Lead Planning Engineer

Role Overview

Lead Planning Engineer at Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi. This is a key leadership role within the Short-Term Planning & Control team, reporting to the SM Short-Term Planning & Control, responsible for managing the maintenance planning team for either the Airbus or Boeing fleet.

Company Overview

Etihad Airways is the UAE's national airline, operating from its hub in Abu Dhabi. The organization connects people across continents and cultures, with an ambition under "Journey 2030" to double its fleet, expand its network, and grow its people for a new era of excellence.

Role Purpose

Combine technical expertise in fleet maintenance with leadership skills to oversee and optimize the maintenance planning process, ensuring both airworthiness and operational efficiency across assigned fleet operations.

Key Responsibilities

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 (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 & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 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.