[Hiring] Solutions Architect @Southwest Airlines

Role Description

The Solutions Architect supports Airline Products Architecture by defining domain‑focused solutions that align with enterprise strategies and technical standards across the Commercial space. They’ll serve as a critical interface between business Stakeholders and Technology Teams, translating strategic goals into scalable system designs that enable desired business outcomes. They’ll evaluate options and make key trade‑offs, including build versus buy decisions, integration complexity, and technical risk, ensuring solutions are effective, sustainable, and aligned with the broader technology landscape. The Solutions Architect leverages strong communication and analytical skills to influence Stakeholders, bridge business and technology needs, and deliver solutions that support impactful initiatives such as Southwest Vacations and Assigned Seats.

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, Delaware, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.

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

• Partner with Technology Teams to establish an architecture that meets SWA technology standards
• Partner with business & technology Stakeholders to establish the technical strategy/roadmap for a business domain product(s) or product line(s) that will enable long-term business outcomes
• Operate as a trusted advisor for the business, work to define the business intent and non-functional requirements, and provide a comprehensive architecture that will meet business needs
• Contribute to the growth of the SWA Technology Teams through hiring, coaching, and mentoring
• Promote architecture technology standards and contribute to SWA technology standards
• Research current and emerging technologies and identify technologies that can accelerate business value delivery
• Seek opportunities to improve SWA technical competency actively
• Design, build, refactor or operate distributed large scale and impactful IT projects - either on premises or in the cloud
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of a modern programming language (e.g. Python, JavaScript, Go, .Net, Java, etc.)
• Knowledge of working in a technology domain such as distributed large-scale web, mobile applications, APIs, Cloud, Event Streams, DevOps, Serverless, Big Data, and Analytics
• Skilled in excellent verbal and written communication with Stakeholders to achieve the desired architectural outcomes
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
• Ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organization’s strategic plan
• Ability to bring others together and trying to reconcile differences
• Ability to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
• Skilled in Architecture Design Tools (e.g. Draw.io, Visio)
• Skilled in Software programming paradigms (e.g. Object oriented, Functional)
• Skilled in Software versioning software and best practices (e.g. Git)

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED
• Required: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information systems or similar fields of study or equivalent advanced level experience

Experience

• Required: Expert-level experience, expansive and far reaching knowledge in architecture design and implementation of large scale distributed systems
• Preferred: Demonstrated experience in the airline and/or travel industry
• Preferred: Demonstrated experience in Airline Reservation systems or Modern retail systems
• Preferred: Prior experience with offer/order systems or broader commerce domain (pricing, fulfillment, transactions), with the ability to translate domain knowledge into scalable engineering solutions

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
• Must be able to travel and/or attend Company and non-Company facilities and remote locations such as remote-based offices as necessary

Pay & Benefits

Competitive market salary from $160,550 per year to $178,400 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.

• 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 with Company contributions 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 (including pets)
• Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You will have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan with coverage retroactively available to your first day of employment.

Explore more Benefits you’ll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits

*Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time.

**401(k) match contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule and applicable IRS limits

***ProfitSharing contributions are subject to plan’s vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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