T.Y.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA)
Field Service Team Manager
What is your role at Boeing?
As Field Services Team Leader based in Ethiopia, I support the safe operation of Boeing aircraft for our customers. From an office at the airport, I work closely with the airline customer to provide maintenance and engineering support that ensures reliable flight operations. Together with local field service staff, we are dedicated to keeping airline operations—and the passengers who rely on them—safe.
You originally worked for an airline and later moved to Boeing. What attracted you to Boeing?
I studied electrical engineering at university and graduate school, and during job hunting I became most interested in aviation. After graduating, I joined my top-choice airline and worked at Narita Airport on electrical and communication systems. I later moved to the engineering department, supporting in‑flight entertainment installations, supplemental type certifications, and equipment upgrades, which expanded my responsibilities and skills.
About ten years after joining the airline, I had the opportunity to be posted to Seattle. There I gained a much deeper, more direct involvement with Boeing than I had before. I acted as the intermediary between Boeing and the airline, following the aircraft through to completion and overseeing its entry into commercial service. It was an extremely rewarding job. I was stationed in Seattle with my family, so being able to watch my children grow up in the freer environment of the U.S. was also a very valuable experience.
After returning to Japan, a friend of mine in Seattle told me Boeing was hiring field service staff in Tokyo. I saw it as the right new challenge and decided to join Boeing.
Can you tell us about your move to overseas assignments?
After about ten years in Field Services at Haneda supporting Japanese airlines, my department updated its work policy and gave me a choice: remain Japan-based or become a global member with assignments worldwide. The chance to support safe operations in new places really appealed to me. timing also coincided with my child leaving for university, and my wife—who always supports my endeavors—agreed to move with me. Those factors led me to apply, and after internal selection I became a global member.
My first posting was for two years in Dubai. I’m now in my fourth year in Ethiopia, and following the standard rotation schedule I will transfer again this year to Kazakhstan. I’m excited to work in a new country.
What does a typical day at Boeing look like?
My day starts early — I’m usually in the office by about 7:30 a.m. to check emails. After that I visit the customer’s maintenance control center and hangars to review the day’s flight and maintenance status. I then attend a customer meeting to review any delays, cancellations, or return-to-base events from the previous day.
After lunch I handle any irregular operations: I gather related questions and requests, and if the local team can’t resolve something we raise it to Boeing’s engineering team in the U.S. I also work with the customer to enter system updates as needed, and coordinate with technical and planning teams to develop action plans. I often return home mid‑afternoon and join headquarters meetings remotely to close out the day.
On my days off I take advantage of being in Africa to travel regionally. I’ve visited places such as Tunisia, Egypt, Kenya, and Victoria Falls on the Zambia–Zimbabwe border. Experiencing Africa’s landscapes and cultures up close is one of the highlights of this assignment.
What's the best part about your job?
The biggest reward is being close to the work I love—helping aircraft operate safely and efficiently. When I put my heart into the job and see results, customers and colleagues express their satisfaction and gratitude. I also feel honored when people I have worked with ask me not to leave when I’m transferred.
Of course, this role carries pressure and responsibility. In those moments I focus on doing everything I can, then rely on trusted teammates and customers to collaborate and achieve our goals together.
Moving to a global role has allowed me to really experience working with people around the world—not just in Japan. I enjoy working with engineering teams in the U.S., the Middle East, India, and elsewhere, and that international collaboration is a major source of motivation. I’m also deeply grateful for my wife’s support—without her willingness to share life abroad, I couldn’t have had these experiences.
What are your career goals with Boeing?
I enjoy global assignments and want to continue working across Boeing locations worldwide. I don’t have a specific job title in mind, but I have always aimed to be a trusted leader— someone whom colleagues and partners, both inside and outside the company, turn to first when they have questions or need help.
What would you say to future Boeing employees?
Boeing’s business and jobs are broad and varied, and there are many internal opportunities. The company supports each employee’s goals, so if you work hard, you can actively build your future and career. That said, you must always be prepared and keep improving yourself. If there’s a role or position you want to try, or a challenge you want to take on, please go for it.
