Director, Engines

Intro

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!

Why you'll love this job

The Director of Engine Maintenance is responsible for leading all engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations for American Airlines. This executive role provides strategic and operational oversight for the company’s three engine shop locations—Tulsa, Oklahoma; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Phoenix, Arizona—and is headquartered in Tulsa.

The Director leads an organization of more than 600 employees, including management and frontline union-represented team members. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in commercial aerospace engine MRO operations, with a proven ability to deliver results in a high‑volume, safety‑critical environment.

This leader must be operationally focused, hands‑on, and comfortable driving transformation. Success in the role requires challenging long‑standing business practices, implementing innovative operational improvements, and championing organizational change. The Director will serve as a key member of the Maintenance leadership team, role‑modeling and reinforcing American Airlines’ five leadership attributes while cultivating strong, collaborative relationships across all work groups, departments, and partner organizations.

What you'll do

As noted above, this list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced.  Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations including any collective bargaining obligations.

• Lead a safety‑first culture by ensuring full compliance with FAA, OSHA, EPA, DOT, and all other regulatory requirements across all engine MRO operations.


• Strengthen a culture of inclusion, diversity, engagement, and continuous development for all team members.


• Cultivate collaborative, transparent relationships with union leadership and ensure all actions align with collective bargaining agreements and strong labor‑management practices.


• Partner with cross‑functional leaders to shape, communicate, and execute business strategies that position the Engine Shop organization for long‑term success.


• Oversee operating and capital budgets, including forecasting, cost control, and resource allocation, to meet financial, productivity, and performance targets.


• Establish and monitor performance metrics and operating methods that optimize manpower, equipment, facilities, and tooling utilization.


• Spearhead continuous improvement initiatives that reduce cost, increase efficiency, improve reliability, enhance customer service, and elevate the employee experience.


• Direct daily operational activities across engine shop locations to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient support of the airline’s operational performance.


• Demonstrate and foster strong relationships across all work groups, maintenance organizations, and partner teams to drive alignment and operational excellence.


• Evaluate and improve operational processes to increase efficiency, quality, and service consistency across all sites.


• Champion innovation in workflows, technology, automation, workforce strategy, and operational tooling to modernize the MRO environment.


• Maintain strong communication channels with frontline team members, leaders, customers, and partners across all locations.


• Support a 24/7 global engine operation by remaining available for urgent or business‑critical issues.

All you'll need for success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, or equivalent experience/training


• 7 years of experience in leadership roles, overseeing large workgroups within Technical Operations


• 5 years of Engine MRO management experience leading large, unionized frontline teams


• In-depth knowledge of the airline industry and technical operations, American Airlines (AA) business strategy, company policies and procedures, and collective bargaining agreements


• Ability to travel at least 25%, including international travel

Preferred Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License preferred

Skills, Licenses & Certifications

• Demonstrates the highest standards of ethics and integrity


• Demonstrated leadership and technical competence that attracts, develops, and motivates top talent, earning confidence and respect across the organization and its stakeholders


• Effective mentoring, coaching, and relationship‑building skills with the ability to navigate complex interpersonal and cultural dynamics across global sites


• Ability to influence others through outstanding interpersonal skills, collaboration, and negotiation skills, as well as ability to advocate and manage change


• Ability to think strategically, negotiate skillfully, digest complex details, and use sound judgment and initiative in making decisions


• Exceptional problem solving, analytical, quantitative, and critical thinking ability 


• Excellent project planning and organizational skills, with ability to effectively and simultaneously manage multiple large projects within tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail


• Strong operational focus with ability to build and sustain a culture of trust while aligning the workforce with corporate goals


• Extensive experience implementing procedures and ensuring consistent service delivery


• Proven ability to drive innovation, continuous improvement, and enhancements to customer and employee experience


• Strong capability to manage multiple large‑scale initiatives concurrently while maintaining high attention to detail and follow‑through


• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with high expectations


• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with ability to handle complex topics comfortably and to interact effectively with all levels, both verbally and written


• Ability to build and facilitate relationships at all levels of the organization, both internally and externally


• Ability to support a 24/7 global operation, as business needs arise

What you'll get

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer: 

• Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.


• Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. 


• Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.


• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.


• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more

Feel free to be yourself at American

From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.



Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.