Hello. We’re Virgin Australia. We’re the airline that’s always done things a little different. Our way. The Virgin way. We’re on a mission to make flying better than ‘nice’. And to do that, it takes a team of talented people who are passionate about customer experience, doing the right thing always, with a focus on safety – in the air, on the ground and in our workplaces. A team who values real diversity and inclusion, in a big brand with big ambitions.
What you’ll be doing
As an Advanced Analytics Specialist, you’ll develop forecasting, predictive modelling, optimisation, and machine learning models that support complex airline planning and operational decisions. You’ll work on problems such as schedule robustness, aircraft flows, operational performance, demand forecasting, crewing impacts and cost optimisation.
The role sits in a small, high-impact Advanced Analytics team combining operations research, mathematical optimisation, data science and commercial analysis to improve airline performance and profitability. You’ll help turn complex models into practical decision-support tools and production-grade applications used by operators, planners and business teams.
This is a newly created headcount to support the existing team. It is a Brisbane based, hybrid position.
Further responsibilities include:
- Build forecasting, predictive and simulation models to understand operational performance, demand, route profitability and schedule robustness.
- Apply optimisation, simulation and modelling techniques to airline operations, network planning and commercial decision-making where appropriate.
- Analyse operational drivers and event-based causes of performance outcomes, translating complex operational data into actionable insights.
- Develop and improve analytical approaches using techniques such as statistical modelling, machine learning, simulation, linear programming, mixed-integer programming or heuristic search.
- Build and maintain analytical decision-support applications using C++, Python and R.
- Leverage cloud technologies such as Databricks to streamline data processing, model development and deployment.
- Identify opportunities for automation, scalability and responsible use of AI in analytical workflows.
- Build decision-support applications, dashboards and visual interfaces that operators, planners and business teams can use in daily workflows.
- Ensure high standards of data integrity, consistency and governance across the team’s analytics outputs.
- Partner with stakeholders across Operations, Network Planning and Commercial teams to translate analytical results into practical decisions and strategic action.
You’ll be great in this role if you have…
- Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Operations Research, Economics or a related quantitative field.
- Strong professional experience in advanced analytics, operations research, optimisation, data science or quantitative modelling within a complex organisation.
- Strong programming skills in Python, R or C++.
- Experience working with complex operational data and ambiguous business problems where the decision criteria are not always clear upfront.
- Experience building forecasting, predictive modelling or machine learning approaches to support operational or commercial decision-making.
- Experience building decision-support tools or analytical applications for operational or commercial users.
- Experience with SQL, relational databases and large operational datasets.
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to translate complex technical findings for non-technical audiences.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment.
Highly regarded:
- Experience formulating and solving optimisation or simulation problems, such as linear programming, mixed-integer programming, nonlinear optimisation, discrete-event simulation, column generation, metaheuristics or heuristic search.
- Experience with optimisation solvers or libraries such as Gurobi, CPLEX, HiGHS, OR-Tools or equivalent.
- Experience with Databricks or equivalent modern data platforms.
- Proficiency with AI-supported coding tools such as Codex, and the ability to use them responsibly to improve development productivity, code quality and analytical workflow efficiency.
- Experience with data visualisation or application tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Shiny or similar.
- Airline, transport, logistics, network planning, scheduling, revenue management or complex operations experience.
We’re committed to looking after you, with some of the best benefits and conditions in the industry – including (but not limited to):
- Discounted flights for you and your loved ones (including $1000 worth of travel credits per year)
- A flexible, hybrid work style. Work from home or the office, adapt your location to suit your style and needs
- One of Brisbane’s most admired head office locations, with South Bank train station, a supermarket, pharmacy, and lunch options downstairs plus a 5-minute walk to the Busway, a rooftop restaurant and onsite gym (with a low membership fee) and South Bank Parklands just across the road
- Discounts on travel insurance, lounge membership, car hire, accommodation, and experiences worldwide
- Cheaper hospitality, retail, technology, beauty and wellness services
- Free counselling and access to a wellbeing app to support your physical, mental, social and financial health
- ‘Dress for Your Day’ – enjoy the freedom to wear whatever makes you feel great for the type of work you do and the day you have ahead of you.
When everyone is included, everyone wins
We’re all individuals. And we love that. That’s why we encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, those from diverse cultural backgrounds, our friends in the LGBTQI+ community, and anyone else who wants to join our family.
Ready to apply?
We’re ready to hear from you. Apply now.
