Associate Software Engineer - Direct College

Associate Software Engineer – Direct College Hire

Join Southwest Airlines as an Associate Software Engineer through our Direct College Hire Program. This pathway is designed for recent college graduates and early‑career technology professionals, offering on‑the‑job mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities.

Our Company Promise:
Southwest Airlines is committed to providing a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged, and all employees are expected to treat internal and external customers with the same respect and caring attitude.

As part of the Commercial Data Delivery Team, you will design, code, test, and implement solutions powering booking, sales, real‑time messaging, and mission‑critical systems. You will work with real‑time data feeds from our reservation system, troubleshoot issues across environments, and ensure high‑quality, integrated applications that meet business needs.

This remote position may require occasional travel for training, meetings, or conferences. Certain states and territories are listed as ineligible for remote work. U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the U.S. is required; no sponsorship is available.

• Apply knowledge and skills of software development and testing to solve a range of problems.
• Inform technical and non‑technical requirements to apply business domain fundamentals.
• Maintain current understanding of technologies or programming practices through continuing education and professional activities.
• Troubleshoot program and system malfunctions across production and other environments.
• Evaluate code for validity, structure, and industry standards.
• Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility within time and cost constraints.
• Contribute to team‑level technical discussion, decisions, and improvement opportunities.
• Follow agile delivery processes and maintain a sense of urgency in completing work.
• Perform additional duties as directed by leadership.

• Proficient in software development methodologies, practices, and technologies.
• Strong problem‑solving skills in software development and testing.
• Proficiency in at least one required programming language.
• Effective communication and negotiation with Technology or partner teams.
• Ability to analyze complex technical problems and provide viable solutions.
• Capability to manage multiple assignments while maintaining high performance.
• Ability to present ideas and strategies to a variety of audiences.

• Required:
  
  High School Diploma or GED.
• Required:
  
  Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; or equivalent formal training.

• Required:
  
  Entry‑level experience or self‑directed skill development in software engineering.
• Preferred:
  
  Experience with React, AWS, Java, Python, Postgre
  
  SQL, Open Shift, Docker, Dev Ops, Agile/Scrum, and Git Lab.
• Preferred:
  Knowledge of Dev Sec Ops , secure code development, CI/CD.
• Preferred:
  Knowledge of AWS Lambda, Python, Event Bridge, Kafka, Rabbit
  
  MQ, Dynamo
  
  DB, Java, and S3.

• Maintain a well‑groomed appearance per company guidelines.
• U.S. citizenship or valid work authorization.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Compliance with company attendance standards.

• Competitive salary: $86,850 – $96,500 per year depending on qualifications.
• Benefits include free Southwest flight for you and eligible dependents, 401(k) contributions up to 9.3%, potential profit‑sharing, health insurance (including pets), and more.

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Posting End Date:
January 11, 2026.