Industrial Engineering CO-OP

United Airlines•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

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. The Analytics and Innovation team partners with business and technology groups across United Airlines to solve complex business problems, improve operating efficiency, and support strategic decisions through advanced analytics and cross-functional expertise. The Industrial Engineering Intern contributes to meaningful, value-added projects across departments by gathering and analyzing operational data, identifying improvement opportunities, and developing practical recommendations and tools. Projects may range from focused analyses to large-scale transformation efforts and may use methods such as Lean Six Sigma, change management, time-and-motion studies, statistical analysis, simulation, and model development and validation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or current undergraduate study with completed coursework in basic Industrial Engineering and Statistics; minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.
Field of study in Industrial Engineering.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, and proficiency in Excel and Microsoft Office.
Legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship for a full-time or part-time position.
Reliable and punctual attendance; successful completion of the interview is required.
Position is based in Chicago, Newark, or Denver, and projects may require 60–80% travel.

Nice To Haves

Relevant work experience; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification; experience with SIMIO, ARENA, SQL, Minitab, VBA, or other programming tools.
Demonstrated understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and the ability to leverage AI effectively to support research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving. Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to organizational policies related to responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.

Responsibilities

Partner with business teams to identify improvement opportunities, gather and analyze information, and develop innovations.
Analyze data from United operations and provide fact-based, data-driven recommendations.
Use Excel, VBA, simulation tools such as SIMIO or ARENA, and other technical methods to analyze processes and create tools for business teams.
Conduct time-and-motion studies in operational environments, including airports, maintenance bases, and customer contact centers.
Participate in workshops and Kaizen events.
Present findings to business leaders and connect recommendations to measurable improvements.
Support the development of new projects and opportunities through research and analysis.