Lead Planning Engineer

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Etihad Airways seeks a Lead Planning Engineer in Abu Dhabi to head the Planning & Control team and manage maintenance planning for either the Airbus or Boeing fleet, blending technical know-how with leadership to safeguard airworthiness and efficiency. You will coordinate with CAMO Ops Planning & Control to produce schedules, forecasts and daily plans, mitigate risks, and collaborate with Operations, Tech Ops and Strategic Slot Planning to optimize resources for maintenance. Lead a fleet planning team, drive continuous improvement, and oversee A-Check and Line Planning while staying compliant with aviation regulations. To apply, highlight 7 to 10 years in aviation maintenance planning with leadership and forecasting tools, and a proven record of improving forecast accuracy under pressure.

Job Description

The Lead Planning Engineer at Etihad Airways is a key leadership role within the Short-Term Planning & Control team. Reporting to the SM Short-Term Planning & Control, the Lead Engineer will be responsible for managing the maintenance planning team for either the Airbus or Boeing fleet. This role combines technical expertise in fleet maintenance with leadership skills to oversee and optimize the maintenance planning process, ensuring both airworthiness and operational efficiency.

Operational Coordination:

• Collaborate closely with CAMO Ops Planning & Control (COPC) to create accurate, real-time maintenance schedules, forecasts, and daily plans.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks in maintenance planning, ensuring minimal disruption to operational schedules.
• Work with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Tech Ops, and Strategic Slot Planning, to optimize resources and capacity for scheduled maintenance activities.

Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of fleet planning engineers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the team, ensuring best practices in maintenance planning are followed.
• Develop team competencies through training and professional development to ensure alignment with the company's evolving needs and technological advancements.

Fleet Maintenance Planning: 

• Oversee the detailed planning and coordination of all maintenance activities below the "C" Check level, ensuring full compliance with airworthiness requirements.
• Manage A-Check and Line Planning activities, ensuring alignment with fleet maintenance requirements, including 24-Month checks, LDG changes, weighing checks, and similar critical activities.
• Ensure maintenance planning excludes tasks managed under the Aircraft Maintenance Program or Mod campaigns not covered by Etihad Airways' P145 Maintenance Provider.

Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement: 

• Lead the synchronization of maintenance plans with operational schedules and strategic priorities, ensuring short-term tactical alignment with long-term strategic objectives.
• Contribute to maintenance planning over different time windows (e.g., 2 years, 6 weeks, and 2 weeks), ensuring alignment with the broader business strategy. 
• Monitor and assess maintenance forecasting accuracy, continuously refining processes to improve performance and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or a related field. 
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in aviation maintenance planning, with proven experience in a leadership or team management capacity. 
• Strong understanding of maintenance forecasting tools, fleet management software and aviation industry technologies. 
• In-depth knowledge of aviation regulations, especially in maintenance and airworthiness planning. 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach. 
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with a track record of successfully managing cross-functional teams. 
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while maintaining high standards of quality and compliance.

Additional Information

Etihad Airways is more than the UAE’s national airline - we’re shaping the future of global aviation. From our hub in Abu Dhabi, we connect people across continents and cultures, while driving our “Journey 2030” ambition to double our fleet, expand our network and grow our people for a new era of excellence. Join us and become part of a vision where the world is your workplace and extraordinary experiences take flight.

To learn more visit www.etihad.com

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