Principal Engineer, Aircraft Performance Engineering

At Delta Air Lines, connection is at the heart of everything we do and guides our every action. We strive to welcome and care for all of our customers during their travels with us and aim to deliver an elevated experience.

The Principal Engineer, Aircraft Performance Engineering, serves as a recognized technical authority responsible for leading complex, high-impact engineering initiatives that shape aircraft performance strategy, operational capability, and cross-divisional decision-making. This role operates with broad autonomy, drives innovation in performance engineering methods, and influences outcomes across Flight Operations, OCC, IT, Commercial, and external industry stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead large-scale, complex performance engineering programs affecting fleet strategy, aircraft deployment, and operational efficiency across the network.
• Provide full technical ownership of high-impact engineering solutions involving novel or ambiguous problems with significant operational and financial implications.
• Define and advance methodologies, tools, and analytical frameworks for aircraft performance, fuel optimization, and operational decision support.
• Translate enterprise and departmental objectives into actionable engineering strategies and ensure successful execution across multiple concurrent.
• Serve as the lead technical advisor for performance-related decisions, influencing senior leadership and cross-divisional stakeholders.
• Anticipate and assess operational risks and opportunities, proactively recommending and implementing strategic mitigations.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation, introducing new technologies, data capabilities, and analytical approaches to enhance performance engineering outcomes.
• Establish and govern engineering standards, policies, and best practices ensuring regulatory compliance, safety, and operational consistency.
• Lead cross-functional engagement with internal partners and external industry groups; represent the organization in working groups, committees, and regulatory or manufacturer interactions.
• Mentor, coach, and develop engineering talent; provide technical leadership, delegate work effectively, and elevate team capability.
• Foster a safety-first culture while promoting data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.