Intern - Technical Operations (Summer 2023)
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. Our internships are paid, and course credit hours may be considered depending on university’s guidelines. Internships include a competitive benefits package aimed 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. Below you'll find some of the teams open under our Tech Ops internship:
1) Key Responsibilities for Data Analytics:
The TechOps Data Analytics team is responsible for supporting groups within the Technical Operations organization including Maintenance Planning, Engineering, and Aircraft Health Monitoring. The team works with a wide variety of data from flight delay and cancel rates to sensor data reported by an aircraft during flight. This role requires an individual with a passion for strategic thinking, problem solving, and working with complex, high-dimensional data in a fast-paced environment. You should be willing to dig deep into details while also understanding and being able to communicate the big picture. Candidates should have experience with data extraction, data manipulation, statistical modeling, and presenting results to both technical and non-technical audiences in a clear and concise manner. Throughout the course of the program, interns will work in a hybrid environment. They may be responsible for reporting to their respective work location, but there may also be opportunities or projects that have heavy emphasis on travel to other hub or line station cities within our network. Additionally, interns will have access to valuable training, facility tours, airport experiences and other benefits that make United Airlines the premier company to intern for. Company business related travel expenses will be reimbursed by United per the Travel Policy.
In this role, you can expect to spend time on the following types of tasks:
- Extracting data from a variety of sources for use in analysis and models (ex. Palantir Foundry, SQL Server, Teradata, PySpark, Hive)
- Completing data analysis and reporting (ex. Delay and cancel rates, maintenance performance metrics)
- Applying statistical analysis (ex. Regression, ANOVA)
- Developing new statistical models (ex. Random forest, time series, neural network)
- Modifying and enhancing existing dashboards (ex. Spotfire, Tableau)
- Communicating analysis results to all levels of the organization
What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):
- Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field like Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Economics or other related field
- Experience coding in Python and/or R
- Experience or familiarity with database querying tools (ex. SQL)
- Experience or familiarity with visualization tools (ex. Spotfire, Tableau, PowerBI)
- Experience in manipulating and analyzing complex, high volume, high dimensionality data from various sources to highlight patterns and relationships
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
- Must be available to work 40 hours a week from May - August 2023
- Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualifications
- Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position
What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):
- Working towards a Master's Degree in a quantitative field like Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Economics or other related field
- Knowledge of predictive modeling and statistical analysis
- Knowledge of airline industry a plus
- Ability to write advanced queries using PySpark or SQL
2) Airframe Heavy Maintenance:
- Data extraction, normalization and analysis, data-based modeling/forecasting
- Trend valuations across fleet/stations specific to time in check, work package scope, and costs
- Process optimization and mapping out existing gaps and possible mitigations
- Cross-functional collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):
- Must have a minimum of 12 semester hours in core degree course work
- Individual should be a rising junior (at minimum) when internship begins
- Summer internships occur end of May/beginning of June – mid/late August
- If needed, United will provide air transportation to/from internship location during the term of employment for any scheduled meeting
- Work related travel may be required, individuals must be able to travel without any restrictions
- 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
What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, industrial, or other related engineering/technical field
- Experience working with aerospace processes and procedures
- Experience developing processes within business operations
- Ability to analyze complex issues, detailed level of project management
- Previous experience with process improvements
- Previous experience with data extraction and analysis
3) Key Responsibilities for Planning:
- Develop and implement KPIs to track accuracy plans
- Automate existing maintenance reports
- Support the team with day-to-day responsibilities as well as identifying and resolving issues arising between the different stakeholders such as Planning, Engineering, Records, and Maintenance Programs
- Audit plans to drive accuracy and improve performance to plan
- Conduct data analysis and display data in an articulate and meaningful manner
What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):
- Junior or Senior status towards a BS in Engineering, Mathematics, Business Administration, or other relevant technical discipline with a 2023 or 2024 graduation date
- Ability to communicate complex quantitative analysis in a clear, precise, and actionable manner
- Ability to handle simultaneous projects and adapt to a fast-paced, changing environment
- Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position
What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):
- Knowledge of aircraft systems operations
- Currently possesses or working towards obtaining a FAA Airframe and Powerplant License (A&P)
- Experience with data visualization tools (Spotfire, Foundry, Tableau, etc.)
- Data analysis and quantitative modeling skills
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!
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 JobAccommodations@united.com to request accommodation.