Sr Data Engineer

As a Senior Data Engineer on the AI Data Delivery (AADD) Team, you’ll play a key role in supporting Southwest’s Prioritized Flights initiative by designing and building high-performance data pipelines using AWS, Kafka Streams, and Java. You’ll work on complex, multi-layered problems that require deep analysis and thoughtful solutions, ingesting and transforming data for both operational and analytical use across platforms like DynamoDB, Redshift, and our internal Data Lake. In this Sr role, you’ll lead cross-functional initiatives, guide process improvements, and help shape policies that drive scalable, efficient data delivery. You’ll also collaborate with external vendors to provide effective solutions and insights, using independent judgment to determine the best path forward. Your work will directly connect Leaders to the right data and storytelling needed to make critical decisions, helping Southwest Airlines operate smarter, faster, and with greater reliability.

• Assemble large, complex sets of data that meet non-functional and functional business requirements
• Identify, design and implement internal process improvements including re-designing infrastructure for greater scalability, optimizing data delivery, and automating manual processes
• Build required infrastructure for optimal extraction, transformation and loading of data from various data sources using AWS and SQL technologies
• Build analytical tools to utilize the data pipeline, providing actionable insight into key business performance metrics including operational efficiency and customer acquisition
• Work with stakeholders including data, design, product and executive teams and assisting them with data-related technical issues
• Work with stakeholders including the Executive, Product, Data and Design teams to support their data infrastructure needs while assisting with data-related technical issues
• Generate or adapt equipment and technology to serve user needs
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders

• Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology, including applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services
• Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
• Ability to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
• Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong
• Ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events)
• Ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources)
• Ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations)
• Ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material

• Fly for free on any open seat on all Southwest flights
• 401(k) with Company contributions up to 9.3%
• ProfitSharing contribution
• Competitive health insurance

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.