Manager, Aircraft Operations
Ampaire
Operations
Camarillo, CA, USA
Posted on Feb 4, 2026
Ampaire Inc. Manager, Aircraft Operations Camarillo, CA · Full time
Ampaire is seeking a Manager, Aircraft Operations. This role will own maintenance and flight test of our aircraft as well our prototyping hangar facilities. Key qualifications include leadership experience with aircraft safety, maintenance, and flight test environments. The role is based at our Camarillo flight test center reporting to the CTO and involves occasional travel to Long Beach HQ and for remote flight campaigns. Director title for candidates with more experience and qualifications.
About Ampaire Inc.
Ampaire, Inc. is developing high performance, zero emission aircraft to transform the landscape of aviation. With key innovations in energy storage, propulsion, and aircraft architecture, our team is maximizing the potential of the aircraft industry.
Description
Role and Required Responsibilities:
- Manage operations and related facilities for our experimental hybrid electric aircraft fleet
- Periodic and incidental aircraft maintenance
- Aircraft inspections
- Flight test planning and execution
- Manage and support hiring of related staff and contractors
- Aircraft technicians
- Test Pilots
- Flight test engineers
- Manage retention, upkeep, and renewal of aircraft documentation (manuals, logs, airworthiness)
- Manage organization, stocking, shipping, safety, and access to hangars and aircraft
- Manage staff training for tasks in the hangars and aircraft
- Participate in Test and Flight Readiness Reviews
- Support experimental modifications in collaboration with engineering staff and contractors
- Support ground testing with engineering team and test pilots
- Support flight testing with engineering team and test pilots
- Current fleet includes two hybrid Skymaster 337s and one hybrid Caravan 208B
- Travel to Long Beach Airport a few times per month
- Occasional travel to remote test locations to support missions with the experimental aircraft
- Reports to CTO
Desired Additional Responsibilities
- Lead flight test planning, data analysis, and test execution in collaboration with project Chief Engineer and engineering staff
- Manage experimental modifications in collaboration with A&P, engineering staff and contractors
- Manage ground testing with engineering team and test pilots
- Manage flight testing with engineering team and test pilots
- Required Qualifications:
- 8+ years of increasing responsibilities in maintaining and operating relevant experimental aircraft
- Experience with maintaining and operating hangar facilities
- Experience managing test pilots and mechanics/technicians
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with DARs for maintenance of airworthiness certificates
- Relevant test pilot experience
- Airframe and Powerplant A&P mechanic training certification
- Inspection Authorization (IA) mechanic rating
- Experience with electrified aircraft
- Hands-on experience with operating high voltage (800V+) and high power (50 kW+) systems and safety practices
- Experience with electrical prototyping and test
Salary
$175,000 - $260,000 per year
