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Managing Director - Quality Control (Chief Inspector)

United Airlines

Chicago, IL · HybridJob$232–302K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$232–302K/yr
Location
Chicago, ILHybrid
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Airframe And Powerplant Mechanic Certificate

Job overview

The Managing Director - Quality Control (Chief Inspector) provides executive-level leadership for United’s aircraft inspection, quality control, and nondestructive testing programs. The role serves as the designated FAR Part 119 Chief Inspector, oversees inspection systems and regulatory compliance, and holds final authority on aircraft, engine, and component airworthiness. It also coordinates with operational teams, supports maintenance programs, and oversees external providers.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Aircraft InspectionQuality ControlNondestructive TestingAircraft MaintenanceFAR RegulationsAircraft Equipment DesignAircraft Operational CharacteristicsMaintenance Materials and ProcessesTechnical Personnel ManagementCross-Functional LeadershipRegulatory ComplianceTechnical Documentation InterpretationMaintenance Manual InterpretationRegulatory Guidance InterpretationCompany Policy Interpretation

Qualifications

Engineering or Aviation Management Degree or Comparable ExperienceAirframe and Powerplant Mechanic CertificateThree Years Holding Ratings10+ Years Aircraft Maintenance/Inspection ExperienceFive Years Senior Management ExperienceU.S. Work Authorization Without SponsorshipSuccessful InterviewReliable, Punctual AttendanceAdvanced Degree

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Parental Leave
Paid Time Off
401(k) Match

Full job description

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.

Job Overview and Responsibilities

The Chief Inspector provides executive-level leadership and oversight for aircraft inspection, quality control, and nondestructive testing programs to ensure the continued airworthiness, safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance of aircraft maintenance operations. This role serves as the designated FAR Part 119 Chief Inspector and is responsible for maintaining effective inspection systems, ensuring compliance with applicable FAA regulations and company standards, and promoting a strong safety and quality culture across the organization.

  • Lead the Quality Control inspection and nondestructive testing (NDT) programs to ensure aircraft, engines, and components are inspected, maintained, and returned to service in an airworthy condition in accordance with all applicable regulatory, company, and industry requirements

  • Coordinate with Maintenance, Engineering, Safety, Compliance, and other operational teams to resolve quality, airworthiness, and regulatory issues

  • Serve as the FAA-designated Chief Inspector in accordance with 14 CFR Part 119 and assume final authority on all matters concerning aircraft, engine, and component airworthiness

  • Partner with Director of Maintenance and Director of Safety and interface with FAA Certificate Management Office

  • Establish and continuously improve inspection policies, procedures, authorizations, and oversight processes to ensure compliance with FAA regulations, Operations Specifications, the General Maintenance Manual, and accepted industry standards

  • Provide inspection program support to the Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP), participate in Continuing Analysis and Surveillance System (CASS) activities as a board member, and utilize inspection program findings to monitor performance, identify risks, and drive systemic corrective actions

  • Determine qualification, training, certification, and competency requirements for Quality Control, inspection, and NDT personnel and ensure personnel maintain the knowledge, skills, and authorizations necessary to perform assigned functions

  • Promote a culture of accountability, technical excellence, safety, and regulatory discipline within the inspection organization

  • Operate the organization efficiently and effectively by ensuring that inspectors with the right qualifications are available to support Maintenance at the right time

  • Provide oversight and on-site surveillance of essential maintenance providers and other external suppliers to verify compliance with regulatory requirements, company procedures, and airworthiness standards

  • Develop and maintain the Required Inspection Item (RII) program to ensure maintenance activities affecting airworthiness receive appropriate independent inspection and oversight

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

  • B.S. degree in Engineering, Aviation Management or related field, or comparable experience

  • Hold a mechanic certificate with both airframe and powerplant ratings, and have held these ratings for at least three years

  • 10+ years of aircraft maintenance/inspection experience, including at least five years in a senior management role

  • Extensive knowledge of FARs, aircraft equipment design and operational characteristics, aircraft maintenance materials and processes, including NDT processes

  • Proven leadership experience managing technical personnel, cross-functional teams, and regulatory compliance activities

  • Ability to interpret technical documentation, maintenance manuals, regulatory guidance, and company policies

  • 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):

  • Advanced degree

Location

  • Chicago, IL

#LI-SM1

#LI-Hybrid

The base pay range for this role is $231,610.00 to $301,554.00.

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 [email protected]

How this job compares

Set against the 1,451 open Quality Control jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 5, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$232–302K/yr
  • US median$83–126K/yr407 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $267K, is 148% above the US median midpoint ($108K) — in the top quarter of Quality Control salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 40 open Quality Control jobs in Illinois and 1,451 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Illinois
Experience
This posting asks for at least 10 years of experience — more than three in four Quality Control postings that state a minimum ask for (median 3 years, across 999 postings).
Education
340 of the 1,451 open Quality Control jobs (23%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 5, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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