Senior engineer - aircraft

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 ambitions starts with supporting yours. Evolve your career and find your next opportunity. Get the care you need with industry-leading health plans and best-in-class programs to help your emotional, physical, and financial wellness. Expand your horizons with travel across the world’s biggest route network. Connect outside your team through employee-led Business Resource Groups.

Create what’s next with us. Let’s define tomorrow together.

At United, we have some of the best aircraft in the world. 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:

The Senior Engineer – New Aircraft plays a key role in delivering, integrating, and optimizing new aircraft into United’s fleet. This position drives project planning, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure seamless aircraft entry into service and continued reliability.

Primary duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and manage strategic project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation for fleet and small-scale engineering projects

• Coordinate across multiple operational groups to maintain airworthiness, safety, regulatory compliance, and operational performance

• Facilitate communication with external stakeholders and secure FAA/ODA approvals as required

• Support development of project plans, new fleet inductions, STC projects, and process improvements

• Analyze technical data, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions to improve reliability and efficiency

• Provide on-site technical support to line and base operations when necessary

• Partner with suppliers and customers on technical issues, recommendations, and investigations

• Communicate regularly with leadership, ensuring transparency and alignment on project progress and milestones

This role manages projects from aircraft delivery through entry into service, ensuring adherence to engineering release schedules, procurement planning, budget alignment, and continuous improvement initiatives.

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 Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent experience)

• Minimum 4 years of experience as an engineer or in a related role

• Working knowledge of airline or OEM operations

• Understanding of CFRs, FAA Part 25 and Part 121 regulations, and airworthiness compliance

• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills

• Legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

• Reliable, punctual attendance

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

• Experience in airline interiors or configuration management

• Program Management experience with MS Project or similar tools

• Familiarity with ODA STC, MRA, or PMA-type projects

• Prior experience working with organization designation authorization (ODA)

The base pay range for this role is $97,945.00 to $127,622.00.
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. United Airlines recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status and other protected status as required by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer - Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT.


We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions. Please contact [email protected] to request accommodation.