Data Science Engineer Summer 2026 Intern

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Technology

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

Summer 2026 Data Science Engineer Intern

Please print/save the job description because it won’t be available after you apply. 

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 promises to provide Employees with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. We entrust our Interns working in Technology to make an impact on their Team in real-time projects, work collaboratively with other Technology Interns and workgroups, make progress to achieve Company initiatives, and deliver on our Company Purpose of connecting People to what’s important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel, all while having fun and developing yourself as a future professional. The  Data Science Engineer Intern works within the Technology Department and supports the Ops Lean Portfolio Management Team (spanning all Ops portfolio teams – AirOps, Tech Ops, Ground Ops, Safety). The Software Engineer Intern is a skilled communicator and problem-solver ready to drive the future of Southwest's Technology.

Additional Details

• This role is offered as a remote workplace position, which may require travel for trainings, meetings, conferences, etc. Outside of those required visits, the majority of your working time may be spent in an approved remote location, away from our Corporate Campus. Please note, while this is a remote position, there is limited group of states or localities ineligible for Employees to regularly perform their work off-site. Those ineligible locations are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New Hampshire New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.
• If you currently reside in an ineligible location, you may relocate to an eligible location and be considered for an internship.
• 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 the Data Science Engineer Intern may include, but are not limited to:

• Monitor and maintain the components of our data engineering pipeline, and various container-based services configured through UIs, SQL, PL/SQL, Python, Tableau & Alteryx
• Work as a part of our production support team to ensure the highest standards of product configuration that meet client requirements
• Test and troubleshoot the data pipeline using sample and live client data, utilizing Jenkins, Python, and Java to automate these tests. Must be able to parse logs to determine next actions
• Utilize dashboards for Kubernetes/OpenShift to diagnose high-level issues and ensure services are healthy
• Support Implementation immediately after go-live and work with the implementation team to transition support
• Work with data providers to clarify requirements and remove roadblocks
• Drive automation into everyday activities
• May perform other job duties as assigned
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, Work Style and Abilities:  

• 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 the 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 new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Skilled in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• 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.
  
  

Time Commitment And Pay

• Required: Full-time, 40 hours a week.  
• Must maintain a consistent weekly schedule during normal business hours at a max of 8 hours per day.
• Program Dates: May 19 – August 7, 2026.
• $25-$29 per hour, corresponding with progress toward degree (students with more completed semesters may qualify for higher rates within the range).
• 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 towards an undergraduate or graduate degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a related degree is required.   
• Progress towards a 4-year undergraduate degree preferred 
• 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. 
• 1-2 semesters remaining at the time the internship ends is preferred. 
• Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA at the time of application.
  
  

Experience

• Preferred: Exposure to or experience with Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).
• Preferred: Familiarity with SQL syntax and understanding of relational data models.
• Preferred: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and visualization.
• Preferred: Classroom and/or industry experience delivering presentations in a group setting.
  
  

Other 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.   
  
  

As an Intern, you can expect to:  

• Receive free, unlimited space available travel privileges for yourself (taxes and fees may apply on international travel). 
• Interns will be provided any required equipment, such as a laptop, for the internship. 
  
  

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please print/save this job description because it won't be available after you apply.

Job Posting End Date

10/15/2025

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