Associate Data Scientist - Direct College Hire

Department:

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:

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Our Technology Direct College Hire Program is a pathway for early-career technology professionals with up to two years of professional experience, including recent college graduates ready to begin the next chapter of their careers. Through this program you’ll receive hands-on experience, mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities, you'll build meaningful connections, strengthen your technical skills, and gain the experience needed for long-term success. We're currently hiring for cohorts beginning in January, June, and August 2027.

As an Associate Data Scientist supporting an AI Delivery Team, you'll help develop AI-powered solutions that improve decision-making across Southwest's operations. Unlike many entry-level data science roles that focus primarily on model development, this role provides exposure to the full AI product lifecycle. You'll partner with business stakeholders to understand operational challenges, analyze and prepare data, create visualizations, evaluate machine learning, optimization, and generative AI approaches, and support the development, testing, and deployment of scalable solutions. Working alongside experienced Data Scientists, Data Engineers, Software Engineers, and Machine Learning Operations Teams, you'll help deliver technology that enhances forecasting, planning, disruption management, staffing optimization, and operational performance while gaining valuable insight into the day-to-day operation of the airline.

We’re hiring multiple Associate Data Scientist roles in the Technology Department. Selected Candidates will support one of the following Teams:

AI Delivery (Air Operations)

The Airline Operations AI Delivery Team develops AI-powered solutions that support decision-making across Southwest's Air Operations organization. Partnering with the Network Operations Center (NOC), Crew Scheduling and Planning, Flight Operations, Inflight Operations, Operational Performance, and other operational stakeholders, the Team builds solutions using machine learning, optimization, and generative AI to help improve planning, forecasting, disruption management, and operational performance. Team Members gain broad exposure to airline operations while working on technology that directly impacts the airline's day-to-day operation.

AI Delivery (Technical Operations and Ground Operations)

The Tech Ops and Ground Ops AI Delivery Team partners with stakeholders across Ground Ops, Tech Ops, and other Air Ops functions to develop AI-powered solutions that support forecasting, staffing optimization, disruption management, planning, and operational performance. The Team leverages machine learning, optimization, and generative AI to build scalable products that help drive informed decision-making across Southwest's operation. Team Members gain exposure to the full AI product lifecycle while contributing to technology that supports safe, efficient, and reliable airline operations.

Additional Details

• This role is offered as a remote workplace position, which may require travel for training, meetings, conferences, etc. Outside of those required visits, the majority of your working time may be spent in a remote location, away from our Corporate Campus. Please note, while this is a remote position, there is a limited group of states or localities ineligible for Employees to regularly perform their work. Those ineligible locations are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico. Applicants must reside in an eligible state by their first day of employment. Relocation assistance is not provided for this position.
• U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S. required and no current or future work authorization sponsorship available.

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

• Works on moderately complex data science, machine learning, traditional artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence or optimization projects, working with stakeholders to understand contextual problems quickly and define, analyze, and deliver solutions based on business objectives
• Applies math, statistics, and/or modeling methods to create solutions which can be utilized in descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics
• Supports the ongoing effectiveness of models in use by stakeholders
• Formulates solutions and communicates results from data analysis and models with some assistance from more experienced Data Scientists
• Supports the ongoing development of analytical IQ by collaborating with and contributing to the Southwest Airlines data science community
• Must be able to meet any physical ability requirements listed on this description
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of foundational statistics and math concepts
• Knowledge of descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive statistical methods and their differences
• Knowledge of data science project life cycle including engaging stakeholders to define the problem, solution definition, project planning, and executing per plan
• Basic knowledge of, at a broad level, how technology platforms and architectures are applicable to data science
• Skilled in compiling, cleaning, transforming, analysis, and visualization of large-scale data
• Skilled in statistical and scripting programming languages
• Ability to communicate in an engaging way with strong verbal and written communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences up to and including functional leaders
• Ability to collaborate with vendors and evaluate their platforms, solutions, or techniques
• Ability to evaluate which data science, machine learning, or artificial intelligence techniques and methods are appropriate for a business problem and make recommendations for solutions
• Ability to collaborate with vendors and evaluate their platforms, solutions, or techniques
• Basic ability to evaluate which data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization techniques and methods are appropriate for a business problem and make recommendations for solutions
• Ability to adjust to a variety of situations and adopt new approaches and methodologies if necessary in order to effectively meet business objectives
• Knowledge of statistical analysis, probability theory, and experimental design to validate AI model performance

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED
• Required: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or related field; or equivalent formal training

Experience

• Required: Entry-level experience; developing skills and knowledge in Data Science

• Preferred: Intermediate level experience, fully functioning broad knowledge in:
  • Mathematics, statistics, and data modeling principles
  • Data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or advanced analytics projects
  • Data preparation, data pipelines, feature engineering, and data science programming concepts
  • Data visualization, storytelling, and presentation development using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms
  • Programming languages such as Python, SQL, R, Java, or Scala
  • Generative AI fundamentals, prompt engineering, large language models (LLMs), or agentic AI concepts
  • Agile or Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) methodologies
  • Solving ambiguous and complex problems through a systems thinking approach
  • Building relationships and trust across functional organizations

Licensing/Certification

• N/A

Physical 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
• Must meet confidentiality expectations as to confidential, proprietary and sensitive Company information
• Must be able to travel and / or attend Company and non-Company facilities and remote locations such as remote-based offices as necessary

Pay & Benefits: 

Competitive market salary from $103,750 per year to $115,300 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 401(k) retirement savings with Company contributions up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings** 
• Potential for annual ProfitSharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan- when Southwest profits, you profit*** 
• Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents (including pets) 
• Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You will have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan with coverage retroactively available to your first day of employment. 
• Explore more Benefits you’ll love:  https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits 

*Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time. 

**401(k) match contributions are subject to Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and applicable IRS limits. 

***ProfitSharing contributions are subject to 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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