Go read 14 CFR 61.159(d)(2).

This predates all of the R-ATP crap about approved colleges. Military FE time counts. Period. So you're good.

Sounds like some flight school person with a reading comprehension problem has gone off half-cocked again?

I just want to clarify that FE time CAN be used for both ATP and R-ATP. As long as you meet all the other requirements (Cross Country, Night PIC, etc...) you can totally use it. Most FEs get the R-ATP cause they don't have the full 500 Cross Country time to get the unrestricted one.

Does anyone know any FE that has been recently been hired as a pilot with a restricted ATP?

I guarantee that any regional will hire almost anyone with an R-ATP, unless you have a lot of felonies.

Are we talking violent felonies or financial crimes?

They don't want you beating up pax or fellow employees.

But they don't really care if you drop the brake early, most people do that anyway.

I am a prior flight engineer turned pilot slowly approaching ATP mins. I have talked with several airlines about this exact situation and they all seem to be very confused about the whole process. Exactly what documentation do I need to bring to prove my hours as an FE and that it was in an approved aircraft. For reference, I was on the C-130J and while Lockheed doesn’t state it needs a flight engineer our NATOPS Flight Manuel required one due to our mission sets. I’m worried that I’ll show up to an interview and get sent away because I don’t meet the requirements. However on paper it seems like I got everything I need. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you're talking about a regional I'm pretty sure they'll bend over backwards to accommodate you at the interview. Bring all relevant docs.

Once you get into training, then you will want to bring the issue up early with the training manager so they have time to do any research they need to satisfy themselves that it's all legal. If you just show up for the checkride at the end and throw some FE time and mil docs on the table the APD likely won't feel comfortable with that since he's probably never seen it before, and would not have time to resolve it on the spot.

Yes there will be a disconnect between the interview team and the training dept, guaranteed.

Does the C-130J panel have airplane systems stuff, or just mission systems?

Be sure you spell manual correctly in correspondence with the airline. (Not trying to be a d!ck but seems important)

Couldn’t find the type certificate data sheet for a L-382 but did find several for C-130s that have been converted to civilian registration. All are required to have to a Flight Engineer.