DIEGO SANCHEZ GAONA
Broken Arrow,OK
Summary
Production operations and field engineering specialist with 10+ years supporting complex electro-optical and infrared systems in high-reliability aerospace environments. Experienced supporting maintenance and technical operations across CONUS and OCONUS deployments, coordinating with engineering, supply chain, and customer teams to maintain mission-critical systems. Proven ability to troubleshoot complex hardware, enforce quality procedures, and optimize system performance while supporting cross-functional engineering teams. Active TS/SCI clearance.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Specialist – Field Engineering
L3Harris Technologies
Tulsa, OK
01.2018 - Current
- Maintain and support advanced Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Full Motion Video systems, including the Aries-25 sensor platform.
- Perform diagnostics and system health analysis using Built-In-Tests (BIT) to evaluate Integrated Payload Modules (IPMs).
- Conduct incoming inspections and functional testing on components from multiple vendors to ensure compliance with quality standards.
- Test and validate individual components and fully integrated systems prior to operational deployment.
- Provide technical troubleshooting and support during long-duration customer site deployments across CONUS and OCONUS locations.
- Authorized to perform non-standard maintenance under quality authority, ensuring mission readiness and compliance with technical documentation.
- Serve as a primary liaison between customers, engineering teams, and maintenance organizations.
- Coordinate Return Material Authorizations (RMAs) with vendors and supply chain partners.
- Participate in Integrated Product Team (IPT) meetings to support system improvements and operational readiness.
- Deliver weekly technical briefings and reports to stakeholders on system health, performance, and maintenance actions.
- Track technical tasks and project updates using Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, and Teamcenter.
- Maintain strict tool accountability and safety compliance in maintenance environments.
- Travel 30–40% globally to support field operations and technical deployments.
Field Service Technician
Merlin Global Services (Sierra Nevada Corporation Program)
Kandahar, Afghanistan
06.2016 - 01.2018
- Operated and maintained electro-optical and infrared sensor systems supporting ISR operations.
- Performed repair and troubleshooting of electrical systems including multi-conductor wiring, coaxial cables, and fiber optics.
- Maintained ground station infrastructure with scheduled inspections and preventative maintenance.
- Supported system operations by performing Linux Red Hat server maintenance and workstation updates.
- Provided real-time troubleshooting support through mIRC communication channels.
- Managed mission data storage and transfer operations for deployed teams.
- Supported operations requiring 65% OCONUS travel.
Senior Avionics Systems Technician
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Clovis, NM
02.2014 - 10.2015
- Maintained and repaired aircraft avionics systems and electrical subsystems.
- Conducted aircraft maintenance in accordance with technical data, SOPs, and FAA/JAA regulations.
- Trained and mentored new technicians on maintenance procedures and safety practices.
- Maintained ground service equipment used for aircraft maintenance operations.
- Ensured strict compliance with environmental health and safety policies.
Avionics Systems Technician II – III
Merlin Ramco Incorporated (Sierra Nevada Corporation Program)
Clovis, NM
08.2012 - 02.2014
- Diagnosed and repaired avionics systems and aircraft electrical components.
- Performed maintenance following technical manuals and regulatory requirements.
- Maintained compliance with environmental and safety standards.
Integrated Avionics Systems Specialist
United States Air Force
Minot AFB, ND
12.2007 - 12.2013
- Performed and supervised integrated avionics maintenance for operational aircraft systems.
- Diagnosed system malfunctions and completed removal, repair, and installation of avionics components.
- Planned and coordinated aircraft maintenance activities and personnel tasking.
- Established maintenance standards and performance benchmarks for avionics teams.
Education
No Degree - Electrical Engineering
Tulsa Community College
Tulsa, OKundefined
Community College of the Air Force
Skills
- Electro-Optical / Infrared Systems (EO/IR)
- Hardware Diagnostics & Troubleshooting
- System Integration & Testing
- Technical Documentation & SOP Compliance
- Quality Assurance & Maintenance Procedures
- Cross-Functional Engineering Collaboration
- Tools: Jira, Confluence, Teamcenter, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office
- Linux Red Hat (Basic System Maintenance)
Certification
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) with Radar Endorsement
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) License
- Applied Business Science Course – Project Management (Oklahoma State University)
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
French
Limited Working
Timeline
Senior Specialist – Field Engineering
L3Harris Technologies
01.2018 - Current
Field Service Technician
Merlin Global Services (Sierra Nevada Corporation Program)
06.2016 - 01.2018
Senior Avionics Systems Technician
Sierra Nevada Corporation
02.2014 - 10.2015
Avionics Systems Technician II – III
Merlin Ramco Incorporated (Sierra Nevada Corporation Program)
08.2012 - 02.2014
Integrated Avionics Systems Specialist
United States Air Force
12.2007 - 12.2013
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Community College of the Air Force
No Degree - Electrical Engineering
Tulsa Community College
Security Clearance
Active Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) Clearance