Analyst - Pilot PBS and Awards

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Description Get ready for a career at the leading edge of the airline industry! Our Flight Operations team works hard to connect people and unite the world safely, reliably and efficiently every single day. From industry leadership and pioneering technologies to next-level training - our Flight Ops team hires, trains, qualifies and supports the best pilots in the industry. The moments we share in the air and on the ground with our customers and our colleagues make United a special place to work and a great way to fly, together.

Job Overview and Responsibilities

At United, our pilots bid for their monthly flight schedules using a preferential bidding system (PBS). The PBS team manages this process and executes the monthly award which matches individual pilot bid preferences with operational and contractual requirements to create a complete and legal schedule for each pilot every month. The Analyst is responsible for supporting the monthly pilot award process, including planning, analysis, execution, tool and dashboard development, and analytical modeling. The Analyst will demonstrate a strong attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering high-quality awards, supporting process improvements, evaluating strategic staffing scenarios, and providing meaningful insights from each bid month to Flight Operations leadership. The Analyst will also identify opportunities to adapt and integrate AI-enabled solutions into the team’s existing workflows and processes. Working cross-functionally with other Flight Operations groups, including Workforce Planning, Training Scheduling, Pairings, Pilot Support, and representatives from the pilot union, the Analyst supports successful award execution and operational integrity.

• Develops and maintains tools, dashboards, databases, and analytical models by leveraging bid and award data, analytical techniques, and reporting platforms to improve award execution, streamline workflows, and support data-driven decision-making throughout the monthly PBS award process
• Performs retrospective analysis of bid periods by reviewing award data, identifying trends and performance gaps, and presenting findings to leadership to support continuous improvement
• Evaluates planning scenarios, assesses staffing risks and trade-offs, and works with cross-functional stakeholders to optimize pilot reserve coverage prior to input finalization to support successful awards and schedule planning outcomes
• Participates in the monthly PBS award production cycle, including pre-award testing, evaluating schedule solvability, participating in award optimization, and performing post-award activities to ensure accurate, timely, and contractually compliant pilot schedule awards that meet staffing and planning requirements
• Collaborates cross-functionally with Workforce Planning, Training Scheduling, Pairings, Pilot Support, and other stakeholders to support accurate, timely, and efficient execution of monthly PBS award responsibilities

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree
• 1+ years of experience in data analytics, operational planning, scheduling, or a related field
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and self-motivation to heed signals in data, investigate root causes, and develop solutions
• Experience applying data analysis, quantitative problem solving, and critical thinking to evaluate business challenges and support decision making
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with immediate team members, pilots, and Labor Representatives
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams to solve problems and support team interactions and effectiveness
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to validate data sources and analytical outputs to ensure accuracy, reliability, and relevance to business needs
• Analytical and technical skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using SQL or other programming/query language to extract, combine, validate, and analyze operational data
• Ability to meet contractual operational responsibilities and deadlines, including providing periodic evening and weekend support during the monthly award production process
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including explaining analytical findings to non-technical audiences
• 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):

• Engineering, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Business, or related field
• Knowledge of optimization software
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, analytical models, or automated decision-support tools using Power BI, Python, or comparable analytics platforms
• Familiarity with airline operations, crew planning, scheduling, or flight operations environments
• Demonstrates an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and effectively leverages them for research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving. Applies critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to company policies related to responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.

The base pay range for this role is $66,500.00 to $86,616.00. 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