Director - Powerplant Engineering

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 careers include a competitive benefits package aimed at keeping you happy, healthy, and well-traveled. From employee-run "Business Resource Group" communities to world-class benefits like parental leave, 401k, and privileges like space available travel, United is truly a one-of-a-kind place to work. 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:

The Director of Powerplant Engineering is responsible for the safe, compliant, and reliable operation of United's engines and auxiliary power units (APUs). The Director is a leader of leaders and has several engineering teams in the organization, including two Powerplant project teams and an engine shop support team. United Airlines operates a diverse set of engines across its mainline fleet in dynamic operating environments, and the team has overall responsibility to ensure these critical systems and components are accurately maintained, repaired, and altered as needed.

Safety and compliance

• Ensure our fleet of engines remains safe for operation and is fully compliant with Federal Aviation Regulations including FAA and EASA Airworthiness Directives
• Promotes a safe environment for United passengers, front-line operational team, and engineering team.

Reliability

• Monitor engine operating parameters and develop action plans based on observed trend data.
• Investigate in-flight shutdown (IFSD) events thoroughly and promptly.
• Implement comprehensive preventative action to maintain extended operations (ETOPS) capability.
• Further responsibilities include driving measurable improvements to reliability metrics for engines including pilot reports, delays, cancellations, and maintenance burden for engines through the Weekly Reliability Meetings

Relationships

• Maintain partnerships with Powerplant original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
• Airlines for America (A4A) and other operators regarding technical issues related to engines.
• Further develops partnerships with internal collaborators including procurement, inventory management, engine shop, and line engineering.

Team development

• Mentor and develop the Powerplant Engineering team to grow talent and technical expertise across our diverse population of engine types.
• Perform hiring and review functions to ensure top performance on an ongoing basis.

Project management

• Guide the development and delivery of sophisticated projects, including project justification, acquiring financial approval, planning for project implementation, obtaining FAA approvals as required, supporting front-line teams during execution, change management and in service technical support.
• Prepare the airline for rapid growth and induction of new engines.
• Provide technical input to supplier negotiations.

Continuous improvement

• Ensure our front-line technicians are successful in efficiently implementing routine and non-routine tasks including engine changes through data review and process improvements such as manuals, materials, training, and on-site support.

Engine shop

• Develop and document work scopes for engine shop visits that carefully balance turn-around time, cost and investment in performance using technical and business acumen.
• Provide technical support to the San Francisco engine shop to disposition hardware and substantiate repairs for United Airlines and customer engines.

United values diverse experiences, perspectives, and we encourage everyone who meets the minimum qualifications to apply. While having the "desired" qualifications make for a stronger candidate, we encourage applicants who may not feel they check ALL of those boxes! We are always looking for individuals who will bring something new to the table!

Qualifications

What's needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering background
• 5 years management experience, 10 years engineering experience.
• Extensive knowledge of FARs (Federal Aviation Regulation), airworthiness design and substantiation criteria, aircraft and equipment design and operational characteristics, aircraft materials and processes
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship.
• Occasional support outside of normal working hours for our 24/7 operation may be required.
• Travel up to 30% including international travel is required. Team members are based in Chicago, San Francisco, and India.
• This is a hybrid role based out of Chicago.

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

• Master's degree or 6 years of relevant work experience
• 5 years of experience in Powerplant engineering at an air carrier.
• A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) License
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Passion for safety and service
• Mentors engineering and leadership talent.
• Driven to measurably improve performance.

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. 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 to request accommodation.

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