Operations Research Developer

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:

As an Operations Research Developer, you’ll help turn Southwest’s complex operational challenges into mathematical models and scalable decision-support solutions. Partnering with Operations stakeholders across Crew Planning, Crew Scheduling, Crew Training, Ground Operations, and the Network Operations Center, you’ll translate business requirements and constraints into models, develop code to solve them, and test and refine solutions alongside experienced Team Members. You’ll also collaborate with Technology Teams and business Customers to ensure each solution addresses the right problem, performs as expected, and evolves as operational needs change. Through mathematical modeling, thoughtful development, and cross-functional partnership, you’ll help strengthen Southwest’s decision-making capabilities and deliver production-ready solutions that improve operational efficiency, create measurable value, and support better outcomes for our Employees and Customers.

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. 
• 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

• Support the develop mathematical models based on business requirements
• Assist in developing solution strategies to solve models developed by the Team
• Develop code to implement solution strategies under the guidance of more-experienced Team members
• Assist in preparing technical documentation of models and solution strategies
• Participate in reviews of models, solution strategies, and code with the Team
• Assist in testing applications to insure they perform as expected, and solve the correct problem
• Participate in reviews of solutions with business Customers to ensure that they are acceptable.
• Assist in calibrating the model or solution strategy as needed
• Work effectively with the rest of the Team, Business Customers, Technology development Teams, and support groups
• Support developed applications as needed with guidance from more-experienced Team members
• Assist with enhancements or recalibration as the business problem changes
• Seek guidance from more-experienced Team members as appropriate
• 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

• Basic knowledge of a modern programming language
• Basic knowledge of software development, practice, concepts, and technology obtained through college degree program, formal training and or work experience
• Critical Skills:
  • Demonstrates basic optimization aptitude and ability for logical and abstract thinking
  • Focus on partnering and communication when interacting with business Customers and technology development and support groups
  • Ability to design basic solutions, write code, perform testing, create documentation, and implement optimization projects
  • Ability to analyze and resolve basic problems
  • Ability to work effectively in a strong Customer service/team oriented environment

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

Experience

• Experience using LP/IP tools in an academic environment
• Software development experience in an academic environment
• Preferred: Experience applying operations research principles, methodologies, and analytical techniques to solve complex transportation, logistics, or operational business challenges

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
• Preferred prior academic or business experience applying optimization methods in an airline environment
• Preferred training or experience using SAS, SPSS, R, or similar statistical tools to create statistical models
• Preferred C++ coding experience
• 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 $132,200 per year to $146,900 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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