Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Simulator Technician

💰 $55,000 - $110,000

AviationSimulationMaintenanceAvionicsEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

As a Jet Simulator Technician (also known as Flight Simulator Technician or Simulator Maintenance Technician), you are responsible for the hands-on maintenance, troubleshooting, calibration and operational readiness of Full Flight Simulators (FFS), Flight Training Devices (FTD) and related simulation systems. This technical role bridges avionics, mechanical systems, motion platforms, visual systems, and software—ensuring simulators deliver safe, accurate, and repeatable training experiences that meet regulatory requirements (FAA, EASA) and OEM specifications.

Primary keywords: Jet Simulator Technician, Flight Simulator Technician, Full Flight Simulator (FFS), Flight Training Device (FTD), simulator maintenance, simulator calibration, avionics troubleshooting, motion system, visual system, FAA/EASA compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Aircraft Maintenance Technician (A&P) or Avionics Technician
  • Electronics or Mechanical Technician with aerospace experience
  • Simulator Operator or Training Center Maintenance Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Lead / Chief Simulator Technician
  • Simulation Maintenance Manager / Maintenance Supervisor
  • Field Service Engineer (simulator OEM or integrator)
  • Simulation Systems Engineer or Integration Engineer

Lateral Moves:

  • Avionics Specialist
  • Flight Test / Test Technician
  • Technical Training Instructor (simulator systems)
  • Systems Integration or Software Support Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Inspect, maintain and repair Full Flight Simulators (FFS) and Flight Training Devices (FTD) including motion bases, hydraulic/pneumatic systems, electric actuators, cockpit hardware, avionics racks, and instructor/operator stations to ensure continuous operational readiness and adherence to OEM and regulatory standards.
  • Diagnose and troubleshoot complex electrical and electronic faults across simulator components (power distribution, PLCs, CAN/CANopen, ARINC 429, discrete I/O) using oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers and vendor diagnostic tools to rapidly restore service.
  • Perform software maintenance and upgrades for simulator operating systems, instructor interface software, core simulation models, visual systems and networking stacks; coordinate version control, rollback plans and post-upgrade validation tests.
  • Calibrate and align motion systems, force feedback, flight controls, control loading systems and cockpit transducers to maintain simulation fidelity and pilot cueing consistent with manufacturer specifications and training syllabi.
  • Diagnose, repair and maintain visual system hardware and software: projectors, image generators (IGs), lenses, warping/blending, image alignment, and peripheral scene generation to guarantee immersive, accurate external visuals and out-the-window fidelity.
  • Maintain avionics and cockpit instrument systems including EFIS, flight management systems (FMS), autopilot, radios, engine instruments and replicated aircraft interfaces; perform bench testing, replacement of modules, and re-certification checks.
  • Manage scheduled preventive maintenance (PM) programs and predictive maintenance tasks; create, update and execute maintenance checklists, service bulletins, and OEM recommended inspections to reduce unplanned downtime.
  • Execute simulator acceptance, periodic requalification and functional checks in support of FAA, EASA or local civil aviation authority requirements; prepare and maintain qualification evidence and logs to support regulatory audits and training center accreditation.
  • Troubleshoot and repair motion base hydraulics/electrical drives: replace seals, valves, pumps, actuators, hydraulic filtration, and perform system bleed and pressure verification; coordinate with mechanical shops for heavy repairs.
  • Monitor and maintain facility infrastructure critical to simulator operation: UPS systems, backup generators, HVAC for server rooms, electrical distribution, grounding and climate control to protect sensitive electronics and maintain performance.
  • Manage spare parts inventory and logistics: forecast critical spare parts, order and track components, maintain kitting for field support, and work with vendors to minimize mean time to repair (MTTR).
  • Provide on-site and remote technical support to instructors and training center staff, resolving operational issues, running diagnostics, and guiding workaround procedures to minimize training disruptions.
  • Implement and test network infrastructure for simulators: VLANs, routing, IP addressing, time synchronization (NTP/PTP), firewalls and secure remote access to support simulator interconnectivity and remote diagnostics.
  • Document repairs, configuration changes, incident reports and root-cause analyses in maintenance management systems (CMMS), change control logs and maintenance records to ensure configuration control and traceability.
  • Perform system-level regression testing and functional flight checks after repairs or upgrades, validate simulation fidelity against test scripts, and log performance metrics including latency, frame rate, and motion responsiveness.
  • Coordinate with OEM field service engineers, vendor technical support, and integrators for escalated repairs, warranty claims, engineering changes and software patches to ensure compliance with support agreements.
  • Lead or contribute to simulator installation, decommissioning and relocation projects: prepare site requirements, rigging plans, cabling schematics, and assist riggers and integrators during physical moves.
  • Participate in risk assessments, safety reviews and emergency procedures for simulator operations: enforce lockout/tagout procedures, hazardous energy control, and safe handling of hydraulic fluids and heavy components.
  • Provide technical training and mentorship for junior technicians and operators on simulator maintenance procedures, fault isolation methodologies, and best practices in documentation and safety.
  • Develop and refine troubleshooting guides, maintenance plans, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to standardize repair processes and reduce repeat failures.
  • Implement continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability engineering, spare parts optimization, and reduction of unscheduled simulator downtime through root cause elimination.
  • Support data logging, flight data retrieval and analysis for instructor debriefs and performance verification—ensure recorder systems and telemetry links are functioning and data integrity is maintained.
  • Oversee configuration management for simulator software and hardware baselines; enforce version control, documentation of deviations, and approval workflows for changes affecting training qualification.
  • Manage customer-facing tasks including service reports, debriefs with training managers, and communication of system status, scheduled outages and expected resolution timelines to minimize business impact.
  • Ensure compliance with local, national and international regulations and standards that affect simulator operations, maintenance and training center certification.

Secondary Functions

  • Support simulator acceptance testing and provide technical demonstrations for prospective customers and internal stakeholders.
  • Assist with planning and executing scheduled downtime windows for major upgrades, migrations, or facility maintenance.
  • Contribute to capital planning by estimating lifecycle costs, replacement schedules, and making recommendations for system refresh or upgrades.
  • Participate in cross-functional incident reviews to share findings and reduce enterprise-wide operational risk.
  • Support creation and maintenance of vendor relationships and service level agreements (SLAs) for tiered technical support and parts availability.
  • Assist in the procurement evaluation of new simulation technologies and support pilot projects or proof-of-concept demonstrations.
  • Help manage budget tracking for simulator maintenance activities and spare parts expenditures.
  • Provide input into the training curriculum for simulator operators to reflect the current state and limitations of the equipment.
  • Maintain clean, safe and organized maintenance areas and tool inventories needed for efficient troubleshooting and repairs.
  • Support ad-hoc technical requests from training operations for custom fidelity changes, scenario configuration or instrumentation adjustments.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Simulator systems maintenance: hands-on experience with Full Flight Simulators (FFS), Flight Training Devices (FTD), Flight Simulation Software and hardware stacks.
  • Avionics troubleshooting and repair: ARINC 429/ARINC 664 (A664)/ARINC 653 familiarity, FMS, EFIS, radios, transponders and glass cockpit logic.
  • Motion and hydraulic systems: alignment, calibration, mechanical repair and preventive maintenance of motion platforms and actuators.
  • Visual systems and image generators: projector alignment, warp/blend, IG maintenance, GPU diagnostics and 3D scene generation troubleshooting.
  • Electrical and power systems: power distribution, UPS maintenance, grounding, PLCs, motor controllers, servo drives and safety interlocks.
  • Networking and servers: TCP/IP, VLAN, routing basics, Windows Server and Linux administration, virtualization, NTP/PTP synchronization and secure remote access.
  • Test and measurement tools: oscilloscope, multimeter, signal generator, power analyzer and telemetry analyzers for avionics and signal verification.
  • Software diagnostics and scripting: log analysis, basic scripting (Python, Bash, PowerShell) for automated diagnostics and data extraction.
  • Configuration and change control: CMMS, version control tools (Git, SVN) and formal change management procedures for simulator baselines.
  • Regulatory knowledge: FAA/EASA certification requirements for simulator qualification, qualification maintenance and record-keeping.
  • Fault isolation methodologies: root-cause analysis, Ishikawa/fishbone analysis, and corrective action implementation.
  • HVAC / facility systems awareness: understanding environmental impacts on electronics, temperature/humidity control and clean power for server racks.
  • PLC and control systems: ladder logic familiarity, I/O mapping and basic PLC programming/diagnostics.
  • Vendor-specific systems experience: exposure to CAE, FlightSafety, L3Harris, TRU Simulation, Redbird or other OEM platforms is highly advantageous.

Soft Skills

  • Clear communicator—able to translate complex technical issues into plain language for instructors, managers and vendors.
  • Customer-focused—with a service-oriented mindset to minimize training impact and provide timely status updates.
  • Strong troubleshooting mindset—structured, methodical and persistent approach to isolating faults under time pressure.
  • Team player—works collaboratively with instructors, engineers, riggers and external vendors to achieve common goals.
  • Detail-oriented—accurate record keeping, adherence to checklists and precise calibration work to maintain fidelity.
  • Time management—prioritize tasks effectively across routine PMs, urgent repairs and upgrade projects.
  • Adaptability—able to work on a diverse set of systems (electrical, mechanical, software) and learn new vendor tools quickly.
  • Safety conscious—committed to industry-safe practices, LOTO procedures and proactive hazard identification.
  • Training and mentoring—ability to teach junior technicians and run hands-on workshops or knowledge-sharing sessions.
  • Project coordination—basic project management skills for coordinating upgrades, relocations and vendor visits.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent plus technical certification (A&P, Avionics certificate, Electrical/Mechanical trade school).

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Avionics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science.
  • FAA A&P certificate, Avionics Technician certification or equivalent industry certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Avionics / Aircraft Maintenance
  • Electrical Engineering / Electronics Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering / Mechatronics
  • Computer Science / IT Networking
  • Aerospace Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years working on avionics, aircraft systems, or electronic/mechanical simulation environments; minimum 2–3 years directly supporting FFS/FTD preferred.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of progressive experience maintaining Full Flight Simulators, Flight Training Devices or complex avionics test rigs.
  • Documented experience with FAA or EASA qualification maintenance procedures, simulator acceptance testing, and evidence preparation for audits.
  • Experience working with major simulator OEMs (CAE, FlightSafety, L3, TRU Simulation, Redbird) and demonstrated success coordinating vendor escalations and warranty repairs.
  • Proven track record of reducing downtime through preventive maintenance, root-cause remediation and effective inventory/spares management.
Explore More Careers