Lead Aircraft Technician (Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellow)

Location: Trenton, New Jersey, United States Department: Manufacturing & Quality Assurance

Job Requirements

We are excited to be a sponsor of Hiring our Heroes and proud to offer transitioning service members a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience through our 12-week fellowship program.

Position Overview - Basic Functions & Responsibility Essential function(s) includes, but is not limited to:

Responsible for inspection, repair, and maintenance of all types of company-owned aircraft to ensure proper operation, adherence to inspection schedules, and aircraft safety and airworthiness. Maintains the aircraft computerized maintenance tracking programs and works with the vendors to ensure completeness and accuracy. Creates aircraft logbook entries and updates them as necessary. Files and preserves all airworthiness documentation in accordance with company and FAA requirements. Acts as a shift supervisor, providing technical direction to other aircraft technical personnel as well as performing hands-on repair of aircraft. Will be required to travel in support of company aircraft to both domestic and international destinations.

Primary Activities Primary activities include, but are not limited to:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible to the maintenance management team for performance of aircraft maintenance .
• Performs quality maintenance, preventive maintenance and inspections to conform within company standards, federal regulations and industry best practices achieving the highest reliability goals. Accomplishes assignments in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, industry best practices, OSHA, and IS-BAO requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring airworthiness as defined within 14 CFR by researching permanent records, maintenance tracking programs, FAA Airworthiness Directives and Manufacturer’s Service Bulletins and Customer Bulletins on aircraft.
• Complies with internal Merck Flight Operations Manual policies and procedures outlined within or any other standard operating procedures (SOP).
• Maintains a safe work environment and reports any unsafe conditions.
• Troubleshoots reported mechanical discrepancies and handles complex technical challenges.
• Ensures all required entries into the aircraft logbooks and permanent records are accurate and preserved in accordance with company and FAA requirements.
• Regularly scheduled audits of Maintenance Tracking systems accuracy of life limited parts and scheduled inspections.
• Complies with Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins applicability and compliance records.
• Updates and interfaces with computerized maintenance tracking programs.
• Assists with maintenance planning , and with management oversight, inspects, repairs, and modifies aircraft, as assigned.
• The technician is encouraged to proactively provide recommendations for modifications and upgrades, as necessary.
• Assists the maintenance management team in obtaining vendor proposals for upcoming maintenance packages.
• The technician may have external maintenance monitoring responsibilities with third party vendors and contractors.
• Will be required to travel in support of company aircraft to destinations both domestic and international.
• Other duties may be assigned, as needed.

Skills

The Lead Technician should possess operational knowledge of the FAA Federal Air Regulations, expertise and understanding of online maintenance tracking systems and the aircraft manufacturer’s maintenance inspections programs. They need to diagnosis and repair aircraft computer-based systems, many times with special programs and applications; so strong computer skills are essential. They should also possess good leadership and communication skills while acting in a supervisory role to provide instruction and direction to other maintenance technicians.

Work Experience

Requirement

This posting is for the Hiring Our Heroes, Corporate Fellowship 2026 - Cohort 3. Candidates must be transitioning service member fellows who will complete the program within the last 180 days of transition from military service. The fellowship will be 12 weeks long.

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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This is an unpaid, 12-week training fellowship hosted by our company, aligned with DoD SkillBridge guidelines. This is not an offer of employment. Participants are ineligible to receive employment benefits. This opportunity is exclusively for active participants in the Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) Corporate Fellowship Program.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with a