Associate CASS Data Scientist

Southwest Airlines • Dallas, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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 validate AI model performance
• Solving ambiguous and complex problems through a systems thinking approach
• Building relationships and trust across functional organizations
• Required: High School Diploma or GED
• Required: Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, Computer or Data Sciences, Information Technology or similar fields of study
• Intermediate level experience, fully functioning broad 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, or artificial intelligence project experience
• Data pipeline, data science and/or relevant programming
• Visualization and presentation development and delivery
• 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
• May require extended work hours and/or non-standard work hours based on business needs

Nice To Haves

• Preferred: Experience with cloud platforms and data environments such as AWS Redshift, along with data blending/pipeline tools like Alteryx
• Preferred: Proficiency with visualization and reporting tools such as Tableau or Power BI
• Preferred: Strong Python and SQL skills for data analysis, modeling, and general data manipulation
• Preferred: Familiarity with statistical methods, machine learning concepts, and the overall data science lifecycle—including model validation

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

Benefits

• 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 Profit-sharing 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level