Planning & Standards Summer 2026 Internships

Planning & Standards Summer 2026 Intern 

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To be considered, please ensure that you attach a resume to your application.  

We ask that you apply with your personal email address rather than your school email (.edu) so we can stay connected about future roles at Southwest.   

Southwest Airlines' Planning & Standards Internships span across several different Planning & Standards Departments. If hired, Interns may be asked to support a variety of projects within one of the following Teams:  

Facilities Standards Intern - The Facilities Standards Intern supports the development and implementation of design and programming standards that enhance Employee experiences and align with Southwest’s organizational goals. They'll gather data, support compliance reviews, and contribute to continuous improvement efforts. Preferred experience for this role includes AutoCAD, Revit, and Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator).

Facilities Planning Intern -  The Facilities Planning Intern supports the Corporate Facilities Team in leading strategic projects, cross-functional initiatives, and process improvements to ensure timely and high-quality execution. They'll collaborate with various Facilities groups in conducting analysis, preparing reports, and providing insights from data.

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, in Dallas, TX (2702 Love Field Drive. 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. 

Duties and Responsibilities:  The duties and responsibilities of Planning and Standards Intern may include, but are not limited to:   

• Support development and maintenance of facility design standards and documentation 

• Assist with space planning, FF&E, and material selection for corporate and airport facilities 

• Organize and update standards libraries, Revit families, and document repositories 

• Participate in meetings and presentations to internal stakeholders 

• Assist with field verification and data collection for facilities projects (travel may be required) 

• Support initiatives related to sustainability and continuous improvement 

• Perform basic research and analysis to inform design decisions 

• Collaborate with Leaders and counterparts throughout the Facilities organization to deliver functional objectives 

• Drive internal and cross-departmental initiatives in support of Facilities strategy and continuous process improvement 

• Deliver process enhancements and special projects across the Facilities function 

• Perform project oversight to ensure teamwork is planned, executed, and reported on in a timely manner and with high quality 

• Perform and interpret ad hoc research and analysis to assist with driving decisions 

• Develop accurate, timely, and comprehensive reports to facilitate management decision-making 

• Research and provide best practice recommendations for a variety of stakeholders 

• Assist in data preparation and perform quality assurance on dashboards and reports 

• Validate technology project test case results meet expected financial and operational outcomes 

• Document findings in accordance with guidelines and report results to team members 

• Analyze data and notify department Leaders of unusual trends or anomalies 

• Analyze potential financial or operational risks from technology system upgrades or projects and recommend test case scenarios to mitigate risk 

• Collaborate with Team members and internal customers to ensure work is completed within timelines; escalate risk where appropriate 

• Update team members and department Leaders on project status and outcomes 

• Provide potential impact analysis to Leadership when accounting or operational system issues occur 

• Collaborate with Team members to identify, troubleshoot, and overcome challenges and defects 

• Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity 

• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:   

• Problem solving and analytical background required 

• Ability to stay organized, detail-oriented, manage multiple and concurrent complex assignments 

• Strong communication skills 

• Demonstrates ability to use data to draw conclusions, synthesize action plan and clearly communicate interpretation of data 

• Prioritizes own work and actively makes trade-offs to move items based on priority and urgency 

• Works well independently as well as in a team environment in a professional manner 

• Works well in a culture that is open, direct, respectful, courteous, and compassionate 

• Air travel with occasional overnight stays required

• Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, customer payment and refund policies, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data 

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing Customer and personal services including Customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of Customer Satisfaction 

• Skilled in collecting, organizing, visualizing, and assimilating data, including turning raw data into meaningful information using ad hoc reporting tools, data-oriented programming languages, and visualization software 

• Skilled in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems 

• Routinely goes beyond simple numerical checks in quality control 

• Maintains high quality even in complex situations with tight deadlines 

• Consistently takes big picture into account in decision stream and makes right decisions 

Pay:  

• $20-$22 per hour, corresponding with progress toward degree 

• Stipends may be offered based on eligibility and program criteria 

To apply, you must submit your application and upload a resume for each role online at  www.southwest.com/careers.  

We are committed to helping individuals with disabilities participate in the workforce and ensuring equal  opportunity to apply and compete for jobs. If you need accommodation at any point in the hiring process due to a disability, you may email the Accommodations Team or call 877-792-4792.  

Education:  

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent education required  

• Progress toward a degree, major, or minor in Accounting, Finance, Business, Management Information Systems, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analytics, Information Systems, Project Management, Consulting, Architecture, Interior Design, Facilities Management, or similar degree required  

• Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA at the time of application  

• To be eligible, you must be currently enrolled as a full-time student (as defined by your university) at the time of application and during the internship.

• Preferred: At least 3 semesters remaining at the start date for your internship

• Preferred: Progress towards a 4-year undergraduate degree

Basic Qualifications:  

• Must be at least 18 years of age

• You must have a valid U.S. Social Security Number to complete the full hiring process

Experience 

• Preferred: Basic experience with design software such as AutoCAD, Revit, and Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator)

• Preferred: Basic understanding of architectural or interior design principles

• Preferred: Familiarity with space planning, material selection, and design trends

• Preferred: Familiarity with regulatory ticketing, refund, and banking policies

• Preferred: Experience in developing automations and creating new reporting

• Preferred: Experience in problem-solving and analysis