Tech Lead Software Engineer

Southwest Airlines • Dallas, TX

2d • Remote

About The Position

As a Tech Lead Software Engineer, you’ll help shape mission-critical data and optimization engines that support Southwest’s safe, reliable, and efficient operations. You’ll guide a Pod that sources and curates airline data across multiple domains, ensuring it is accurate, scalable, and ready for software supporting network planning and rapid recovery decisions during operational disruptions. You’ll lead technical direction, mentor Developers, and provide hands-on support to the Team building complex, high-performance C++ models. You’ll translate business needs into robust designs, test automation, and dependable deployments, and partner with Business Leaders, Solution Architects, shared services Teams, and Operations stakeholders to align capacity, architecture, performance, and reliability requirements. The work supports decision-making and recovery speed, reduces risk, and helps improve schedules and asset use.

This is a remote workplace position that may require travel for trainings, meetings, conferences, and other necessary visits. Most working time may be spent remotely, away from the Corporate Campus. Employees may regularly work off-site only from eligible locations; Alaska, Delaware, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico are listed as ineligible. U.S. citizenship or current U.S. work authorization is required; work authorization sponsorship is unavailable.

The role requires expert-level software engineering experience and a high school diploma or GED, plus a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a similar field, or equivalent advanced-level experience. The position pays $160,550–$178,400 per year depending on qualifications and experience. Eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles may have additional bonus opportunities at the Company’s discretion.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a similar field, or equivalent advanced-level experience.
• Expert-level experience and expansive, far-reaching knowledge in software engineering.
• Advanced knowledge of software development methodologies, practices, concepts, and technologies.
• Advanced knowledge of at least one programming language and general knowledge of one or more additional programming languages.
• Knowledge of project management methodology and principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities and a proactive mindset.
• Strong communication skills, including adapting explanations of direction, priorities, options, risks, impacts, and recommendations for technical, non-technical, and Leadership audiences.
• Ability to explain technical implementation and its business value.
• Ability to lead ideation, presentation, and group-thinking sessions.
• Ability to influence without authority, including through Senior Leadership levels, to achieve business outcomes.
• Ability to lead multiple administrative or project efforts concurrently while maintaining successful completion of personal work.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, Team-based, Customer service-oriented environment.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the United States; work authorization sponsorship is not available.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must comply with Company attendance and appearance standards.
• Must be able to travel to or attend Company and non-Company facilities and remote locations as necessary.
• Ability to perform work from a limited-space workstation, desk, or office area for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate and interact in English and use a computer and office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy.

Nice To Haves

• Experience implementing and managing CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins or GitLab.
• Experience with branching and release strategies that support efficient software delivery.
• Experience executing Blue/Green and Canary deployment strategies for application releases.
• Experience using feature flags to enable controlled feature rollouts.
• Experience managing multiple environments to maintain development, QA, and production parity.
• Experience developing and maintaining applications using C++.

Responsibilities

• Provide accurate development estimates for feasibility assessments and planned development activities.
• Create, maintain, review, and approve application designs with Solution Architects and shared services Teams, ensuring alignment with solution architectures and considering tradeoffs.
• Develop, maintain, and review software with a focus on quality and maintainability.
• Develop, maintain, review, and execute unit, functional, and integration tests, emphasizing automation and test-driven development.
• Provide technical oversight for performance testing and ensure plans and results align with expected non-functional requirements.
• Plan and oversee application deployment activities and sequencing in non-production and production environments.
• Investigate new technologies that could improve applications and development activities.
• Identify and resolve technical debt as appropriate, weighing development effort against value returned.
• Mentor and coach the Development Team on architecture, design, development, and operations topics.
• Evaluate code for validity, structure, industry standards, and compatibility with browsers, devices, or operating systems.
• Perform other job duties as directed by the Employee’s Leaders.

Benefits

• Free travel on any open seat on Southwest flights for the employee and eligible dependents.
• Company funding for the Retirement Savings Plan, including a dollar-for-dollar 401(k) company match of up to 9.3% of eligible earnings, subject to plan terms and position variation.
• Potential annual profit-sharing contribution to the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan, subject to plan terms and Company discretion.
• Competitive health insurance for the employee and eligible dependents, with coverage options starting from the first day of employment.

What This Job Offers

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