Decision Scientist, Operations Decision Science

Overview

How you'll help us Keep Climbing (overview & key responsibilities)

At Delta Air Lines, connection is at the heart of everything we do and guides our every action. We strive to welcome and care forall of our customers during their travels with us and aim to deliver an elevated experience.

Delta Air Lines connects the world by flying over 180million customers annually to more than 300 destinations. Behind this global operation is a complex network of decisions, logistics, and real‑time problem‑solving. The Operations Decision Science (ODS) team plays a critical role in enabling smarter and more efficient decisions across Delta’s operations.

We are seeking a Decision Scientist with a strong interest in simulation, operational analysis, and applied analytics. This is an excellent opportunity for early‑career professionals who want to apply analytical and engineering skills to real‑world operational challenge sand learn from an experienced team of decision scientists.

• Simulation & Optimization (Primary Focus)

• Support the design, development, and validation of simulation models (discrete‑event,agent‑based, Monte Carlo, orhybrid)

• Conduct simulation input analysis and statistical distribution fitting to represent stochastic operational processes.

• Run simulation experiments to evaluate operational strategies, system behaviors, and policy changes.

• Apply statistical methods to evaluate simulation outputs,variability, and confidence in results.

• Support validation efforts using data-driven techniques to ensure solution accuracy and credibility.

• Collaborate with optimization specialists to incorporate analytical insights into decision‑making frameworks.

• Operational Analysis & Decision Support

• Partner with operational teams to scope analytical questions, explore data, and translate findings into clear, actionable insights.

• Build scenario analyses and decision‑support tools that help leaders understand impacts, risks, and opportunities within the operational environment.

• Project Ownership

• Collaborate with senior scientists and stakeholders todefine project requirements and ensure alignment on analytical objectives.

• Take ownership of well‑scopedworkstreams within larger simulation or analytics projects.

• Maintain clear documentation of models, analyses, and assumptions.

• Collaboration & Mentorship

• Learn best practices in simulation modeling,experimentation, and operational analytics through hands‑on experience and mentorship.

• Partner with teams across operations to understand how analytics supports Delta’s operational decision‑making.

• Innovation & Best Practices

• Stay current on emerging simulation tools, analytical techniques, and cloud-based technologies.

• Bring curiosity, creative thinking, and acontinuous-improvement mindset to the team.

• Experience

• 1-3 years of experience in simulation-focused applied analytics, operational analysis, or related fields.

• Academic or internship / professional experience with simulation tools such as Any Logic, Arena, Simio, or Pro Model.

• Technical Skills

• Foundational skills in simulation modeling (discrete‑event, agent‑based, or stochastic modeling).

• Experience with Python for data manipulation, basic analytics, or simple simulations.

• Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases.

• Familiarity with optimization techniques and tools(mathematical programming, heuristics, scenario optimization).

• Soft Skills

• Strong analytical thinking and problem‑solving skills.

• Ability to communicate technical findings clearly to teammates and non‑technical stakeholders.

• Ability to manage time and organize tasks with guidance from senior team members.

• Collaborative mindset and eagerness to learn from others.

• Core Values

• Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self,others, and personal data.

• Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles.

• Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.

• Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to workin the United States.

• Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and a customer‑first mindset

• Exposure to cloud environments (AWS preferred) is a plus,not a requirement.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Operations Research,Industrial…