Associate CASS Data Scientist

Department:

Technical Operations

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:

As an Associate CASS Data Scientist, you’ll help drive the analytical backbone of Southwest’s Continuing Analysis and Surveillance System (CASS), turning complex operational data into insights that strengthen safety, compliance, and reliability. You’ll develop automated workflows, build models, and apply advanced analytics—including machine learning and AI—to detect trends, assess risk, and optimize the health of our Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program. Partnering closely with Tech Ops, CASS Leadership, and cross‑functional stakeholders, you’ll create dashboards and predictive tools that inform critical decisions and support the ongoing improvement of our maintenance programs. By blending strong analytical methods with real‑world operational understanding, you’ll play a key role in ensuring our fleet stays safe, efficient, and ready to serve our Customers.

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.

• 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 CASS Analytics business objectives
• Applies math, statistics, and/or modeling methods to create solutions which can be utilized in descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics as it relates to CASS 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
• 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 val