Senior Manager - Aircraft Tooling & Calibration (Chicago / Houston)

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Description

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.                             

Job Overview and Responsibilities

The Senior Manager - Aircraft Tooling & Calibration manages the Tooling Logistics Planners, along with the Calibration and Metrology Labs in IAH and SFO to ensure all aircraft tooling is properly planned, procured, allocated, calibrated, maintained, and available to support airline operations. This position is responsible for tooling lifecycle management, tooling logistics, asset optimization, and operational readiness across the maintenance network. The role also leads continuous improvement initiatives that enhance tooling operations, asset utilization, compliance, and organizational effectiveness.

• Supervises the Metrologists, Metrology Lab calibration program, calibration processes, CMM programming, and supporting software systems
• Manages all dimensional calibrations, mass and force standards traceable to NIST requirements systemwide, including laser calibration of machines and surface plates/tables
• Manages receiving inspection of manufactured and modified precision tools and fixtures and ensures compliance with regulatory, quality, and calibration standards
• Support Line and Base Tooling operations by ensuring tooling availability, serviceability, repair prioritization, calibration compliance, and operational support to maintenance activities across the network.
• Provides technical leadership to reduce unnecessary tool shipments through local repair solutions when practical
• Manages OSV tooling allocations and specialized tooling requirements necessary to support aircraft maintenance programs, modifications, fleet introduction activities, and operational initiatives
• Leads enterprise forecasting, planning, allocation, and deployment of aircraft tooling to ensure tools are available at the right place and right time to support maintenance operations while minimizing aircraft downtime resulting from tooling constraints
• Partners with Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, and station leadership to identify future tooling requirements and develop strategies to support fleet growth, maintenance programs, and operational demand
• Leads continuous improvement projects focused on tooling planning, calibration, repair operations, logistics, asset management, data analytics, and process standardization
• Utilizes operational metrics and reporting to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, improve efficiency, and enhance customer support across the tooling organization
• Develops and manages tooling capital plans, investment strategies, and business cases for major tooling acquisitions
• Evaluates tooling utilization, inventory levels, repair trends, and operational requirements to optimize asset deployment and support informed decision-making
• Supports the sale and surplus of aircraft tooling to maximize asset value, generate revenue opportunities, and maintain an effective tooling portfolio aligned with fleet requirements
• Establishes and maintains strategic relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and maintenance leadership to ensure tooling solutions effectively support operational requirements
• Provides leadership for workforce planning, employee development, organizational effectiveness, and succession planning within the Tooling Planning and Calibration organizations
   

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

 

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aviation Maintenance, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related technical field, or related experience
• Minimum 7+ years of experience in Aviation industry, Supply Chain, and/or Data Analytics     
• Knowledge of FAA regulations and airline maintenance operations
• Experience with forecasting, inventory management, and logistics planning
• Strong financial and analytical skills with the ability to develop business cases and capital investment recommendations
• Travel up to 50%
• 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):

• Master's degree or related experience    
• Knowledge of tooling calibration, metrology principles, and NIST traceability requirements
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives

The base pay range for this role is $127,870.00 to $166,492.00.
The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k) and flight privileges.

United Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, contact JobAccommodations@united.com