Intern - Tech Ops Strategic Planning (Summer 2027)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life insurance

Accident & disability coverage

Parental leave

Employee assistance program

Commuter benefits

Paid holidays

Paid time off

401(k)

Flight privileges

Job summary

United Airlines in Chicago is offering a paid Technical Operations internship across data analytics and engineering disciplines. Interns will work with TO professionals on real-world projects, learn about maintenance planning, analytics and airline operations, and may receive university credit depending on guidelines.

Internships include competitive benefits such as medical, dental, and flight privileges. Qualified students pursuing Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, Math

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in a relevant engineering or business field.
• Minimum 12 semester hours in core degree coursework.
• Rising junior at internship start.
• Available for 10–12 weeks during Summer 2027.
• Willing to travel internationally.
• Legally authorized to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities

• Provide aircraft engineering support to line and check aircraft.
• Review, evaluate and resolve next steps on manufacturer bulletins, management requests and regulatory requirements on United Airlines Airbus/Boeing aircraft
• Prepare cost analysis on projects
• Investigate and provide decisions for non-conformances resulting from in-service failures or maintenance incidents
• Data extraction, normalization and analysis, data-based modeling/forecasting
• Trend valuations across fleet/stations specific to time in check, work package scope, and costs
• Process optimization and mapping out existing gaps and possible mitigations
• Create, maintain and implement long term airframe maintenance plans
• Building, maintaining and modeling aircraft maintenance visit scenarios to minimize cost and increase aircraft utilization
• Scheduling optimization for aircraft maintenance events
• Building work packages and coordinating aircraft heavy maintenance visits

Skills

Data Analytics

Digital Fleet Management

Strategic and Base Planning

Airframe Maintenance Strategy

Predictive Maintenance

Engineering

Supply Chain

Education

Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, Supply Chain/Logistics, Business or another related field

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

There’s never been a more exciting time to join United Airlines. We’re on a path towards becoming the best airline in the history of aviation. Our shared purpose – Connecting People, Uniting the World – is about more than getting people from one place to another. It also means that as a global company that operates in hundreds of locations around the world with millions of customers and tens of thousands of employees, we have a unique responsibility to uplift and provide opportunities in the places where we work, live and fly, and we can only do that with a truly diverse and inclusive workforce. And we’re growing – in the years ahead, we’ll hire tens of thousands of people across every area of the airline. Our internships are paid, and course credit hours may be considered depending on university’s guidelines. Internships include a competitive benefits package sought at keeping you happy, healthy and well-traveled. From mentorship opportunities to benefits like medical insurance and privileges like space available travel, United is truly a one-of-a-kind internship experience. Are you ready to travel the world?

At United, we have some of the best aircraft in the world. Our Technical Operations team is full of aircraft maintenance technicians, engineers, planners, ground equipment and facilities professionals, and supply chain teams that help make sure they’re well taken care of and ready to get our customers to their desired destinations. If you’re ready to work on our planes, join our Tech Ops experts and help keep our fleet in tip-top shape.

Key Responsibilities

As a Technical Operations intern, you’ll work side-by-side with our TO professionals, taking on problems and learning about our industry. Internships are paid and course credit hours may be considered depending on your university’s guidelines. Technical Operations interns will be placed throughout our system, depending on project / field. Potential placements include but are not limited to: Data Analytics, Digital Fleet Management, Strategic and Base Planning, Airframe Maintenance Strategy, Predictive Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain and more.

Responsibilities could include the following (dependent on placement):

• Provide aircraft engineering support to line and check aircraft
• Review, evaluate and resolve next steps on manufacturer bulletins, management requests and regulatory requirements on United Airlines Airbus/Boeing aircraft
• Prepare cost analysis on projects
• Investigate and provide decisions for non-conformances resulting from in-service failures or maintenance incidents
• Data extraction, normalization and analysis, data-based modeling/forecasting
• Trend valuations across fleet/stations specific to time in check, work package scope, and costs
• Process optimization and mapping out existing gaps and possible mitigations
• Create, maintain and implement long term airframe maintenance plans
• Building, maintaining and modeling aircraft maintenance visit scenarios to minimize cost and increase aircraft utilization
• Scheduling optimization for aircraft maintenance events
• Building work packages and coordinating aircraft heavy maintenance visits

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Must be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, Supply Chain/Logistics, Business or another related field
• Must have a minimum of 12 semester hours in core degree course work
• Individual should be a rising junior (at minimum) when internship begins
• Must be available for 10-12 weeks during Summer 2027
• Work related travel may be required, individuals must be able to travel without any restrictions, including internationally
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship now or at any point in the future

Preffered Qualifications:

• 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.

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)
• 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]