Aviation Parts, and Procurement Manager

About the Role

The Flight Test Facility supports research and development programs at Lincoln Laboratory by providing unique airborne test bed platforms, state-of-the-art test facilities, and expert integration and flight-test risk management solutions. The facility ensures validation through actual field-collected data. Research aircraft are flown, maintained, and managed by a professional staff of test pilots, certified maintenance technicians, and administrative personnel, with safety of flight as the top priority. All operations meet or exceed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.

The Flight Test Facility was established to support early air-to-air collision avoidance research and has since expanded to serve various Department of Defense and FAA programs. It currently operates seven experimentally certificated, commercially derivative airborne test beds, ranging from a small single-engine Cessna to corporate jets. All maintenance, modifications, and alterations are performed in accordance with Part 145 Repair Station standards.

Responsibilities

• Procurement:
  • Interact with supervisors, pilots, mechanics, avionics technicians, and engineers to source aircraft parts, components, repairs, overhauls, tooling, outside services, and shop supplies.
  • Act as an interface between suppliers and relevant departments on purchasing processes and new projects.
  • Initiate purchase requisitions for stock, maintain the Flight Facility Purchase Order (PO) Tracker database, and record all shopping carts, purchase orders, and ship orders.
  • Monitor supply issues, market trends, competitor strategies, and market suppliers; advise on risks or opportunities.
  • Provide spend analysis and create cost-reduction initiatives.
  • Qualify vendors as FAA-approved contractors.
  • Complete Laboratory purchasing SAP procedures to find cost-effective options using Laboratory-issued credit cards or shopping cart requests for approval and Contracts Services Department (CSD) issued POs.
  • Oversee and purchase repair station-required maintenance/operations subscription libraries.
• Property and Inventory Management:
  • Act as the Assistant Government Property Manager for the Flight Test Facility.
  • Conduct internal self-assessment audits to validate counts, locations, and need for aircraft parts and Government property.
  • Maintain an inventory control method for organized storage and retrieval of parts.
  • Prepare reports and updates as required.
  • Comply with FAA Repair Station procedures for incoming inspections, storage, segregation, disposition, and identification of airworthy, un-airworthy, and un-approved parts.
  • Maintain the Flight Facility Aircraft Parts Stock Room to ensure all FAA-approved parts, components, hardware, and supplies are properly stored.
  • Oversee aviation survival equipment.
  • Manage the maintenance Hazardous Waste program.
• Business Management:
  • Serve as alternate approval authority for Flight Test Facility timesheets and POs.
  • Record, track, and reconcile all Flight Test Facility credit card purchases.
  • Issue change orders to POs for closeouts after receipt of order and payment to return funding to direct programs.
  • Conduct near real-time best-value procurement trade-off decisions (e.g., buy outright vs. exchange overhauled parts).
  • Provide analysis on current and proposed spend and create cost-reduction initiatives.
  • Assist with Environmental Health and Safety audits.

Requirements

• Minimum of an Associate degree in a related field; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Ten years of aircraft parts procurement and/or logistics experience or equivalent.
• Excellent organizational, communication, negotiation, interpersonal, and influencing skills.
• Strong judgment, initiative, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and as part of a team.
• Superior computer skills and ability to learn new programs, including computerized inventory control and tracking.
• Familiarity with aviation best practices, AOG deliveries, warranty claims, core returns, and FAA regulations for aircraft parts.
• Knowledge of shipping and receiving industry practices, including overnight delivery, airline counter-to-counter procedures, and large transport shipping by tractor trailer.
• Good health and ability to lift 70 lbs.
• Ability to pass a DOT physical.
• Valid Class D driver’s license with a good driving record; comfortable driving a large pickup truck.
• Massachusetts DPS forklift license (2A/1C) is a plus.

Pay

Hiring range: $80,100 - $106,100. The final salary offered will depend on factors such as scope and responsibilities of the role, candidate’s experience, skills, education/training, internal equity considerations, and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans.
• MIT-funded pension.
• Matching 401K.
• Paid leave (vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.).
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs.
• Mentorship programs.
• A range of work-life balance options.
• Additional voluntary benefits, discounts, and perks available to MIT employees.

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.