Department:
Network Planning
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 a Principal Future Schedules Consultant, you’ll help shape the future of Southwest’s network by connecting commercial strategy, operational realities, and long-term network design. Serving as a subject matter expert within Network Planning, you’ll guide the development of complex, highly visible flight schedules while translating requirements from Tech Ops, Crew Planning, Network Operations Control, Ground Operations, and other partners into effective schedule constraints and solutions. You’ll apply deep expertise in schedule optimization, forecasting, simulation, and editing to solve unique challenges, identify process improvements, and provide senior-level guidance on strategic network and schedule decisions. Through cross-functional collaboration, vendor partnerships, tool implementation, and Team member development, you’ll help Southwest create high-quality schedules that balance Customer connectivity, operational performance, and enterprise priorities.
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
•Accountable for the creation of the Southwest flight schedule by overseeing the production of high-quality input files, managing constraints, identifying obstacles and recommending solutions, and ensures that all schedule initiatives are met
•Identify methods to improve schedule quality and/or reduce optimization or editing time and provides recommendations to the Team.
•Accountable for the testing and successful implementation of any new tools/software that are required to be used by the Team. Provide guidance for schedule optimization, editing, and simulation software enhancements, and various other models
•Represent Network Planning in meetings with vendors to deliver requirements and advocate for Southwest Airlines’ needs.
•Oversee the process of gathering schedule inputs/constraints from other departments, such as Tech Ops, Crew Planning, Network Operations Control, Ground Operations, and Operational Performance
•Identify methods to improve schedule quality and/or reduce optimization or editing time, and provides recommendations to the Team
•Serve as a subject matter expert, within the Team and the Network Planning Department, for advanced schedule development, optimization input parameters, constraint identification, and editing solutions.
•Demonstrate an exceptional and robust understanding of schedule forecasting, optimization, and simulation tools to provide feedback on future platform enhancements that better the Department through increased R&D capabilities.
•Build and maintain alignment with multiple Stakeholders across Southwest and externally; manage Stakeholder’s expectations and drive innovation
•Make realistic and high-quality recommendations; contribute to shaping long-term strategy by providing forward-looking insights on industry trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory or market variation.
•May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
•Advanced knowledge of airline network planning including flight schedule alignment with commercial and operational impact, industry-leading capabilities, and aircraft scheduling techniques.
•Advanced knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources
•Ability to assume a high level of responsibility and to provide direction in a cross-functional, Team-oriented environment
•Ability to lead discussions with stakeholders from multiple backgrounds who have conflicting priorities; act as a mediator if Teams are not aligned and drive towards a recommendation or solution.
•Ability to collect, organize, visualize and assimilate data including turning raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software
•Ability to identify complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
•Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
•Ability to listen, understand, and communicate ideas presented in writing and/or in speaking with others
•Ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense
•Ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events)
•Skilled in identifying and mitigating risks in scheduling, network planning, and operational execution including but not limited to capacity constraints and airport regulation changes
Education
•Required: High School Diploma or GED
Experience
•Innovator level experience, highest level of knowledge in:
•A relevant field such as airline flight schedule building or modification, airline revenue management, or airline operations
•Mastery of the full suite of Network Planning tools, including optimization, editing, simulation, and forecasting software
•Training techniques and best practices
•Delivering technical software requirements
•Software testing; opening and closing JIRA tickets
•Manipulating inputs to produce a production-quality schedule
•Adjusting a flight schedule, evaluating trade-offs, and honoring constraints to produce the best possible schedule solution
•Airline network planning, including understanding of key performance and quality metrics such as aircraft flows, turn times, utilization, etc.
•Executive-level communication (e.g. project status updates, presentations requesting approval, etc.)
•Alteryx Designer
•Identifying and developing solutions to address commercial and operational problems within airline schedule.
•Using presentation and visualization platforms (Tableau, PowerBI, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
•Data access and analytical platforms (SQL, Alteryx)
•Preferred: Experience developing strategic overnight aircraft parking and hub strategies
•Preferred: Experience developing new markets or airline network designs
•Preferred: Experience evaluating network connectivity, aircraft scheduling, and complex operational tradeoffs
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
Pay & Benefits:
Competitive market salary from $145,600 per year to $161,800 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 Retirement Savings Plan, which includes a dollarfor-dollar 401(k) Company match contribution of 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
•Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You'll have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan, and coverage will be retroactively available to your first day of employment.
•Explore more Benefits you’ll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits
*Pay amount doesn’t guarantee employment for any particular period.
**401(k) Company match contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule. Match contributions may vary based on the position.
***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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