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Posted: January 21, 2026 (2 days ago)

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SHEET METAL MECHANIC (AIRCRAFT)

Naval Air Systems Command

Department of the Navy

Fresh

Location

Location not specified

Salary

$31.44 - $36.67

per hour

Closes

January 27, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves hands-on work repairing and building sheet metal and composite parts for military aircraft, including creating custom prototypes and fixing complex structures like wings and fuselages.

It's based at a naval facility in Japan, where medical and dental care is limited, so it's ideal for experienced mechanics who thrive in technical, problem-solving roles in a military environment.

A good fit would be someone with strong practical skills in metalworking and aircraft maintenance, comfortable with detailed fabrication and repair tasks.

Key Requirements

  • Ability to develop and layout templates using contour delineation, aircraft lofting techniques, and triangulation to minimize seams and material use
  • Working knowledge of aircraft alloys including aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, and magnesium
  • Skills in repairing aircraft systems through riveting, bolting, spot welding, screwing, and similar methods
  • Experience performing complex sheet metal and composite repairs, such as prototyping unique fixes and working on fuel cells
  • Proficiency in disassembling, modifying, repairing, and reassembling aircraft components like bulkheads, spars, wings, and fuselages
  • Capability to conduct fiberglass repairs and fabricate composite parts
  • Knowledge of corrosion control and finishing processes per NAVAIR 01-1A-509 standards

Full Job Description

***ACCESS TO MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE IN JAPAN IS EXTREMELY LIMITED.

Please see Additional Information section below.*** You will serve as a SHEET METAL MECHANIC (AIRCRAFT) in the FRC WESTPAC DET IWAKUNI.

Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying.

Qualification requirements emphasis is on quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the job elements and screen out listed below.

This job has a screen-out element which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job.

Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on the screen-out element(s) will be found ineligible.

The Screen-out Element for this position is: develop and layout templates using a variety of methods of contour delineation, aircraft lofting techniques, and triangulation using the fewest seams and least amount of material.

Working knowledge of various aircraft alloys such as aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, magnesium, etc..

Developing repairs and/or repairing aircraft systems by riveting, bolting, spot welding, screwing, etc.

Applicants must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualification Handbook for Trades and Labor Occupations.

Additional qualification information can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/federal-wage-system-qualifications/#url=List-of-Approved-Job-Elements Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. Major Duties:

  • You will perform the most complex or unusually complicated aspects of sheet metal and composite work such as assisting engineering personnel or independently developing and constructing one-of-a kind prototype repairs.
  • You will perform unique repairs on a broad array of fuel cells.
  • You will disassembles, modify, repair, and reassemble complex aircraft metal items and systems, e.g., bulkheads, air frames spars, air scoops, wings, flaps, pylons, sponsons, fuselages, skins, ribs, gussets
  • You will perform fiberglass repairs as well as fabrication of fiberglass composite parts.
  • You will perform corrosion control on aircraft and parts finishing in accordance with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) 0l-lA-509 series and other engineering approved processes.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/21/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/21/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: ST-12861075-26-GLM