Ground Support Equipment Lead

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Group Overview

This role sits within the Air Mobility Group (AIRMOB), which is responsible for developing and delivering Metrea’s aerial refueling (AAR) capabilities, ensuring the readiness and operational effectiveness of the tanker fleet. AIRMOB oversees fleet management, maintenance, and airworthiness, working to sustain and enhance refuelling operations. It manages the integration of new processes and technologies, ensuring that tanker aircraft remain mission-ready through effective logistics, maintenance oversight, and regulatory compliance. By coordinating across various teams, AIRMOB ensures the fleet meets both current and future operational needs, supporting a range of specialized air mobility missions.

Position Summary

In this role, you will own the ground support equipment, tooling, and calibration infrastructure that keeps maintenance moving on Metrea’s KC-135R and C-135FR tanker fleet. When a jack, power cart, or calibrated torque wrench is needed, it will be serviceable, in date, and where the technicians need it, because you made it so.

You will be successful if you run a disciplined tool control and calibration program that never produces an audit finding, keep the GSE fleet mission-capable at home station and deployed locations, and stay a step ahead of what the maintenance operation needs next.

What You'll Do

Manage the GSE fleet, including tow vehicles, power units, jacks, stands, hydraulic and air carts, and nitrogen servicing equipment

Own the GSE preventive maintenance and inspection program, ensuring equipment is serviceable, inspected, and properly documented

Run tool crib operations, including issue and return accountability, storage, and inventory accuracy

Own the tool control and FOD prevention program for tooling, including marking, inventories, and lost tool procedures

Manage the calibration program for precision tools and test equipment, including recall scheduling, vendor coordination, and records

Track shelf-life items and consumable tooling, ensuring expired items are removed from service

Plan and provision GSE and tooling for deployed operations, including fly-away kit tooling content and equipment positioning

Coordinate procurement, repair, and disposition of GSE and tooling with Logistics and vendors

Maintain GSE, tooling, and calibration data in AMOS, ensuring traceability and audit readiness

Enforce safety and OSHA compliance for GSE operation and shop equipment, including operator training and qualification

What You Bring

Must Haves

5+ years of experience in aircraft maintenance support, GSE maintenance, or tool crib/calibration program management

Working knowledge of tool control, FOD prevention, and calibration recall programs

Experience maintaining or managing powered and non-powered ground support equipment

Strong inventory management and recordkeeping discipline

Ability to train and supervise personnel in equipment operation and tool accountability practices

Nice to Haves

Military aviation support equipment (AGE/GSE) background

A&P certificate or prior aircraft maintenance technician experience

Experience supporting KC-135, B707, or other large aircraft operations

Experience with AMOS or comparable M&E information systems

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Valid U.S. driver’s license required; U.S. passport required for international travel

Must be able to obtain and maintain access to military installations

Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and operate powered ground support equipment

Benefits

Comprehensive medical plan options

HSA/FSA accounts

Dental and vision coverage

6% employer 401(k) match

Fully paid parental leave for all new parents

Generous PTO

Life and disability insurance

Long-term and Short-term disability coverage

AD&D Coverage

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Subsidized gym membership / plans through Wellhub

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Position may require passing a government-administered background check. Role requires adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR). Employment is contingent on meeting all background and adjudication requirements.

AAP/EEO Statement

This Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt employees must have the ability to be on-call and available, as business needs require.

Work Environment

This job operates in a hangar, at the flightline, and shop settings in all weather conditions. Exposure to aircraft noise, fuels, lubricants, and moving equipment is routine; appropriate PPE is required.

Travel

Up to 25% domestic and international travel to operating and deployed locations.

Base Pay Range

The compensation range shown below is a good faith estimate and reflects the expected base pay for this position upon hire. This is just one component of Metrea's overall approach to total rewards and final compensation decisions, including the ultimate salary or hourly rate agreed upon, may vary depending on factors such as job location, job-specific knowledge, skills, experience, and the overall negotiated compensation package. Eligible full-time employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their health, wellbeing, and long-term success.

Pay Range

$78,900 — $112,500 USD

Our Firmware

At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.

Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative,