Senior Decision Scientist, Operations Decision Science

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 for all of our customers during their travels with us and aim to deliver an elevated experience.

Delta Air Lines connects the world by flying over 180 million 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 Senior Decision Scientist with deep expertise in simulation and operational analysis to guide the development of decision‑support tools that tackle high‑impact operational challenges. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of analytics, operational strategy, and real‑world systems behavior.

• Simulation & Optimization (Primary Focus)
  • Design, build, and validate simulation models (discrete‑event, agent‑based, Monte Carlo, or hybrid) to analyze and improve complex operational processes across the airline.
  • Lead simulation input analysis, statistical distribution modeling, and experimental design for complex, stochastic operational systems.
  • Define and execute advanced validation and verification strategies to ensure solution accuracy and credibility.
  • Collaborate with optimization experts to evaluate strategies, assess trade‑offs, and identify robust operational solutions.
  • Use simulation to test new policies, operational concepts, and process changes before real‑world deployment.
  • Drive integration of simulation models into operational systems and digital‑twin workflows to enable decision‑adjacent and near-real-time use.
• 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
  • Lead simulation and analytics projects end‑to‑end—from framing and model design through experimentation, communication of results, and integration into operational workflows.
  • Ensure models and analyses are well‑documented, validated, and scalable for long‑term use.
• Collaboration & Mentorship
  • Work closely with cross‑functional teams (operations, technology, engineering, reliability, network, and more) to ensure analytical alignment and adoption.
  • Mentor junior scientists on simulation methods, analysis techniques, and best practices.
• Innovation & Best Practices
  • Stay current with advancements in simulation methodologies, optimization techniques, and cloud‑based analytical tooling.
  • Help define and refine standards for simulation modeling, experimentation, and operational analytics.

• Experience
  • 2–5 years of experience in simulation‑focused applied analytics, operational analysis, or advanced analytics in industrial or operational domains.
  • Hands‑on experience with simulation tools such as Arena, Pro Model, Any Logic, or equivalent platforms.
• Technical Skills
  • Strong foundation in simulation modeling (discrete‑event, agent‑based, system dynamics, stochastic simulation).
  • Familiarity with optimization techniques and tools (mathematical programming, heuristics, scenario optimization).
  • Strong SQL skills and experience working with large‑scale relational databases.
  • Exposure to Python for analysis, data manipulation, and building simulation experiments (ML expertise less central but still valuable).
  • Experience with cloud environments (AWS preferred), including services such as S3, Lambda, Step Functions, and Cloud Watch.
• Soft Skills
  • Excellent communication skills, able to convey complex analytical concepts to non‑technical audiences.
  • Strong project management, organization, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
  • A continuous learner with a passion for operational improvement and innovation.
• Core Values
  • Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self,…