Aviation Parts Research Analyst
SOI Aviation | Calabasas, CA | Onsite
Full-Time | $30.00–$34.00 per hour
About SOI Aviation
SOI Aviation is a global aviation services company specializing in the sourcing, distribution, and support of aircraft parts and components. We support commercial and government aviation customers with a particular focus on solving complex, hard-to-source, obsolete, and legacy aircraft requirements.
Position Summary
SOI Aviation is seeking an experienced Aviation Parts Research Analyst with a strong technical aviation background to conduct in-depth research on aircraft parts, components, pricing, availability, interchangeability, and sourcing options.
This is a research-focused position. The Aviation Parts Research Analyst will investigate requirements before they are sent to the Procurement team, developing a comprehensive research package that gives Procurement the technical, pricing, supplier, and market intelligence needed to efficiently source and purchase the correct component.
The ideal candidate has previous experience working with military, government, legacy, or retired aircraft platforms and understands the complexities involved in researching parts for aircraft that may no longer have readily available OEM support.
This position requires someone who enjoys digging deep into a requirement—someone who can take a difficult part number or aircraft requirement and determine what the part is, where it is used, what alternatives may exist, what it should reasonably cost, who may have it, and where Procurement should look next.
Key ResponsibilitiesAviation Parts Research
· Conduct detailed research on aircraft parts and components in response to customer and internal requirements.
· Research part numbers, National Stock Numbers (NSNs), alternate and superseded part numbers, aircraft applicability, and component history.
· Identify potential interchangeability, replacement, supersession, or alternate sourcing opportunities when appropriate.
· Research components associated with legacy, retired, military, and government aircraft platforms where traditional OEM sourcing may be limited.
· Review available technical documentation and historical information to understand part function, application, and aircraft effectivity.
· Investigate difficult, obsolete, and hard-to-find components using multiple research methods and databases.
Pricing & Market Intelligence
· Conduct deep market research to establish reasonable pricing benchmarks for aircraft components.
· Analyze historical pricing, current market availability, previous quotes, supplier listings, and comparable components.
· Identify significant pricing discrepancies and provide supporting research to Procurement.
· Research historical availability and market activity to help determine whether a component is readily available, scarce, obsolete, or potentially difficult to source.
· Develop pricing intelligence for components where limited recent market data exists.
Aviation Research Platforms & Tools
Utilize aviation and government research platforms including:
· ILS / ILSmart
· PartsBase
· Pentagon
· Government and military parts databases
· OEM resources and technical documentation
· Historical company purchasing and quoting data
· Supplier and distributor databases
· Internet and industry research resources
Experience researching NSNs, military aircraft components, government surplus, legacy platforms, and alternate part numbers is strongly preferred.
Procurement Research Packages
Prepare clear and complete research packages for Procurement that may include:
· Requested part number
· Part description and technical application
· Aircraft/platform applicability
· NSN, when applicable
· Alternate or superseded part numbers
· Historical pricing
· Current market pricing
· Known inventory or potential suppliers
· OEM information
· Lead-time information when available
· Condition and certification considerations
· Relevant technical documentation
· Research notes and recommended sourcing paths
Once research is complete, transition the requirement to the Procurement team for supplier engagement, negotiation, and purchasing.
Technical Analysis
· Interpret aircraft parts information, technical documentation, catalogs, drawings, and component descriptions.
· Understand basic aircraft systems and how individual components relate to the aircraft or platform.
· Recognize when additional technical validation is required before a component is sourced.
· Work with internal aviation experts, Procurement, Purchasing, Sales, and Government teams to resolve technical questions.
· Maintain accurate documentation supporting research conclusions and recommendations.
Required Qualifications
· Previous professional experience within the aviation, aerospace, aircraft parts, MRO, military aviation, or defense aviation industry.
· Strong technical knowledge of aircraft, aircraft systems, components, and aviation terminology.
· Demonstrated experience conducting detailed aircraft parts research.
· Experience with ILS/ILSmart and/or PartsBase.
· Experience researching aircraft part numbers, NSNs, alternate part numbers, supersessions, and component availability.
· Strong understanding of aviation parts pricing and the aftermarket aircraft parts industry.
· Ability to research complex or incomplete requirements and independently determine appropriate next steps.
· Strong analytical and investigative skills.
· Exceptional attention to detail and documentation.
· Ability to communicate research findings clearly to Procurement and other internal teams.
Highly Preferred Experience
· Experience supporting U.S. Government or military aviation programs.
· Experience with retired, legacy, or out-of-production aircraft platforms.
· Experience researching military aircraft components and NSNs.
· Pentagon system experience.
· Experience working with government surplus or difficult-to-source military aviation components.
· Technical aviation background such as aircraft maintenance, engineering, MRO, military aviation, technical sales, parts, or component support.
· Familiarity with OEM technical documentation, illustrated parts catalogs, maintenance documentation, or similar aviation technical resources.
What Success Looks Like
The Aviation Parts Research Analyst serves as the investigative and technical research resource behind SOI Aviation’s procurement process.
A successful analyst can receive a difficult aircraft requirement and develop a clear picture of:
What is it?
What aircraft or platform does it belong to?
Are there alternate or superseded part numbers?
Is it still manufactured?
What has it historically cost?
What is the current market value?
Who has supplied it previously?
Where is inventory potentially available?
What technical or certification considerations should Procurement know?
What is the best path for Procurement to pursue?
The goal is to provide Procurement with actionable intelligence—not simply search results—allowing the team to source aircraft components faster, more accurately, and at the best possible value.
Compensation
$30.00–$34.00 per hour, depending on aviation experience, technical knowledge, military/government platform experience, and familiarity with aviation research databases.
Full-time position with benefits in accordance with SOI Aviation’s benefits program.
Pay: $30.00 - $34.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) 3% Match
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
