Manager - Reliability

United Airlines; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Parental leave

Employee assistance program

Commuter benefits

Paid holidays

Paid time off

401(k)

Flight privileges

Job summary

United Airlines seeks a Manager of Reliability in its Technical Operations group to lead a team of engineers, drive reliability initiatives, and partner with regulators. The role emphasizes data-driven analysis of aircraft performance, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic process improvements to enhance fleet reliability.

The position requires hands-on leadership, proficiency with analytics tools, and the ability to travel 10–15% while working a hybrid schedule in Chicago, IL.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years in aircraft reliability engineering or equivalent.
• Proven cross-functional leadership of engineering teams.
• Technical knowledge of Airbus and Boeing systems.
• Ability to work with diverse internal, external, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to analyze data and report findings to an executive audience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office with strong communication.
• Willing to travel 10–15%.
• Hybrid schedule: in-office Tue-Thu at Willis Tower, Chicago, IL.
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Interview process required; reliable, punctual attendance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of reliability engineers overseeing regulatory, base maintenance, and strategic initiatives for Fleet Reliability.
• Identify, investigate, and analyze performance deterioration of aircraft reliability.
• Prepare and present performance trends, root cause analyses and corrective actions to management and regulators.
• Interface with teams across the company and with regulatory agencies regularly.
• Collaborate with BI and Reliability Analytics to develop trend monitoring reports using visualization tools.
• Interface with Data Analytics to support machine learning applications for maintenance data.
• Assist with other duties assigned by senior management.

Skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in quantitative field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Palantir Foundry

Spotfire

SQL

Python

Excel

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

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.

Job Overview and Responsibilities

The Manager‑Reliability leads Technical Operation's strategic efforts in reliability engineering by partnering with reliability engineers and other subject matter experts across the enterprise. Responsibilities include identifying, investigating, and analyzing reliability trends and issues; preparing and presenting recommendations; and instituting process changes that improve aircraft reliability.

• Lead a team of reliability engineers overseeing regulatory, base maintenance, and strategic initiatives for the Fleet Reliability department
• Identify, investigate, and analyze performance deterioration of aircraft reliability using qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Responsible for preparing and presenting performance trends, root cause analysis and corrective actions to all levels of management and regulatory agencies (FAA, DOD, etc.)
• Interface with teams from across the company at different levels of management and with regulatory agencies on a regular basis
• Collaborate with Business Intelligence and Reliability Analytics in the development of trend monitoring reports using visualization tools such as Spotfire, Palantir Foundry, etc.
• Interface with Data Analytics to support ongoing initiatives related to machine learning applications for maintenance data
• Assist with other duties assigned by senior management

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in quantitative field such as engineering, statistics, or analytics or relevant work experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in with aircraft/reliability engineering or equivalent work experience
• Proven track record of leading high‑performing engineer teams and experience in cross functional leadership role
• Technical knowledge of both Airbus and Boeing aircraft systems
• Must be able to work effectively with a variety of people both internally, externally, and regulatory agencies
• Strong analytical problem solving and trouble shooting skills
• Ability to analyze data and report findings to an executive audience
• Microsoft Office proficiency and good oral and written communication skills including presenting
• Must be willing and able to travel 10‑15% on average based on the work you do
• Must be willing and able to work a hybrid work schedule in office 3 days a week in office (Tue‑Thu) at the CSC‑Willis Tower in Chicago, IL
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

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

• Master's degree
• Master’s degree in a related field
• Six sigma/Lean Training with a min certification of green belt (black belt preferred)
• Strong background in 14 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 121,
• Advisory Circular (AC) 120‑17A/B and MSG‑3 based Aircraft Maintenance Programs
• Experience with data management and visualization software including Palantir Foundry and Spotfire
• Experience with data querying languages (SQL), scripting languages (Python) and or statistical/mathematical software (e.g.R)

The base pay range for this role is $117,610.00 to $153,146.00.

The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job‑related, factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also 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]