Position: Principal Data Scientist Location: Heathrow Airport (LHR), Hounslow, UK Sector: Information Technology / Data Science Contract Type: Full-time Overview Our client is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to join their Operations Decision Support (ODS) team. This leadership role combines full-stack data science capabilities with strategic delivery, developing production-ready machine learning and optimisation tools that directly support operational decisions across a major airline environment. Key Responsibilities Lead the end-to-end development of machine learning and optimisation modules embedded in real-world decision-support software. Collaborate with software engineers and product teams to operationalise models using modern development practices. Design and manage data cleaning pipelines and orchestrate workflows (e.g., Dagster) within cloud CI/CD frameworks. Make critical system and modelling architecture decisions to balance scalability, complexity, and business impact. Engage with business stakeholders to understand operational problems and integrate data products into workflows. Conduct exploratory analysis and visualisation to support insight generation and value quantification. Clearly articulate technical decisions and modelling outcomes to technical and non-technical audiences. Mentor junior data scientists, promoting technical excellence and agile collaboration. Candidate Profile Required Skills and Experience: Expert-level fluency in Python, with experience in libraries such as scikit-learn, pandas, numpy, and Gurobi. Deep understanding of machine learning and operational research techniques (supervised, unsupervised learning, optimisation). Proven ability to deploy production-grade solutions with practices such as unit testing, CI/CD (GitHub Actions), containerisation (Docker), and orchestration tools (Airflow, Dagster). Skilled in SQL and cloud platforms (AWS preferred), and familiar with tools like DVC, MLflow. Experience in delivering industrialised data science products at scale. Strong communication skills with a proven ability to influence across technical and business domains. Qualifications: Master’s degree (or above) in Data Science, Machine Learning, Operational Research, or a related field. Minimum 4–6 years’ experience in developing and deploying ML/optimisation products. Domain experience in transport, operations, or network optimisation is advantageous. Benefits Competitive salary. Generous travel benefits, including unlimited standby flights and up to 30 discounted fares annually. Career progression opportunities within a dynamic and growing technology function. Supportive culture fostering collaboration, innovation, and development. Inclusion and Diversity Our client values diversity as a driver of innovation and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment. Applications are encouraged from individuals of all backgrounds. Inclusive recruitment practices and employee networks support equal participation across all areas of the business. Application Process Interested candidates are encouraged to apply promptly via the application link in the job posting. The role offers the opportunity to shape the future of data-powered decision-making in the aviation industry.