Overview
Position Type: Contract
Contract Rate: $90.00–$100.00/hr
Location: Chicago, IL
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Scientist to join United Airlines’ Analytics and Innovation team and develop advanced analytical solutions for complex enterprise and revenue-management challenges. This individual will apply deep expertise in operations research, statistics, machine learning, econometrics, and mathematical modeling to influence strategic, financial, and operational decisions.
The ideal candidate combines advanced quantitative expertise with extensive airline and revenue-management experience. This role requires a hands-on analytical leader who can identify innovative opportunities, build practical models using large datasets, and clearly communicate recommendations to senior business and technology leaders.
Key Responsibilities
Lead Advanced Analytics Initiatives: Identify and introduce industry-leading analytical concepts that solve complex business problems and create measurable enterprise value.
Develop Revenue Management Solutions: Apply deep knowledge of demand forecasting, inventory optimization, airline fares, and customer choice to improve revenue-management decisions and processes.
Build Mathematical Models: Develop optimization, statistical, machine-learning, econometric, and customer-choice models supporting critical financial, operational, and strategic decisions.
Drive Analytical Research: Lead and participate in large, highly complex research initiatives through hands-on modeling, analysis, experimentation, and solution development.
Prototype Advanced Solutions: Create model and solution prototypes using tools such as CPLEX, AMPL, OPL, SAS, and Microsoft Excel.
Influence Business Strategy: Translate analytical findings into practical recommendations that improve efficiency, strengthen business performance, and influence enterprise strategy.
Monitor Industry Innovation: Stay current on emerging airline, revenue-management, analytics, and technology trends to help United maintain a competitive advantage.
Communicate with Leadership: Develop and deliver clear presentations, recommendations, and analytical findings to organizational leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
Target Candidate Profile & Qualifications
Advanced Quantitative Education: Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research, or another related quantitative discipline.
Extensive Analytical Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience solving complex business problems through advanced quantitative methods.
Revenue Management Expertise: 7+ years of revenue-management experience, including demand forecasting, inventory optimization, customer choice, and pricing complexities.
Airline Industry Knowledge: 5+ years of airline business experience with strong knowledge of airline operations, data, and commercial processes.
Advanced Modeling Skills: In-depth experience with mathematical programming, statistics, machine learning, econometrics, optimization, and customer-choice modeling.
Model Prototyping Experience: Strong hands-on experience developing and testing optimization or statistical-modeling prototypes.
Business Intelligence Tools: Proficiency with analytical and visualization tools such as Spotfire, Tableau, and Microsoft Excel.
Executive Communication: Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence leaders at all levels.
Nice-to-Haves
Operations Research or Statistics Ph.D.: Doctoral degree specifically focused on Operations Research or Statistics.
Advanced Research Experience: 7 to 10 years of industry research experience involving operations research, statistics, machine learning, or econometric modeling.
Airline Revenue Data Expertise: Extensive experience with airline fares, demand forecasts, revenue-management processes, and related data sources.
United and Industry Knowledge: Strong familiarity with United Airlines or broader industry data sources, traditional revenue-management science, and emerging analytical practices.