Intern - Ops Strat Analytics (Summer 2027)

United Airlines; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flight privileges

Medical benefits

Commuter benefits

Paid holidays and time off

401(k)

Job summary

United Airlines invites undergraduates to join the Future NOC internship within Network Operations in Chicago. You will gain exposure to strategy, analytics, product management, and long-term planning for real-time flight and airport operations.

You will translate data into insights, build dashboards, and collaborate across teams to drive operational efficiencies. The program emphasizes learning operational processes, developing best practices, and leveraging AI responsibly, with a May/June 2026

Qualifications

• Must be a current undergraduate student.
• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, Engineering, Economics, or related field; or other relevant experience
• Strong problem-solving skillets
• Highly organized and self-motivated, with excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities and ensure attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills; must be comfortable talking to and collaborating with a variety of stakeholders
• Confident performing data analysis to arrive at insights and develop recommendations.
• Proven proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Responsibilities

• Translate data into practical operational insights and recommendations that will support front-line teams
• Help create tools and processes for various teams to use during Irregular Operations events
• Build, develop, and validate operational dashboards and analyses that are strategically and tactically aligned, providing answers to critical operational questions
• Evaluate new technology and processes in support of Airport and Network Operations proofs-of-concept or deployment, while supporting the business case development, design, build, and delivery
• Resolve actionable projects to facilitate efficiencies in operations execution
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to turn operational questions into actionable insights and explore opportunities for performance and process improvement
• Learn the operational processes to help establish and standardize best practices that highlight efficiency and accuracy

Skills

Problem-solving

Highly organized

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Communication and presentation

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Education

Undergraduate student

Bachelor’s degree (in progress) in Business/Communications/Engineering/Economics or related

Tools

SQL

Python

Job description

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network.

Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together.

Description

United’s Network Operations business unit is a multi-discipline organization responsible for our global operations in real time. Some of the biggest decisions that affect our flight and airport operations take place within the Network Operations Control center.

As a Future NOC intern, you will have the opportunity to work with a multitude of different teams within the operations and see how they keep the airline running smoothly every day. Our department supports those teams in various ways: planning the long-term vision for the daily operations, continuously improving the operational products and tools our teams need to succeed, and analyzing the performance of the operations to see how we can improve so more customers get to their destinations on time.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy and Analytics

• Translate data into practical operational insights and recommendations that will support front-line teams
• Help create tools and processes for various teams to use during Irregular Operations events
• Build, develop, and validate operational dashboards and analyses that are strategically and tactically aligned, providing answers to critical operational questions

Product Management

• Evaluate new technology and processes in support of Airport and Network Operations proofs-of-concept or deployment, while supporting the business case development, design, build, and delivery
• Resolve actionable projects to facilitate efficiencies in operations execution

Long-term Planning

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to turn operational questions into actionable insights and explore opportunities for performance and process improvement
• Learn the operational processes to help establish and standardize best practices that highlight efficiency and accuracy

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Applicant must be a current undergraduate student
• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, Engineering, Economics, or a related field; or other relevant experience
• Strong problem-solving skillets
• Highly organized and self-motivated, with excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities and ensure attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills; must be comfortable talking to and collaborating with a variety of stakeholders
• Confident performing data analysis to arrive at insights and develop recommendations.
• Proven proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):

• Strategic planning
• Product management
• SQL or Python programming

Other Qualifications

• Position is based in Chicago, IL -must be able to relocate for internship duration
• Start dates are in May or June 2026
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position
• Demonstrated understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and the ability to leverage AI effectively to support research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving. Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to organizational policies related to responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.
• Posting dates: September 1, 2026 through September 15, 2026

The starting rate for this role is $20.00.

The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience, education and skills. This position may also be eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k) and flight privileges.

United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact [e-mail]