U

United Airlines

Flies passengers and cargo worldwide from US hubs

Lead AI Process Engineer

Business OperationsPosted on Nov 14
Full-timeChicago, IL, USA

About the Job

Requirements

  • Proven experience leading end-to-end business process engineering or operational transformation in a complex organization.
  • Demonstrated experience applying structured process-improvement methods such as Lean, Six Sigma, industrial engineering, process mining, value-stream mapping, or root-cause analysis.
  • Working fluency in generative and agentic AI, including models, agents, retrieval, evaluation, reliability, security, and governance, sufficient to partner credibly with engineers.
  • A track record of redesigning complex processes across functions and systems and measuring the results.
  • Strong analytical thinking, executive communication, and facilitation skills.
  • Comfort with ambiguity and large-scale organizational change.
  • Ability to travel 30–40%, primarily domestic.
  • At least 3 years of relevant work experience.
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship.
  • Successful completion of an interview is required to meet job qualifications.
  • Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze end-to-end processes for friction, bottlenecks, and failure points using process mining, value-stream mapping, Lean Six Sigma, and root-cause analysis.
  • Assess process maturity, AI readiness, data availability, and operational feasibility across business areas, and build a prioritized portfolio based on value, feasibility, risk, and scalability.
  • Turn ambiguous business challenges into clear AI use cases with measurable outcomes.
  • Challenge established ways of working, policies, and process assumptions to identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary work and rethink how services and operations are delivered.
  • Prototype and test future-state process concepts and workflows with business leaders and employees.
  • Design workflows that blend AI, automation, and human judgment, including decision rights, human-in-the-loop controls, and escalation paths.
  • Determine when AI is appropriate and when simpler automation or process simplification is more appropriate.
  • Define the future operating model, including roles, responsibilities, decision rights, process controls, and workforce implications.
  • Write implementation-ready business requirements and acceptance criteria.
  • Partner with engineering, product, data, security, and governance teams from process design through implementation and launch.
  • Lead process pilots, user acceptance, and operational readiness reviews.
  • Validate that implemented solutions reflect the intended future-state process, identify gaps, and drive resolution with business and technical teams.
  • Work with change management and business leaders on training, communication, and adoption.
  • Set baselines and success metrics before launch, then track adoption, performance, and realized value.
  • Build business cases and benefits-realization plans with clear ownership.
  • Validate that productivity improvements and released capacity translate into measurable business outcomes, such as increased throughput, reduced operating costs, improved service, or better customer and employee experiences.
  • Turn lessons from one business area into playbooks, frameworks, and standards that accelerate subsequent transformations.
  • Develop process-transformation roadmaps and advise senior leaders on where AI can fundamentally change how work gets done.
  • Facilitate cross-functional workshops and coach teams to build AI capability across the organization.

Desired Qualifications

  • Enterprise generative or agentic AI implementation experience.
  • Familiarity with process-mining tools such as Celonis or Signavio, automation platforms such as Power Platform or UiPath, or the Microsoft AI ecosystem.
  • Familiarity with enterprise AI ecosystems such as Microsoft Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, Microsoft Copilot, or equivalent AI platforms.
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent.
  • Responsible AI governance or risk-management experience.
  • Airline, transportation, or other complex-operations background.
  • Experience leading transformations where AI changed roles, decisions, and controls.
  • At least 5 years of relevant work experience.

About the Company

United Airlines

Flies passengers and cargo worldwide from US hubs

United Airlines flies passengers and cargo across the United States and to destinations around the world, running a hub network that spans Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles and Guam. It was a founding member of Star Alliance, the global airline partnership that links its routes and frequent-flyer benefits with carriers such as Lufthansa and Air Canada. Travelers book seats in economy, premium and Polaris business cabins, and United earns money from fares, bag and seat fees, cargo, and its MileagePlus loyalty program, which sells miles to card partners. United traces its roots to Varney Air Lines, which began flying airmail in 1926, and is based in Chicago.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
IPO
Headquarters
Chicago, IL
Founded
1926

Recently Posted Jobs

Explore more opportunities at United Airlines

See more jobs