Why Aviation Maintenance Is the Next Generation's Best-Kept Career Secret | Jennifer Radtke, Boeing
With Jennifer Radtke · Functional Chief Engineer, Product Support Engineering, Boeing
Hosted by Andrew Brown · May 19, 2026
Aviation maintenance is booming — and Boeing's Jennifer Radtke says the mechanic shortage now outpaces the pilot shortage for the first time in history.
Aviation maintenance is booming — and Boeing's Jennifer Radtke says the mechanic shortage now outpaces the pilot shortage for the first time in history. 710,000 aviation technicians will be needed over the next 20 years. Airlines are already experiencing delays from maintenance staffing gaps — and that number is only going to grow.
Yet most young people still have no idea this career path exists, what it pays, or how far it can take them. Jennifer Radtke has spent 32 years in aviation, starting as a mechanic and working her way to Functional Chief Engineer at Boeing — a role she didn't even know existed when she started.
Her message is simple: the trades are not a fallback. In aviation, they're a launchpad.
Jennifer Radtke is a Director and Functional Chief Engineer for Product Support Engineering at Boeing. With 32 years in the aviation industry — starting on the wrench-turning side of the business — she now leads technical workforce development, mentorship programs, and the engineering pipeline for one of the largest aerospace companies in the world.
If you're in the trades, considering aviation maintenance, or working to build the next generation of skilled workers, this episode is for you. You'll walk away with a clear picture of what this career actually pays, what it can become, and exactly how to navigate it from day one.
Key Takeaways.
01
The aviation mechanic shortage has officially surpassed the pilot shortage — Boeing projects 710,000 technicians will be needed globally over the next 20 years, making this one of the most in-demand skilled trades careers available today.
02
Mentorship in aviation maintenance works best when you have multiple mentors across different levels — Jennifer's approach is to ask each mentor the same question independently, synthesize the input yourself, and own the final decision without trading their perspectives with each other.
03
Aviation maintenance careers are not a ceiling — Boeing's technical fellowship program allows a mechanic to advance all the way to a senior executive role through technical expertise alone, with compensation that rivals pilot salaries as the shortage deepens.
04
The number one mistake Jennifer sees in the next generation of aviation workers is not asking questions out of fear of looking uninformed — removing the fear of failure and asking early is how you save time, build credibility, and accelerate your career from day one.
Meet Jennifer Radtke.
Jennifer Radtke is a Director and Functional Chief Engineer for Product Support Engineering at Boeing, with 32 years in the aviation industry. She started her career as a licensed mechanic working the flight line before moving into maintenance engineering, technical leadership, and ultimately a functional chief role at one of the world's most recognized aerospace companies.
Jennifer is a leading voice on the aviation technician shortage, next-generation workforce development, and the mentorship practices that help tradespeople build long, fulfilling careers in aviation. She spoke at the AMC Championships, where this episode was recorded live.
