Director Engine Maintenance

Company

Alaska Airlines

The Team

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you. 

Role Summary

The Director, Engine Maintenance oversees Powerplant production operations both internally and with external vendors, ensuring continuous improvement in reliability and quality across the Powerplant program. This leadership role manages engine maintenance functions for Alaska Airlines (AS) and Hawaiian Airlines (HA). This position is responsible for establishing and maintaining robust relationships with current and prospective suppliers to guarantee their capability to fulfil planned, unplanned, and peak maintenance needs.

Key Duties

• Directs supplier engine maintenance programs and supervises supplier representatives, as well as Engine Vendor Maintenance Partners assigned to suppliers.
• Directs in-house and outsourced Powerplant production, oversees activities of the Powerplant Planners, and spearheads continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the reliability and excellence of the Powerplant program.
• Fosters and cultivates strong supplier partnerships to ensure adequate capacity and qualification for all maintenance demands, ensuring maintenance requirements are met at the highest standards during all operational periods.
• Conducts comprehensive business reviews and monitors supplier contract compliance regarding quality, cost, and delivery timelines.
• Develops maintenance plans and operating budgets, providing accurate forecasts and explains variances to budget on a monthly basis.
• Directs negotiations for supplier agreements and vendor selections, working with Supply Chain Management to secure advantageous terms and ensure dependable, timely, and cost-effective services.
• Establishes strategic short- and long-term objectives aligned with divisional and corporate goals.
• Defines repair and overhaul work scope for engines in conjunction with Powerplant Engineering.
• Ensures procurement of approved materials for engine repairs and overhauls at optimal cost.
• Publishes regular reports on repair/overhaul progress and spare engine availability, aiming to maintain fleet readiness at all times.
• Partners with Engineering and Quality Assurance to verify that maintenance actions comply with FAA requirements.
• Partners with the financial planning and analysis team to effectively budget and forecast all engine maintenance activities.
• Serves as a member of the Surveillance Review Board (SRB).

Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

Required

• 8 years of experience in aviation maintenance or engine maintenance management with exposure to GE, CFM, Pratt & Whitney, or Rolls-Royce engine types.
• 5 years of leadership experience, with at least 2 of those years directly leading people.
• Bachelor’s degree, or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• In-depth knowledge of industry-standard procedures, Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), and FAA requirements.
• Superior communication skills, both verbal and written, adaptable to informal and executive-level contexts.
• Strong interpersonal abilities, facilitating effective collaboration within the organization, and with external partners.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age requirement of 18 years.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred

• Airframe and Powerplant certification.
• Experience optimizing workflow processes and implementing continuous improvement strategies.
• Background in process and business analysis.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Job-Specific Leadership Expectations

• Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be caring and kind, and deliver performance.

• Demonstrate integrity and unwavering commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

• Exhibit innovation, impartiality, resilience, analytical thinking, and creativity in solutions development; thrive in dynamic, collaborative settings, and manage conflict constructively.

• Display the ability to promptly assess situations, accurately identify risks, and formulate effective response strategies.