Join TxDOT as a Lead Aircraft Inspector and take your aviation expertise to new heights. In this pivotal role, you’ll perform advanced inspections on fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, ensuring compliance with FAA standards and safeguarding the integrity of Texas’ aviation fleet. You’ll lead inspection oversight, certify airworthiness, and serve as the go-to authority for complex technical questions.

As a trusted leader, you’ll guide and mentor mechanics and inspectors, establish safety protocols, and drive operational excellence across maintenance and repair activities. Your work will directly impact aviation safety statewide, giving you the opportunity to shape processes and uphold the highest standards in the industry.

TxDOT offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and a culture that values work-life balance and professional growth. With health premiums fully paid for full-time employees, retirement plans, tuition assistance, and recognition as a Best Place for Working Parents, this is more than a job—it’s a career where your expertise makes a difference.

Your Expertise. Our Mission. Lead Aircraft Safety Across Texas!

Minimum Salary

: 84,182.00

Maximum Salary

: 142,374.00

Pay Basis

: Yearly FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Work Locations

Austin Bergstrom Int Airport

10335 GOLF COURSE ROAD

Austin 787192366

Travel

: Yes, 10 % of the Time Shift: Day Job Shift Details: 40 Location Flexibility: Onsite

Benefits and Perks

At TxDOT, we value work-life balance and are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive range of benefits and programs, including:

Retirement Plans
Alternative and/or Flexible Work Schedules
Paid Leave and Holidays
Health Premiums paid at 100% for Full-Time Employees
On-the-Job Training
Tuition Assistance Program
Holistic Wellness Program with Leave Incentives
Career Development and Advancement Opportunities
Family-Friendly Policies and Programs

In 2024, TxDOT was recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents, and many of our offices statewide are also designated as Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites. These recognitions reflect our dedication to supporting families and promoting a healthy work-life balance.

For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at: Total Compensation Package

To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit: Benefits at a Glance | ERS (texas.gov )

Position Description

Performs highly advanced aircraft inspections; to include inspection oversight of aircraft mechanics work (or work performed under contract services) completed on fixed-wing or rotary aircraft as required by Federal Aviation Administration standards and regulations. Work involves keeping current of aviation and aircraft developments to include industry guidelines, standards, applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Serves as a lead worker. establish their own work plan and priorities to meet set objectives. Issues are rarely referred to the supervisor but are handled at the occurrence.

Essential Duties:

Serves as a lead worker by serving as a resource for complex questions; presenting workflow and operational updates to the supervisor/manager; providing input on team members’ career conversations; and approving leave requests to ensure operations coverage.
Performs aircraft annual inspections in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and standards.
Inspects work performed by department aircraft mechanics or work performed under contract services to certify that repairs/maintenance meets standards; and approves or denies issuance of certificates of airworthiness.
Examines aircraft maintenance logs and other records to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed.
Prepares and maintains detailed inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports.
Performs other job responsibilities as assigned to include performing maintenance and repairs to aircraft.
Oversee tracking of aircraft compliance to ensure all aircraft and/or aircraft components comply per manufacturer and FAA regulations.
Act as a TxDOT safety point of contact for maintenance team and facilities.
Monitor operations/maintenance tasks to ensure that they meet production quality control standards.
Establish operational processes/procedures to ensure employee safety and accurate maintenance practices.
Provides technical guidance to less tenured aircraft mechanics/inspectors.
Other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: High School Grad or Equivalent in general high school studies.

Experience: 3 years fixed/rotary wing aircraft maintenance, repair, or inspection experience. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent).

Licenses and Certifications:

Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.
Airframe Mechanic Certification
Certified Powerplant Mechanic
FAA Inspector Auth Certification

Competencies:

Federal Aviation Administration circulars, orders and regulations
Electrical/electronic troubleshooting and repair techniques
Repair and maintenance of hydraulic pumps
Preventive maintenance methods and procedures
Schematic electrical wiring
Mechanical equipment operation and maintenance
Mechanical repair techniques
Mechanical systems
Applicable industry safety standards, guidelines, and specification codes
Hazardous materials management methods and procedures
Maintaining effective working relationships with others
Troubleshooting, repairing and calibrating electronic and mechanical components and subsystems
Leading, assigning, reviewing, and monitoring the work of others
Prioritizing projects/workload and meeting deadlines
Maintaining logs and accurately recording work in progress
Communicating technical information effectively
Using applicable hand and power tools, equipment, and mechanical devices of the trade
Diagnosing problems and repairing equipment to include electronic and mechanical components and subsystems according to defined codes and specifications
Read and work with color coded electrical wiring
Follow applicable safety standards, practices and procedures

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

Medium work: Lift up to 50 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 25 lbs
Required to wear protective gear-respirator, hard hat, or other device
Environment: Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions with noise, vibration, and atmospheric conditions (fumes, dusts, odors, mists, gases or poor ventilation)
Subject to hazards such as moving vehicles/mechanical parts, high places/heat, or chemicals and works in narrow aisles and passageways
Movement: Climbing (ladders, stairs, scaffolding, etc) and Balancing (multiple surfaces, uneven walkways, etc)
Standing: Standing (long periods), Stooping/Kneeling (bending at the waist and/or resting/working on knees), Crouching (bending knees and spine) and Crawling (hands and feet/knees)
Reach: Reaching (extending in multiple directions), Pushing (to move objects/tools), Pulling (sustained force to move objects) and Lifting (above head and laterally)
Manipulation: Fingering (pinching, typing, working with fingers), Grasping (gripping tools with full hand) and Feeling (sensing size/ weight/temperature/ texture with hands)
Communication: Talking (expressing ideas with spoken words) and Hearing (perceive sound at normal speaking levels, receive oral communication)
Repetitive Motion: substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and fingers
Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading, visual inspection of small defects/parts, using measurement devices; and assembly or fabrication of parts
Operation: Operate machines (drill presses, power saws, etc.), motor vehicles and heavy equipment

Conditions of Employment:

Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)

This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require a pre-employment physical.
This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.

Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize “medical marijuana” under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.

Job

: Plan/Aviation/Pub Trans/Legis

Schedule

: Full-time

Employee Status

: Regular

Job Type

: Standard

Job Level

: Non-Management

Job Posting

: Dec 16, 2025, 12:27:48 PM

Unposting Date

: Jan 16, 2026, 12:59:00 AM

State Job Title/s: Aircraft Inspector II State Job Code/s: 9652

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)

TxDOT is committed to hiring veterans. To assist in determining whether your military experience may pertain to the minimum requirements for this position, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces have been assigned to each state classification code/title where applicable. The MOS codes are grouped by occupational category.

To view the MOS codes please click on link below and click on the appropriate occupational category.

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