Principal Data Scientist - Operations

A career without limits

As the nation’s flag carrier, we take great pride in connecting Britain with the world and the world with Britain.

It’s something we’ve been doing for over 100 years, ever since we launched the world’s first international scheduled air service between London and Paris.

This originality has been in our blood since day one. It’s the spirit we share with the people that fly with us, our partners, and our colleagues.

So, whether you are a reassuring voice on the end of a phone, a smile at the door, under a wing keeping the turbines spinning or landing us gently in far‑flung places, a job at British Airways is yours to make.

We know great things can happen when you’re inspired to think big and bring your ambition to work every day, which is why, at British Airways the sky is never the limit.

The role:
Principal Data Scientist

You’ll be part of the Digital directorate within Data & AI, leading the delivery of high‑value data science products that support and automate decision‑making across critical business areas. This team plays a vital role in unlocking value from data, driving optimisation and enabling evidence‑based decisions across the airline.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the end‑to‑end delivery and lifecycle management of data science products and initiatives
• Scope and frame ill‑defined business problems and define data science solutions aligned with business goals
• Manage and coach data science teams delivering predictive models, optimisation engines and decision‑support tools
• Design, build and deploy production‑ready data science solutions that integrate with business processes and digital platforms
• Ensure quality, timely delivery and ongoing value of data science products
• Acquire, process and analyse large and complex datasets to create high‑quality model inputs
• Translate analytical outputs into clear, actionable business recommendations
• Provide guidance to stakeholders on how data science solutions improve business outcomes
• Oversee improvements, maintenance and decommissioning of existing data science products
• Ensure adherence to published frameworks, best practice, model compliance and ethical standards
• Monitor industry trends and advancements in data science
• Work collaboratively within cross‑functional Agile squads
• Contribute to feature prioritisation and road‑mapping, balancing speed and long‑term value
• Lead and embed effective agile ways of working, including engineering standards and delivery discipline

What you’ll bring to British Airways:

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to structure ambiguous problems
• Proven technical leadership in data science and machine learning delivery
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to senior and non‑technical audiences
• Confidence challenging constructively and influencing senior stakeholders
• Strong stakeholder relationship‑building capability
• Experience coaching, developing and line‑managing others
• Ethical and responsible approach to data science and AI
• Collaborative, empowering and resilient working style
• Continuous improvement mindset with a strong focus on business impact

Your experience:

• Numerate degree or equivalent with data science components 
• Experience of leading others in applying data science to business problems
• Experience in developing industrialised software, especially data science or machine learning 
  software products
• Experience in relevant business domains (transportation, airlines, operations, network problems) 
  (preferred)

What we offer:

We believe that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play. It’s one of the reasons our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary.

From the day you join us, you’ll get access to brilliant staff travel benefits including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways flights. You’ll also receive up to 30 discounted ‘Hotline’ airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.

At British Airways you’ll have the chance to take on new challenges and move forward in a way that feels right for you. We encourage all those who work for us to consider opportunities right across our business to help you develop and progress.

We never stand still, and we don’t expect our people to either.

Inclusion & Diversity

At British Airways we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work. Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.

Inclusion and diversity is a key driver of innovation and we’re committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves. We’re looking for people from all backgrounds and cultures to join us and be a part of our journey to become a Better BA as we continue to connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain.