Principal Data Scientist

Department:
Artificial Intelligence & Data Transformation

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:

All of Southwest's People come together to deliver on our Purpose; Connecting People to what's important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel. The Princip a l Data Scientist supports our Purpose by enabling the deployment of machine learning models and ensuring the accuracy of those models is maintained over time through monitoring under the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Operations Tea m . This role will initially focus on the framework development of automatic model retraining and retuning. T hey'll also support crating processes and procedures for our AI Delivery T eams to advance ou r machine learning operation practices. T he Princi pal Data Scientist is an organized, analytical thinker excited to drive impactful initiatives across our Operation .

Additional Details:

• The culture of Southwest Airlines means we embrace a flexible workplace and value the camaraderie, collaboration, and innovation that occurs when we come together and interact face-to-face at our vibrant Corporate Campus. This role is a hybrid position based out of our Corporate Campus in Dallas, TX, which requires Employees to work onsite on our Corporate Campus at least three days a week. The Department designates the specific three days of the week Employees must work on-site.

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We continue to look for opportunities to reflect the communities we serve, and welcome applicants with diverse thoughts, backgrounds, and experiences.

Job Summary

• A Principal Data Scientist serves as an enterprise consultant and subject matter expert, responsible for leading the application of statistics/math, business acumen, and computer science concepts to create unique benefits for customers; and lead the development of innovative data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization products using cutting methodologies to generate competitive advantage for the enterprise by driving actionable insights and decisions in support of descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, or prescriptive business needs.

Responsibilities

• Identifies, understands and evaluates the most important opportunities and issues across the organization to be addressed through data science and influences prioritization of those opportunities
• Serves as leader, advisor, and mentor on highly complex data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization programs
• Works with customers to understand contextual problems quickly and define, analyze, and deliver solutions based on business objectives
• Serves as a subject matter expert on data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization techniques, methodologies, and tools
• Ensures the application of math, statistics, and modeling methods adhering to the best practices and standards in order to successfully deliver quality solutions
• Works with leadership to create the vision for the ongoing development of analytical IQ within the data science community at Southwest Airlines
• Advises cross functional leaders across multiple concurrent projects and leveraging past experience to influence business strategy
• Leads the continuous improvement of data science and analytics by driving the development of replicable solutions and best practices to ensure solutions are leveraged for future projects
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Innovator level knowledge in advanced analytics, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization concepts with the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to further the application of data science to business problems
• Innovator level knowledge of developments in data science and adjacent fields and their application to the domain or department
• Innovator level knowledge of data science project life cycle including engaging stakeholders to define the problem, solution definition, project planning, and executing per plan
• Expert knowledge of, at a broad level, how technology platforms and architectures are applicable to data science
• Skilled in communicating in an engaging way with strong verbal and written communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences up to and including executives
• Skilled in statistical and scripting programming languages
• Ability to apply systems thinking towards designing data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization products and shaping ambiguous business problems into an executable plans
• Ability to collaborate with vendors and evaluate their platforms, solutions, or techniques
• Ability to evaluate which analytic method(s) are appropriate for a business problem and make recommendations for solutions
• Ability to advise data science practitioners by removing barriers and recommending alternate approaches and methodologies in order to effectively meet business objectives

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED
• Required: Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, Computer or Data Sciences, Information Technology or similar fields of study; or equivalent advance level experience

Experience

• Innovator level experience, highest level of knowledge in:
  
  • Mathematics and statistics principles and techniques
  • Programming languages and query writing for large-scale analysis (Python, SQL, etc.)
  • Data analysis, advanced analytics, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization project experience
  • Data pipeline, data science and/or relevant programming
  • Visualization and presentation development and delivery
  • Solving ambiguous and complex problems through a systems thinking approach
  • Building relationships and trust across functional organizations
  • Mentoring and upskilling/reskilling team members
  • Leading and autonomously delivering data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence products to solve complex business problems
• Preferred: Experience in Generative AI, Reinforcement Learning, Graph Databases, Vector Databases, and R&D

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 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

Pay & Benefits:

Competitive market salary from $183,950 per year to $204,400 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 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:

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

**401(k) match contributions are subject to the plan's vesting schedule and applicable IRS limits

***ProfitSharing contributions are subject to plan's vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Job Posting End Date
11/03/2024

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