Director of Maintenance - Carson City, Nevada

Company/Organization: Stew's Aero

Position: Management

Job Type: Permanent

Posted: 11/13/2025 7:30:51 PM

Description:

Full-Time | Leadership Role | A&P / IA Required

Stew’s Aero Services, one of the largest and fastest-growing piston-aircraft maintenance organizations in Northern Nevada, is seeking a high-authority, results-driven Director of Maintenance / Production Manager to lead our Part 145 repair station and restore high-efficiency operational flow.

This is a true leadership role — we are looking for someone who can take control of a busy shop, drive productivity, make judgment calls, and ensure aircraft go out the door on time, safely, and without unnecessary scope creep.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, can command a room of technicians, and know the difference between actual airworthiness issues and cosmetic distractions, you may be the person we’re looking for.

What You’ll Do

Operational Leadership

• Lead, manage, and hold accountable a team of A&P mechanics, avionics techs, and inspectors.
• Own production flow: assign jobs, enforce deadlines, and ensure consistent completion.
• Stop task-jumping and keep technicians focused until jobs are finished.
• Maintain daily oversight of all aircraft in progress and ensure rapid turn-times.

Technical Authority

• Serve as the decision-maker for airworthiness calls and repair scope.
• Prevent unnecessary “gold-plating” repairs; focus on practical, safe, legal maintenance.
• Ensure findings are legitimate, documented, and approved before changing job scope.
• Use sound judgment grounded in real-world piston fleet experience, not theory.

Quality & Compliance

• Oversee compliance with Part 145, QCM, RSM, and FAA standards.
• Coordinate with our Chief Inspector to maintain clean paperwork and audit readiness.
• Ensure tools, equipment, and calibration programs remain compliant and operational.

Fleet Priority Management

• Manage a “fast-track lane” for our flying club customer's aircraft to reduce downtime.
• Balance customer aircraft, fleet, and shop workload to maximize throughput.
• Ensure that simple jobs (oil changes, minor squawks, etc.) are completed same-day or next-day.

Culture & Accountability

• Set professional standards for workmanship, communication, and urgency.
• Address performance issues directly and swiftly.
• Provide guidance and leadership on tough decisions and complex maintenance items.

Who Succeeds Here

• You want a shop you can truly run.
• You’re allergic to inefficiency and excuses.
• You believe in completing work promptly without compromising safety.
• You’re respected by mechanics because you’ve done the work yourself.
• You can protect the company from unnecessary liability while avoiding the “paralysis” mindset.
• You’re the person everyone comes to when something needs to get done right now.
• You understand that downtime kills businesses — and you know how to prevent it.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (DOE) with performance incentives
• Leadership authority and full control over production operations
• A high-growth company with major expansion plans
• A strong support team including an Accountable Manager, Chief Inspector, and experienced technicians
• A culture built around doing things right — and doing them quickly
• Opportunity to mold the future of one of the most dynamic repair stations in the region

Requirements:

• Valid A&P Certificate
• Inspection Authorization (IA)
• Minimum 8 years piston-aircraft maintenance experience
• Deep hands-on familiarity with Cessna, Piper, Beech, Cirrus, Lycoming, Continental, and GA avionics
• Proven ability to lead teams, enforce discipline, and maintain workflow
• Strong understanding of Part 145 regulations, RSM/QCM processes, and documentation
• Ability to differentiate between airworthiness issues and minor cosmetic or non-critical conditions
• The backbone to make quick decisions and stand by them
• The organizational ability to finish what you start — and ensure your team does too

Preferred

• Prior DOM, Shop Foreman, or Production Manager experience
• Experience with high-volume clubs, schools, or fleet maintenance operations
• Familiarity with QuantumMX or similar digital maintenance tracking systems
• Experience with avionics installations or managing avionics teams

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