As more professionals worldwide seek stable, skilled jobs with international employers, FL Technics has attracted strong interest for its new Punta Cana aviation project despite a minimal local talent pool. By focusing on local recruitment and hands-on training, the company is building a regional workforce while preparing Dominican staff for leadership roles.
Recent studies show that nearly half of employees would consider relocating for the right opportunity. The appetite for mobility is especially pronounced among Gen Z, with about two-thirds of young workers willing to relocate for high-quality jobs that offer career development and strong support. Amid talent shortages and workplace uncertainty across many sectors, companies with reliable training and advancement opportunities attract more job seekers worldwide.
When FL Technics, a global provider of aviation maintenance solutions, announced plans to open a heavy maintenance facility in Punta Cana, the business faced a significant challenge. The Dominican Republic offered almost no local talent pool trained in aircraft maintenance, an industry already facing a global shortage of licensed workers. Nevertheless, the company’s initial hiring campaign drew over 3,500 applications, with plans to employ 300 people in the initial hiring stage and up to 2,000 positions over the next several years.
Applications came from international aviation professionals and local talent, including approximately 1,000 certified engineers, underscoring that steady jobs, competitive benefits, and clear opportunities in a global environment can attract a broad talent pool.
Meeting aviation talent shortages head-on
In recent years, automation, rising skill requirements, and changing work environments have fueled instability in the job market across many sectors. Aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) has been deeply affected. The rapid growth of the aviation industry is driving demand for specialists with advanced technical expertise. Yet in many regions, there are not enough certified engineers and mechanics to fill key roles.
This situation was even more pronounced in the Dominican Republic, where nearly all aviation MRO talent had to be recruited or developed from scratch. Few local candidates had experience in heavy maintenance or the certifications required to comply with safety standards.
“Our aim has never been to simply import talent into the Dominican Republic, but to develop future leaders from this market,” says Viktorija Speteliūnaitė, HR Director at FL Technics Dominican Republic S.A.S. “Our priority is to maintain a clear balance between hiring local employees and bringing in specialists. We want to build a team where around 80% of staff are local, supported by about 20% global experts until knowledge is fully transferred.”
Building a new recruitment model
To meet its hiring goals, FL Technics adopted a mixed approach rather than relying solely on experienced expats. The recruitment team invited both experienced aviation professionals from its international network and candidates from local and regional labor pools who showed promise, even if they had no background in aviation. Targeted ads, clear job listings, and direct outreach to local vocational schools and universities generated applications from many fields.
Within a few months of launching recruitment, FL Technics received more than 3,500 applications for roles in Punta Cana — well above expectations. The search attracted both international aviation professionals and candidates from the Dominican Republic and surrounding regions.
Developing talent for long-term impact
In job interviews, candidates consistently cited the opportunity to work with FL Technics’ international team as a key reason for applying. As Head of HR V. Speteliūnaitė explains, “Candidates often highlight how motivating it is to collaborate daily with international colleagues. People are highly attracted to the chance to contribute from day one: to see tangible infrastructure development, influence processes, build a team, and observe the direct impact of their work. Such opportunities are rare in aviation and in global projects generally.”
Current team members share those expectations. “What excites me most is being part of something new and meaningful for the region,” says Recruitment Specialist Bianca Rivas Benitez. “This project will create opportunities, bring fresh ideas, and position Punta Cana as a hub in the aviation industry.”
For Joel Adriano Rodriguez Rodriguez, Maintenance Support Unit Manager, daily results matter most: “I am excited to be part of the team starting up this MRO in our country. I see it as a good opportunity to grow and help ensure safe flights from my position.”
Looking ahead, FL Technics will continue expanding its recruitment efforts to bring in more local candidates for technical and support roles. Ongoing training programs are in place to prepare local employees for leadership positions, with the aim of shifting most managerial responsibility to Dominican talent within the next few years. The company’s goal is to develop a team where local staff lead daily operations, combining their experience with new skills gained alongside industry experts.
