Senior Project Planning Specialist- EA Planning & Execution

United Airlines•Chicago, IL

2d•$81,795 - $106,602•Onsite

About The Position

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. The Sr Project Planning Specialist – EA Planning & Execution is responsible for supporting the development, coordination, and execution of maintenance and engineering project plans within Technical Operations. This role partners closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance Planning, and operational stakeholders to ensure regulatory, reliability, and strategic engineering initiatives are executed efficiently and within established timelines, operational constraints, and performance metrics. The position plays a critical role in optimizing project accomplishment strategies through data analysis, cross-functional coordination, and maintenance planning expertise. This role is responsible for managing complex project schedules, evaluating operational impacts, and supporting long-term planning initiatives related to aircraft maintenance programs and engineering modifications. The Sr Project Planning Specialist leverages analytical modeling, data visualization, and performance tracking tools to identify risks, improve execution efficiency, and support continuous improvement initiatives across Technical Operations. Through collaboration with cross-functional teams, this position helps drive operational reliability, and effective project execution within a fast-paced airline environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Supply Chain/Logistics, Business or relevant experience
2+ years of experience in planning, strategy, or equivalent role
2+ years of experience in managing projects
Knowledge of aircraft systems, structures or maintenance programs
Experience using data analysis and quantitative modeling techniques (e.g. statistical, optimization, simulation, spreadsheet)
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with ability to effectively interact at all levels and team with all business partners
Ability to handle simultaneous projects and adapt to a fast-paced, changing environment
Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, MBA, or advanced studies in Engineering, Mathematics, or Statistics
Project Management or Lean Six Sigma Certification
Experience in airline planning or analysis functions
Proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Spotfire, PowerBI)
Knowledge of SQL or other programming languages
Knowledge of supply chain processes
Knowledge of airline finance

Responsibilities

Develop, manage, and implement maintenance and execution plans for engineering, regulatory, and reliability-related projects, ensuring alignment with operational requirements, aircraft maintenance schedules, resource availability, and established performance metrics
Coordinate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance Planning, and operational stakeholders to support timely execution of engineering projects, resolve planning constraints, manage project dependencies, and ensure effective communication across cross-functional teams
Conduct data mining, quantitative analysis, modeling, and visualization activities to support project planning, operational performance tracking, and continuous improvement initiatives
Develop reporting tools, dashboards, and analytical insights used to support data-driven decision-making and executive reporting
Perform cost-benefit analyses, operational impact assessments, and scenario modeling to support engineering project prioritization, accomplishment strategies, within Technical Operations
Monitor project schedules, execution timelines, operational risks, and key performance indicators to identify potential delays, resource conflicts, or operational impacts, while proactively recommending mitigation strategies and process improvements