Senior Analyst – Technical Operations Strategy and Performance

United Airlines; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flight privileges

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k)

Job summary

United Airlines in Chicago is seeking a Senior Analyst — Technical Operations Strategy & Performance to drive efficiency and data‑driven decisions across Planning, Supply Chain, Engineering and Maintenance.

The role blends analytics with operational strategy, building dashboards, presenting recommendations to leadership, and enabling scalable improvements. This hybrid role is based at Willis Tower with three days in-office weekly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• Two or more years of experience in analytics, process improvement, operations strategy, or a related field.
• Experience with data visualization tools and large datasets.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to present findings to senior leadership.
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives to improve maintenance performance and operational efficiency.
• Develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses, coordinate stakeholder approvals, and manage implementation plans.
• Extract, analyze, and interpret large datasets to identify trends, opportunities, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Create and maintain reports, dashboards, and performance metrics for data-driven decisions.
• Evaluate processes to identify bottlenecks, risks, and opportunities to improve execution.
• Collaborate with Planning, Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and Operations to deliver scalable improvements.
• Prepare and present analyses, recommendations, and executive-level presentations to leadership.
• Utilize structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Learn new processes, identify data gaps, and develop quantitative solutions.
• Support initiatives that improve operational performance, resource utilization, and maintenance reliability.

Skills

Analytics

Process improvement

Operations strategy

Data visualization

Presentation skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Spotfire

Tableau

Power BI

ggplot2

Palantir

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 Find your future at United! We’re reinventing what our industry looks like and what an airline can be — from the planes we fly to the people who fly them. When you join us, you’re joining a global team of 100,000 connected by a shared passion with a broad spectrum of experience and skills to lead the way forward.

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.

Create what’s next with us. Let’s define tomorrow together! At United, we operate some of the world’s best aircraft. Our Technical Operations team comprises aircraft maintenance technicians, engineers, planners, ground equipment and facilities professionals, and supply chain teams, ensuring they’re well‑equipped and ready to transport our customers to their desired destinations. If you’re prepared to work on our planes, join our Tech Ops experts and help keep our fleet in tip‑top shape.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Analyst — Technical Operations Strategy & Performance , you will play a key role in improving the efficiency, scalability, and performance of United’s Technical Operations organization. As our fleet and maintenance operations continue to grow, you will identify opportunities to streamline processes, optimize workflows, and leverage operational data to support informed business decisions.

This role serves as a bridge between frontline maintenance execution and operational strategy by transforming complex data into actionable insights that improve maintenance performance. Working cross-functionally with Planning, Supply Chain, Engineering, Maintenance, and other Technical Operations stakeholders, you will develop scalable solutions that drive operational excellence. Success in this role requires a hands‑on, analytical mindset, strong problem‑solving skills, and a passion for continuous improvement in a fast‑paced environment.

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that improve maintenance line performance and operational efficiency.
• Develop business cases, perform cost‑benefit analyses, coordinate stakeholder approvals, and manage implementation plans for operational improvements.
• Extract, analyze, and interpret large datasets from multiple sources to identify trends, opportunities, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Create and maintain reports, dashboards, and performance metrics that support data‑driven decision making across Technical Operations.
• Evaluate existing operational processes and identify bottlenecks, risks, and opportunities to improve maintenance execution.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams including Planning, Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and Operations to deliver scalable process improvements.
• Prepare and present operational analyses, recommendations, and executive‑level presentations to leadership.
• Utilize structured problem‑solving and continuous improvement methodologies to develop sustainable solutions.
• Learn new business processes independently, identify data gaps, and collaborate with subject matter experts to develop quantitative solutions.
• Support organizational initiatives that improve operational performance, resource utilization, and maintenance reliability.

Location & Schedule

This role is based at the CSC — Willis Tower in Chicago, IL, and follows a hybrid work schedule with three days per week in‑office (subject to change)

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• Two or more years of experience in analytics, process improvement, operations strategy, or a related field.
• Experience applying process improvement methodologies and structured problem‑solving techniques.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret large volumes of data with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience working with large datasets to identify trends and develop actionable recommendations.
• Experience creating presentations and communicating analytical findings to senior leadership.
• Experience using data visualization tools such as Spotfire, Tableau, Power BI, ggplot2, or similar platforms.
• Ability to work independently, learn complex business processes, identify data gaps, and develop quantitative solutions.
• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and project management skills.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship.
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualifications.
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position.

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

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Data Analytics, or a related field.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or equivalent process improvement certification).
• One or more years of airline or aviation industry experience.
• Understanding of airline maintenance operations and Technical Operations business processes.
• Experience with business intelligence platforms such as Palantir, Power BI, Spotfire, or Tableau.
• Basic programming experience, including web scraping or working with structured and unstructured datasets.
• Experience developing dashboards, applications, or automated reporting solutions.
• Experience supporting operational strategy, maintenance analytics, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of airline maintenance planning, engineering, supply chain, or operational performance metrics.

The base pay range for this role is $89,965.00 to $117,212.00.

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]