The Role
Lead a Data Lake 2.0 team to build and operate an enterprise data platform on AWS. Drive technical direction, FinOps, data governance, observability, and delivery of reusable IaC patterns for analytics, ML, and AI. Recruit, mentor, and manage cross-functional, distributed engineering teams while aligning technology solutions to business value.
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:
About Us
At Southwest Airlines, we believe that flying should feel like freedom. For over 50 years, we’ve been connecting people to what matters most with low fares, legendary hospitality, and a heart for service. Our culture is built on the principles of fun, friendliness, and family, making us one of the most admired workplaces in the world.
If you’re passionate about making a difference, love working in a fast-paced environment, and want to help millions of travelers reach their destinations with a smile, Southwest Airlines is the place for you. Here, your career can truly take flight.
Job Summary
- The Data Lake 2.0 Pod owns and builds the common patterns and frameworks Southwest uses to collect, store, and expose data across the enterprise using modern cloud architectures. The team operates with a DevOps mindset and Agile principles — providing reusable Infrastructure-as-Code building blocks that hundreds of Southwest application teams consume and own within their own AWS environments to power analytics, ML, and AI.
- As Manager Technology – Data Lake 2.0, you'll lead a high-performing team that serves data for the enterprise across analytics, ML, and AI use cases. You'll serve as the single point of ownership for a reliable, scalable, and business-ready data platform — driving FinOps discipline across AWS, setting technical direction, and building a strong team culture in our Hyderabad office anchored in data quality and ownership.
- Provide a People focused approach to Technology Leadership. Apply department/enterprise business knowledge to ensure value alignment. Accountable for the delivery and support of solutions and services that are technically and functionally solid, well integrated, comply with technical strategy, and meet or exceed Customer requirements.
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
- Lead, support, and influence the achievement of the mission, goals and objectives of the department and organization
- Participate fully in organizational processes and initiatives, i.e. performance management, interviewing, budgeting, training, etc.
- Lead the resolution of organization, team and individual issues, making appropriate decision
- Develop and execute strategies and processes to improve performance and the value of products and services provided
- Lead cross-functional Teams to deliver solutions and services to meet enterprise needs
- Provide Technical thought Leadership related to assigned functional areas
- Deliver technology solutions using best practices to achieve maximum Team productivity while delivering high quality products
- Stay abreast of emerging trends, processes, and solutions related to assigned responsibilities
- Build strong, collaborative relationships and credibility while influencing and driving change across respective Business and Technology Teams
- Work with Technology and business partners to measure financial benefits and demonstrable business value
- May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of business/Leadership principals, including planning, organizing, directing, developing, and supervising
- Knowledge of personnel practices and regulations
- Knowledge of software development practices, concepts, methodologies, tools and trends
- Proficient knowledge of project management methodologies
- Skilled in excellent partnering, negotiation and communication in order to facilitate interactions with business Customers and technology teams
- Ability to provide tactical leadership for Team(s)
- Ability to use appropriate motivation and influence techniques to achieve desired Team results
- Ability to set and manage stakeholder expectations
- Ability to deliver quality projects on time and within budget
- Ability to manage projects using the organization's project management methodology
- Preferred:
- AWS core services and enterprise data lake architecture depth
- Python, SQL, and modern analytics platform fluency
- FinOps and cost management discipline for AWS data workloads
- Data governance, semantic layer, metadata management, and business glossary
- Observability, reliability, and SRE mindset for data platforms
- Technical mentorship depth — coaching engineers and tech leads
- Change management (ServiceNow) and enterprise adoption strategy
- Cross-continental team leadership across a globally distributed engineering model
Education
- Required: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information systems or similar fields of study or equivalent advanced level experience
Experience
- Demonstrated experience in directly or indirectly leading team(s)
- Fully functioning, broad knowledge in:
- Business and/or Information Technology environment
- Leading teams and providing work direction
- 8-12 years relevant work-related / leadership experience
- Preferred:
- Leading enterprise data lake or data platform teams at scale
- Owning FinOps for AWS data workloads
- Delivering on data governance, semantic layer, or metadata initiatives
- Hiring, mentoring, and growing engineers and tech leads
- Building team culture around data quality and ownership
- Managing engineering teams across multiple time zones
- Airline, travel, or large enterprise IT experience
Other Qualifications
- Must meet confidentiality expectations as to confidential, proprietary and sensitive Company information
- Ability to work extended hours as needed
Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems or equivalent experience
- 8-12 years relevant work-related or leadership experience with demonstrated experience leading teams
- Knowledge of software development practices, concepts, methodologies, tools and trends
- Proficient knowledge of project management methodologies
- Skilled in partnering, negotiation, and communication with business customers and technology teams
- Ability to provide tactical leadership, set/manage stakeholder expectations, and deliver projects on time and within budget
- Must meet confidentiality expectations for proprietary and sensitive company information
- Ability to work extended hours as needed
- AWS core services and enterprise data lake architecture depth
- Python and SQL proficiency
- Fluency with modern analytics platforms
- FinOps and cost management discipline for AWS data workloads
- Data governance, semantic layer, metadata management, and business glossary experience
- Observability, reliability, and SRE mindset for data platforms
- Technical mentorship experience coaching engineers and tech leads
- Change management experience (ServiceNow) and enterprise adoption strategy
- Experience leading distributed/cross-continental engineering teams
- Experience leading enterprise data lake or data platform teams at scale
- Airline, travel, or large enterprise IT experience
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.
