Intern - Tech Ops Base Planning (Summer 2026)

United Airlines•Chicago, IL

15h

About The Position

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 internships are paid, and course credit hours may be considered depending on university’s guidelines. Internships include a competitive benefits package sought at keeping you happy, healthy and well-traveled. From mentorship opportunities to benefits like medical insurance and privileges like space available travel, United is truly a one-of-a-kind internship experience. 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.

Requirements

Must be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aviation Management, Computer Science, Mathematics or another related field
Proficient in basic tools (e.g. Excel and PowerPoint) and ability to quickly learn to use unfamiliar tools
Adept at juggling several projects and initiatives simultaneously through appropriate prioritization
Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with ability to effectively interact at all levels (including executive) and team
Willingness to learn and be curious across all aspects of United
Must have a minimum of 12 semester hours in core degree course work
Individual should be a rising junior (at minimum) when internship begins
Must be available for 10-12 weeks during Summer 2026
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship now or at any point in the future

Nice To Haves

Strong aviation business acumen
Skilled in computer programming languages and database systems (ex. Python, pyspark, Java Script, SQL, HTML, R, and/or VBA)
Knowledge of aircraft systems, components, maintenance planning, and maintenance programs
Ability to read and interpret Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC), Service Bulletins (SBs), Airworthy Directives (ADs), and understanding of technical documentation and maintenance procedures
Previous internship experience in aircraft maintenance, strategy, data analytics, forecasting, continuous improvement, or related role
Pursuing a degree Computer Science, Data Analytics, Statistics, or Aerospace Engineering

Responsibilities

Interpret and perform technical maintenance analysis by reviewing long-term forecasts for task cards, Deferred Item Programs (DIPs), and log pages across multiple aircraft fleet types to support accurate maintenance planning
Build and support automated reporting and planning tools using programming and analytics platforms to enhance current workflows and improve data accuracy
Expand on current aircraft maintenance forecasting and planning analysis by creating new datasets, monitoring schedules, workloads, and capacity, and flagging / reviewing risks or anomalies
Prepare recurring and ad hoc materials for stakeholder reviews, leadership updates, and operational discussions regarding project status
Interpret and perform technical maintenance analysis by reviewing long-term forecasts for task cards, Deferred Item Programs (DIPs), and log pages across multiple aircraft fleet types to support accurate maintenance planning
Partner with cross-functional teams (Base Maintenance, Line Maintenance, Maintenance Programs, Aircraft Records, Project Planning, Supply Chain, and others) to ensure data alignment, resolve discrepancies, and support smooth execution workflows