA A&P or EASA Part-66 B1/B2 certification (or equivalent national certification) with documented jet engine and airframe experience.
Deep working knowledge of jet turbine engines (CFM, GE, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney family familiarity preferred) and associated accessory systems.
Proficiency reading and applying OEM maintenance manuals, structural repair manuals (SRM), service bulletins, and airworthiness directives.
Proven experience with MRO software systems such as AMOS, Ramco, Trax, CAMP, or equivalent for recording defects, job cards, and maintenance releases.
Strong troubleshooting and fault isolation skills including borescope inspection techniques, engine run diagnostics, and system functional checks.
Familiarity with nondestructive testing (NDT) methods, corrosion control, composite repair fundamentals, and calibration programs.
Experience authorizing maintenance releases, technical records control, and maintaining logbooks to regulatory standards.
Knowledge of quality systems, audit processes, non-conformance reporting, and corrective action planning (CAPA).
Competence managing tooling, test stands, ground support equipment (GSE), and shop floor tool control programs.
Ability to interpret engineering orders, implement minor deviation requests or liaise with certifying engineers for major deviations.
Basic computer literacy including MS Office, digital forms, and the ability to extract operational metrics for reporting.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people management skills with proven ability to coach, develop, and retain skilled technicians.
Excellent oral and written communication to interface with customers, regulators, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
Decisive problem-solving and prioritization skills under operational pressure and time-critical AOG situations.
High attention to detail and quality mindset to ensure conformity to maintenance standards and regulatory compliance.
Organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks while meeting deadlines.
Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills to manage workforce issues, shift handovers, and contractor coordination.
Customer-focused orientation with a service mindset toward internal and external stakeholders.
Adaptability to changing operational demands, new aircraft types, and evolving regulatory requirements.
Analytical mindset to leverage KPI data for continuous improvement and performance optimization.
Coaching and mentoring aptitude to build technical capability and succession within the team.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED plus FAA A&P certificate, EASA Part-66 license, or equivalent national certification.

Preferred Education:

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Aeronautical Engineering Technology, or related technical discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Aircraft Maintenance Technology
Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Avionics Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

7 to 15 years of progressive aircraft or engine maintenance experience, including at least 2–5 years in a lead or supervisory role.

Preferred:

Minimum 5 years managing shop operations in an MRO or airline environment, hands-on experience with turbine engine removals/installs, and demonstrated familiarity with AMOS/RAMCO/Trax or similar MRO systems. Experience supporting FAA/EASA audits and managing vendor relationships is highly desirable.