Department:
Network Planning
Our Company Promise
We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.
Job Description:
The Associate Data and Decision Scientist supports commercial, operational, and strategic planning decisions across the Company. They’ll assist the Team and broader project groups by developing practical, data‑driven solutions that improve decision‑making and support Companywide success. They're responsible for building and maintaining forecasting, optimization, and decision‑support tools that guide Southwest’s network, schedule, and fleet planning activities. The Associate Data and Decision Scientist is an analytical problem-solver who creates competitive advantages and enables informed, strategic business outcomes.
Additional Details:
The culture of Southwest Airlines means we value the camaraderie, collaboration, and innovation that occurs when we come together and interact face-to-face at our vibrant Corporate Campus. Due to the nature of this role, you would be required to work from our Dallas, TX headquarters facility during business hours.
We’re committed to fair hiring practices and to making employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics.
Responsibilities
- Demonstrate intermediate mastery of statistical and analytical techniques that arrive at fact based decision making
- Use technology skills (SQL, Alteryx, Tableau, Python, R, Optym Sky Suite, etc) to gather and understand large data sets surrounding Southwest Airlines commercial and operational performance (to include revenue, load factor, profit, Customer NPS, on time performance, etc)
- Identify trends and themes within these data sets to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations
- Deliver analysis that leverages understanding of the business problem at hand to identify and generate solutions; creating realized change that results in bottom line contributions
- Communicate recommendations and results to Department Leaders utilizing strong visualizations that aid in communication of the story behind the data
- Construct structured data visualizations and dashboards that can be used for repeatable analysis and support needs of other teams within the department
- Ensure that all work communicated is accurate and without defect
- May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications
- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources
- Skilled in collecting, organizing, visualizing and assimilating data including turning raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software
- Ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organizations strategic plan
- Ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
- Ability to listen, understand, and communicate ideas presented in writing and/or in speaking with others
- Ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem
- Ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns
Education
- High School Diploma or GED
Experience
- Intermediate level experience, fully functioning broad knowledge in:
- Optimization, simulation, data modeling, applied statistics, transportation, supply chain management, logistics, forecasting or operations
- Programming and query writing (Python, SQL, etc)
- Creating Python web applications and machine learning models
- Creating linear programming and other optimization models
- Using presentation and visualization platforms (Tableau, PowerBI, Excel, R, Python, etc)
- Aviation industry in quantitative roles in departments such as Finance, Revenue Management or Network Planning
- Descriptive and diagnostic data analytics
- Transportation operations or traffic or profitability analysis experience
- Using version control software (Git, SVN, etc)
Licensing/CertificationPhysical Abilities
- Ability to perform work duties from [limited space work station/desk/office area] for extended periods of time
- Ability to communicate and interact with others in the English language to meet the demands of the job
- Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy to meet the demands of the job
Other Qualifications
- Must maintain a well-groomed appearance per Company appearance standards as described in established guidelines
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be able to comply with Company attendance standards as described in established guidelines
- Ability to work extended hours based on operational needs
Pay & Benefits:
Competitive market salary from $103,750.00 per year to $115,300.00 per year* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, additional bonus opportunities are available and awarded at the discretion of the Company.
Benefits you’ll love:
• Fly for free, as a privilege, on any open seat on all Southwest flights (your eligible dependents too)
• Southwest will help fund your Retirement Savings Plan, which includes a dollarfor-dollar 401(k) Company match contribution of up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings**
• Potential for annual profit-sharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan—when Southwest profits, you profit***
• Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents
• Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You'll have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan, and coverage will be retroactively available to your first day of employment.
• Explore more benefits you’ll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits
*Pay amount doesn’t guarantee employment for any particular period.
**401(k) Company match contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule. Match contributions may vary based on the position.
*** Profit-sharing contributions are subject to the Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company.
Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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