The Role
The Manager of Artificial Intelligence will lead teams to deliver AI/ML solutions, manage product lifecycles, foster innovation, and ensure alignment with business objectives through cross-functional collaboration.
Summary Generated by Built In
Department:
TechnologyOur 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 Manager Artificial Intelligence supporting Southwest’s AI/ML initiatives, you’ll lead a cross‑functional Team delivering production artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions that drive measurable outcomes across Airline Operations. This role combines People Leadership with end‑to‑end product delivery—owning the lifecycle of AI/ML solutions from problem framing through production performance, while setting strategy, roadmap, and execution plans aligned to business priorities. You’ll partner closely with Business, Product, Engineering, and Data Teams to translate complex operational challenges into scalable, well‑governed solutions, ensuring strong performance, reliability, and measurable impact across key metrics such as efficiency, on‑time performance, and operational resilience. With accountability for delivery, stakeholder alignment, and continuous improvement, you’ll build and grow a high‑performing AI/ML Pod, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and outcomes‑driven execution as Southwest expands its use of AI across the enterprise.
Model the Southwest Way
- Guide and lead team members using SWA talent management practices to coach, develop, and engage employees
- Adhere to Company values and competencies to foster a culture of inclusion, recognition, and support of a safe work environment
- Invest in leadership and self-growth through participating in continuous learning and development
Responsibilities
- Build and lead a high-performing team responsible for delivering multiple, highly complex data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization products in a timely, efficient manner with high quality by working with business customers to understand contextual problems quickly and define, analyze, and deliver innovative solutions that address business needs and support the company’s strategic priorities
- Manage the creation and communication of results from highly complex data analysis and/or the development of data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization products
- Develop and effectively communicate a roadmap for the team aligned to the vision of the team, establish long-term and near-term plans as part of a roadmap necessary to meet the vision, and align the team appropriately through prioritization to execute the plan utilizing development and training to enhance the team’s skills as needed
- Ideate, adapt, and continuously improve the artificial intelligence program by advocating for new ideas and processes to increase efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction
- Foster relationships with key business leaders, internal customers, and peers to promote and advise on opportunities in your functional area that may be addressed through data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization
- Maintain a portfolio of products and prioritize the delivery of those products in partnership with internal customers, communicating results and value-delivered via impactful metrics
- Recruit, develop, and retain individuals with the skills, attitude, and experience necessary to achieve goals/commitments as part of a high-performing, cohesive team
- Recognize achievements and advocate for career growth of employees to build a bench using mentorship, stretch opportunities, and training plans via a skills-based learning plan
- Create an environment where debate, dialogue and diversity of thought are encouraged, expected, and welcomed to foster high morale, integrity, trust and teamwork
- May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of situational and strengths-based leadership to provide continuous coaching to unveil areas of opportunity for an employee to improve team performance and hold team accountable
- Knowledge of data procurement and integration methodologies, platforms, and tools
- Knowledge of data science, machine learning, agentic AI, artificial intelligence, or optimization product development methodologies, platforms, and tools
- Strong knowledge of engineering fundamentals, including code quality, testing and automation, observability and monitoring, AI product Dev life cycle and platform engineering
- Skilled in leading a team to develop multiple, highly complex data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or optimization products in a timely, efficient manner
- Skilled in developing strong working relationships across all levels of the company including employees, customers, and leadership, and communicating effectively to that network in a clear and concise way
- Skilled in demonstrating self-confidence and emotional intelligence in crucial conversations that result in positive action or change
- Skilled in developing talent to create a strong bench with adaptability to replace key positions in functional area
- Ability to anticipate changing circumstances, unexpected constraints, or challenges and develop ideas, processes, and approaches through creative problem solving to meet those simple to complex challenges
- Ability to translate objectives into well-defined plans, priorities, and assignments for your team; managing the prioritization of your team’s work and making time sensitive decisions to move work forward while taking responsible risks to achieve goals
- Ability to create an inclusive team environment that encourages dialogue and empowers your team to sharing varying perspectives
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, Computer or Data Sciences, Information Technology or similar fields of study; or equivalent advanced level experience
Experience
- Required:
- Demonstrated experience in directly or indirectly leading team(s)
- Fully functioning, broad knowledge in:
- Data analysis, advanced analytics, Artificial Intelligence project experience
- Data pipeline, Artificial Intelligence and/or relevant programming
- Visualization and presentation development and delivery
- Solving ambiguous and complex problems through a systems thinking approach
- Formally or informally growing and mentoring talent, skills and abilities across a diverse Team
- Building and growing a new capability including driving and managing change
- Backend systems (Java/Python/Go or similar)
- Distributed systems fundamentals
- APIs, microservices architecture
- Data and Analytics Platforms
- 8-12 years relevant work-related / leadership experience
- 8+ years of People leadership of cross-functional AI/ML pods delivering customer-facing platforms
- 5+ years of Program and delivery leadership across roadmap, funding, dependencies, and measurable outcomes
- 3+ years of Stakeholder management and executive storytelling across business, tech, security, and operations; decisioning under ambiguity
- Working knowledge of AI/ML systems and the end-to-end ML lifecycle (data, model development, deployment), and ability to guide teams on delivery approach.
- Operational excellence for AI products: MLOps discipline plus responsible AI governance for non-deterministic systems (monitoring, evaluations, guardrails/safety), KPIs, risk management, and execution transparency.
- Preferred:
- 3+ years of prior engineering management in distributed or cross-continental teams
- Experience designing and managing data foundations for AI systems, including data catalogs, semantic models, and knowledge assets that enable governed data access and reliable retrieval.
- Experience managing AI/ML initiatives with strong financial discipline, including cost optimization, prioritization, and forecasting
- Cloud and DevOps depth for AI applications (CI/CD, release management), preferably in AWS.
- Experience leading across multiple AI products/portfolios with integrated dependency, risk, and execution management.
Other Qualifications
- Must meet confidentiality expectations as to confidential, proprietary and sensitive Company information
- Ability to work extended hours as needed
- Must be able to travel and / or attend Company and non-Company facilities and remote locations such as remote-based offices as necessary
Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Skills Required
- 8-12 years relevant work-related / leadership experience
- 8+ years of People leadership of cross-functional AI/ML pods delivering customer-facing platforms
- 5+ years of Program and delivery leadership across roadmap, funding, dependencies, and measurable outcomes
- 3+ years of Stakeholder management and executive storytelling across business, tech, security, and operations
- Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, Computer or Data Sciences, Information Technology
Southwest Airlines Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Southwest Airlines and has not been reviewed or approved by Southwest Airlines.
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Pay Growth & Progression — Pay progression is described as materially improving after major 2024 union agreements, especially for pilots and flight attendants. Compensation satisfaction is framed as stronger over time as step scales and seniority accumulate.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support stands out through a dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match and the presence of profit-sharing contributions that can add to retirement savings. Stock purchase access is also positioned as an additional ownership-oriented component of total rewards.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle value is elevated by extensive space-available travel privileges and broad travel-related discounts that can materially offset personal travel costs. Recognition mechanisms like points-based rewards are also positioned as an added lifestyle-oriented perk.
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The Company
What We Do
At Southwest Airlines we connect People to what’s important in their lives—that also means connecting our Employees to what’s important in their lives! Our Employees value the opportunity to work hard, be creative, and have fun on the job. Southwest Airlines recognizes, respects, and values differences. By fostering a culture that embraces and utilizes our diversity, we create competitive advantages in teamwork and innovation that contribute to our overall success.
