Metallurgy Engineer

The Metallurgy Engineer will play a key role in the technical operations and maintenance of aircraft, focusing on metallographic sample preparation, microstructure analysis, and heat treatment. Responsibilities include supporting maintenance, analysing and implementing regulatory requirements, and providing technical support for shop, line, and base operations. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in metallurgy, material science, chemical engineering, or equivalent aviation maintenance experience, with 0–5 years of relevant experience. Strong communication, analytical, and project management skills are essential. The role offers a base salary range of $83,695 to $109,004, with eligibility for bonuses and long-term incentives. Preferred qualifications include advanced technical degrees, airline experience, and knowledge of Boeing and Airbus SRMs, SBs, and OEM documentation. As a Metallurgy Engineer at United Airlines, you will play a vital role in supporting the maintenance and overhaul of aircraft, ensuring their safety and operational excellence. This entry-level position focuses on the properties of aerospace metal alloys, including metallographic sample preparation, microstructure analysis, and heat treatment. You will collaborate with technical teams, manage projects, and provide on-site technical support to maintain airworthiness and regulatory compliance. The role offers a competitive base pay range of $83,695.00 to $109,004.00, eligibility for bonuses and long-term incentives, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k), and flight privileges. 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.

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.

Technical Operations/Maintenance

Technical Operations includes the maintenance, and overhaul of our aircraft. This includes aircraft maintenance technicians, engineers, planners, ground equipment and facilities teams, supply chain teams and more.

Job overview and responsibilities

Entry level in Metallurgy and/or material science, heat treating, welding. Fundamental to practical knowledge of properties of aerospace metal alloys, including metallographic sample preparation, microstructure, heat treatment, and welding. Initial knowledge may be gained from classroom experience or internships. Prior airline experience not required. Able to take mentoring instructions from peers. Self-guide and manage projects with and without support from others on the team. Prefer direct experience with metallographic sample preparation, microstructure analysis, and heat treatment. Oversight includes metallographic and SEM labs. Demonstrates ability to work independently as well as collaborating and foster engagement with stakeholders.

• Studies, analyzes, and seeks solutions to problems related to the design, operation, maintenance, performance, modification, or repair of aircraft, and their components
• Uses a structured, logical, and analytical approach in problem solving
• Defines maintenance program, configuration, and serviceability criteria ensuring safe and legal operations
• Analyze and implement regulatory requirements
• Author, design, and manage technical work scopes
• Provide on-site technical support for shop, line, and base operations
• Interfaces with internal and external organizations (OEMs, OSVs) regarding specific aircraft, engine, and component issues
• This position develops potentially complex solutions and implementation plans, project justification, cost/benefit analysis, management of project implementation, technical support, and obtaining FAA approvals as required
• Coordinate work with other operational groups to ensure airworthiness, safety, regulatory compliance, operational reliability, and operational efficiency
• Organize and manage the priorities for assigned responsibilities and accomplish the work processes to meet all the deliverables for projects or maintenance program changes/technical specification revisions

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent aviation maintenance experience required
• 0 to 5 years of experience
• Familiar with material science and metallurgy. Manufacturing processes including heat treat, welding, machining, casting, forging, plating, composites
• Professional report writing and presentation skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced maintenance environment with time-critical return to service deliverables
• Ability to simplify complex technical issues into clear, actionable communication for non-technical audiences
• Clear, concise communication skills

Preferred

• Metallurgical and Material Science with one or more other technical degrees in related fields (Mechanical/Aerospace/Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, etc.)
• Prior airline experience a plus
• Airline or Industry knowledge with general ATA Chapters which encompass, aircraft structures, and disciplines
• Specific ATA 21, 25, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 72-chapter structures related experience
• Working knowledge of Boeing and Airbus SRMs, SBs, and OEM documentation
• NAA, NTSB and Aerospace OEM joint investigation experience
• Understanding of wet and dry analytical chemistry technique
• High level of knowledge level of analytical instrumentations and techniques such as scanning electron microscope

The base pay range for this role is $83,695.00 to $109,004.00.
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 [Job Accommodations@united.com](mailto:Job Accommodations@united.com)

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.

Technical Operations/Maintenance

Technical Operations includes the maintenance, and overhaul of our aircraft. This includes aircraft maintenance technicians, engineers, planners, ground equipment and facilities teams, supply chain teams and more.

Job overview and responsibilities

Entry level in Metallurgy and/or material science, heat treating, welding. Fundamental to practical knowledge of properties of aerospace metal alloys, including metallographic sample preparation, microstructure, heat treatment, and welding. Initial knowledge may be gained from classroom experience or internships. Prior airline experience not required. Able to take mentoring instructions from peers. Self-guide and manage projects with and without support from others on the team. Prefer direct experience with metallographic sample preparation, microstructure analysis, and heat treatment. Oversight includes metallographic and SEM labs. Demonstrates ability to work independently as well as collaborating and foster engagement with stakeholders.

• Studies, analyzes, and seeks solutions to problems related to the design, operation, maintenance, performance, modification, or repair of aircraft, and their components
• Uses a structured, logical, and analytical approach in problem solving
• Defines maintenance program, configuration, and serviceability criteria ensuring safe and legal operations
• Analyze and implement regulatory requirements
• Author, design, and manage technical work scopes
• Provide on-site technical support for shop, line, and base operations
• Interfaces with internal and external organizations (OEMs, OSVs) regarding specific aircraft, engine, and component issues
• This position develops potentially complex solutions and implementation plans, project justification, cost/benefit analysis, management of project implementation, technical support, and obtaining FAA approvals as required
• Coordinate work with other operational groups to ensure airworthiness, safety, regulatory compliance, operational reliability, and operational efficiency
• Organize and manage the priorities for assigned responsibilities and accomplish the work processes to meet all the deliverables for projects or maintenance program changes/technical specification revisions

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent aviation maintenance experience required
• 0 to 5 years of experience
• Familiar with material science and metallurgy. Manufacturing processes including heat treat, welding, machining, casting, forging, plating, composites
• Professional report writing and presentation skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced maintenance environment with time-critical return to service deliverables
• Ability to simplify complex technical issues into clear, actionable communication for non-technical audiences
• Clear, concise communication skills

Preferred

• Metallurgical and Material Science with one or more other technical degrees in related fields (Mechanical/Aerospace/Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, etc.)
• Prior airline experience a plus
• Airline or Industry knowledge with general ATA Chapters which encompass, aircraft structures, and disciplines
• Specific ATA 21, 25, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 72-chapter structures related experience
• Working knowledge of Boeing and Airbus SRMs, SBs, and OEM documentation
• NAA, NTSB and Aerospace OEM joint investigation experience
• Understanding of wet and dry analytical chemistry technique
• High level of knowledge level of analytical instrumentations and techniques such as scanning electron microscope

Equal Opportunity Employer
The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo.

• All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. 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 Responsibilities
• Responsible for supporting the maintenance, overhaul, and repair of aircraft, including metallographic sample preparation, microstructure analysis, and heat treatment.
• Play a key role in shaping technical work scopes, project justification, cost/benefit analysis, and management of project implementation.
• Help drive innovation in developing complex solutions and implementation plans for aircraft and component issues.
• Take ownership of providing on-site technical support for shop, line, and base operations.
• Deliver high-quality analysis and implementation of regulatory requirements and safety standards.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to coordinate work with operational groups to ensure airworthiness, safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Lead efforts to organise and manage priorities for assigned responsibilities and deliverables for projects or maintenance program changes. Skills
• Familiarity with material science and metallurgy, including manufacturing processes such as heat treat, welding, machining, casting, forging, plating, and composites.
• Professional report writing and presentation skills are required.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced maintenance environment with time-critical return to service deliverables.
• Strong communication skills for simplifying complex technical issues for non-technical audiences.
• Preferred: Metallurgical and Material Science with one or more other technical degrees in related fields such as Mechanical, Aerospace, or Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related disciplines.
• Preferred: Prior airline experience and knowledge of ATA Chapters, including aircraft structures and related disciplines.
• Preferred: Working knowledge of Boeing and Airbus SRMs, SBs, and OEM documentation.
• Preferred: NAA, NTSB, and Aerospace OEM joint investigation experience.
• Preferred: Understanding of wet and dry analytical chemistry techniques and high-level knowledge of analytical instrumentation such as scanning electron microscope. Education
• A Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent aviation maintenance experience is required.