MD, Base Maintenance

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

Leading Base Maintenance in Tulsa is one of the most critical operational leadership roles within American Airlines. The Managing Director of Tulsa Base Maintenance is responsible for overseeing the airline's flagship heavy maintenance operation, the world's largest commercial aircraft maintenance base, which serves as the backbone of American's Technical Operations organization. Every decision made at the Tulsa base directly impacts aircraft availability, operational reliability, safety performance, and ultimately the customer experience across the airline's global network. 

The operation extends far beyond traditional aircraft maintenance. Tulsa is home to American Airlines Engine Repair & Overhaul (AAERO), where highly specialized teams completely disassemble, inspect, repair, and rebuild aircraft engines. The engine shop represents one of the airline's most strategic capabilities, significantly increasing overhaul capacity while reducing aircraft downtime and strengthening operational resilience. Continued investments in advanced equipment and modernization have positioned the engine operation as an industry-leading center of excellence that supports the reliability of American's fleet.

Over the past several years, American Airlines has demonstrated its long-term commitment to Tulsa through unprecedented capital investment. The airline has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize the campus, including new widebody maintenance hangars, expanded support facilities, upgraded infrastructure, enhanced technology, and significant investments in the engine overhaul operation. These improvements have expanded maintenance capacity, created hundreds of high-skilled technical jobs, and reinforced Tulsa's role as the centerpiece of American's in-house maintenance strategy. 

What you'll do

This list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential 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.

• Meets performance/dependability targets (delays, cancellations, Out of Service aircraft) while overseeing workload assignments and providing feedback on the maintenance program


• Sets and administers company, local, state and Federal safety and regulatory compliance requirements while providing resources necessary for a safe and professional work environment


• Identifies and analyzes industry best practices to enhance American Airlines Base Maintenance operations


• Provides guidance on key decisions, such as staffing and process changes, conflict resolution, base maintenance planning and vision, and decisions at Technical Operations level


• Develops mid- and long-term strategic plan in accordance with the Base Maintenance plan


• Develops and controls budget as well as a one- to five-year capital investment plan


• Meets performance goals in the areas of budgets, dependability targets, safety standards and management leadership and development


• Generates marketing leads to identify and create potential contract opportunities


• Facilitates and maintains strong relationships with Union representatives at the local and national levels


• Engages with managers, local union leadership, airport authorities, and other departments to ensure alignment and coordination


• Responsible for the administration and interpretation of the collective bargaining agreement for represented workgroups and all company policies for both represented and non-represented team members, providing coaching and counseling as appropriate

All you'll need for success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Undergraduate degree in Aviation, Business, Engineering or related technical field or equivalent experience/training


• 10 years of experience in leadership roles, overseeing large workgroups


• Comprehensive knowledge of aircraft maintenance and programs


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

Preferred Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Leadership experience in aviation or maintenance related organizations preferred


• Valid FAA A&P License preferred

Skills, Licenses & Certifications

• Demonstrates the highest standards of ethics and integrity


• Ability to productively and proactively adjust to dynamic situations


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


• Ability to be an action-oriented and results-driven leader, with a natural aptitude for engaging team members across multiple workgroups


• Ability to influence through outstanding interpersonal skills, collaboration, and negotiation skills


• Exceptional leadership and strategic decision-making skills and proven ability to lead in a cross-functional organization


• Demonstrated strong teamwork skills with an ability to establish and maintain trust and confidence with internal and external stakeholders


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


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


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


• Proven ability to deal with unique operational problems for which there are no established guidelines for resolution


• Commitment to coaching, mentoring, and serving as a role model for all team members


• Ability to work a varied schedule, including different shifts and weekends


• Ability to travel, as needed

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+ Team Member 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.