Senior Engineer - Maintenance Programs

United Airlines; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life

Disability

Parental leave

Employee assistance program

Commuter benefits

Paid holidays

Paid time off

401(k) and flight privileges

Job summary

United Airlines is seeking a Senior Engineer – Maintenance Programs to develop and optimize maintenance programs for aging aircraft. You will collaborate with fleet engineering to identify and mitigate age-related failure modes, focusing on reliability, availability, and cost control throughout the life cycle.

The role requires leading complex technical solutions, coordinating with stakeholders, and delivering program changes on schedule in a hybrid office setting at Willis Tower in Chicago.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or related experience in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace) or technical field.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret complex engineering and OEM documents.
• Excellent communication, both verbal and written, for technical leadership and stakeholder alignment.
• Experience with regulatory compliance modifications and ownership of system upgrades.

Responsibilities

• Analyze reliability data to identify gaps in baseline maintenance programs and recommend improvements.
• Lead development of data-driven technical solutions, including cost/benefit analysis and risk assessment.
• Provide technical leadership through implementation and FAA approvals as required.
• Prepare data-supported recommendations to leadership for maintenance program strategy and resource allocation.
• Coordinate with fleet engineering and operational stakeholders to ensure airworthiness and reliability.

Skills

Attention to detail

Regulatory knowledge

Technical writing

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

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 Senior Engineer – Maintenance Programs develops and optimizes the airline’s maintenance programs for key systems to promote reliability. This role in particular focuses on aging aircraft. By analyzing aircraft systems and working in close partnership with fleet engineering teams, the Senior Engineer identifies and creates plans to mitigate age-related failure modes. A focus on reliability, aircraft availability and cost control drives measurable value to the airline’s operation. As part of a strategic team, the Senior Engineer ensures the routine maintenance program remains both effective and sustainable throughout the aircraft life cycle.

• Analyze reliability data in conjunction with aircraft system design and OEM documentation to identify gaps in baseline maintenance programs and develop actionable recommendations to improve long-term fleet reliability
• Lead the development of potentially complex, data-driven technical solutions and implementation plans, including project justification, cost/benefit analysis, and risk assessment, to improve maintenance program effectiveness and fleet reliability
• Provide technical leadership through implementation, ongoing support, and coordination of FAA approvals as required
• Prepare and present clear, data-supported technical recommendations to leadership and stakeholders, enabling informed decisions on maintenance program strategy, risk trade-offs and resource allocation
• Coordinate work with fleet engineering peers and operational stakeholders to ensure airworthiness, safety, regulatory compliance, operational reliability, and operational efficiency
• Organize, prioritize, and execute assigned responsibilities to deliver maintenance program changes on schedule, ensuring analytical rigor, stakeholder alignment, and successful integration into operational processes

NOTE: This position is based at the CSC - Willis Tower, located in Chicago, IL. and considered as a hybrid work-schedule working Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in office. However, that may evolve with the needs of the company.

Qualifications

What's needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor's Degree or related experience in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace) or technical field
• Senior Engineer I: 5-8 years
• Senior Engineer II: 8 years+
• Ability to interpret complex and technical Engineering and OEM documents
• Highly detailed level project development and management for regulatory compliance modifications, and overall ownership of specific systems
• Effective communication skills, including strong verbal communication and technical writing
• Successful candidate will have working knowledge of airline or OEM operations
• Knowledge of Code of Regulations (CFRs),airworthiness design and substantiation criteria, aircraft and equipment design and operational characteristics
• 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):

• Bachelor's degree
• Specific ATA experience
• Airline experience, OEM experience or operations experience in a similar industry
• Experience working with aircraft, engine, ground equipment or other asset fault data
• Familiarity with MSG-3 philosophy and application in the development and evolution of a maintenance program

The base pay range for this role is $100,415.00 to $130,758.00.

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]