Aircraft Maintenance Engineer

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEER CAREER GUIDE

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer explores airworthiness compliance, inspection duties, required skills, certifications, and average salary for this in-demand aviation role.

An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer is a licensed aviation professional responsible for keeping civil and commercial aircraft in a safe, airworthy condition before every flight. Day to day, this person inspects aircraft structures and systems, performs scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, removes and installs components, and certifies completed work through legally binding maintenance records. Based on Lamwork's research across Aircraft Maintenance Engineer job data, demand for this role spans airlines, regional carriers, approved maintenance organizations, and government aviation operations, reflecting how central the position is to every segment of the industry.

• Inspect airframes, engines, flight controls, and hydraulic systems for defects, corrosion, or damage and initiate corrective action in line with applicable Airworthiness Directives.
• Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance tasks on civil and commercial aircraft in strict accordance with the Maintenance Control Manual and manufacturer's technical documentation.
• Remove, install, rig, and functionally test aircraft components to confirm airworthiness before authorizing release to service.
• Coordinate parts requirements, calibrated tooling availability, and maintenance tracking entries with stores, dispatch, and maintenance management to keep the fleet on schedule.
• Supervise and guide apprentices and unlicensed maintenance personnel during assigned tasks, verifying that all work meets regulatory standards before sign‑off.

Lamwork's review of Aircraft Maintenance Engineer postings shows that employers consistently prioritize a defined set of technical competencies alongside a small group of professional skills that keep licensed maintenance operations safe and audit‑ready.

• Hard
  
  Skills:
  
  Airworthiness Compliance and Airworthiness Directive Interpretation, Aircraft Systems Troubleshooting (Mechanical, Hydraulic, Structural), Maintenance Documentation and Journey Log Certification, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CAMM2, Winair, CAMP), Structural Repair Under The Structural Repair Manual, including Sheet Metal and Composite Work
• Soft Skills: Attention to Detail, Decision‑Making, Time Management, Communication, Adaptability

Typical Career Progression for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer:

• Apprentice Aircraft Maintenance Technician
• Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
• Senior Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
• Lead AME / Quality Assurance Inspector

Reaching the Senior AME level typically takes five to eight years of licensed experience across multiple aircraft types. Advancement depends most on the breadth of aircraft type endorsements, the depth of maintenance experience across line, base, and structural work, and a record of clean documentation with no regulatory findings.

• FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certificate – the foundational US license required to certify maintenance work
• Inspector Authorization (IA) – extends sign‑off authority to annual inspections and return‑to‑service approvals
• FAA Repairman Certificate – authorizes maintenance on specific aircraft types for certificated repair stations
• Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) Certificate – demonstrates completion of an FAA‑approved training program, recognized for career‑level entry

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track Aircraft Maintenance Engineer as a separate occupation. Based on the closest related role, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, the median annual salary is $78,680 per year, according to the most recent available data.

Top‑paying states for this occupation, per the same source:

• New Jersey – $109,380 per year
• California – $95,570 per year
• Alaska – $88,940 per year

Pay for Aircraft Maintenance Engineers moves most significantly with the type of employer – scheduled airline operations and aerospace manufacturing consistently pay above maintenance, repair, and overhaul shops – as well as the number and type of aircraft endorsements held, overall licensed experience, and whether the engineer has obtained Inspector Authorization.