Senior Manager, Data Scientist

Job Description

Are you ready to take off and be part of the Allstar team? Whether you’re a developer, data scientist, or strategist, at AirAsia we act as One AirAsia to drive innovation in aviation.

If you’re eager to make a difference at one of the world's most recognized low-cost airlines and work at the forefront of data-driven aviation, this is the role for you.

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Data Scientist plays a critical role in leveraging data to optimize airline operations, enhance customer experience, and drive revenue growth. This role sits within AirAsia Digital's Group Data team, which leads the airline’s data transformation, spanning predictive and prescriptive analytics, AI/ML, intelligent scheduling, and operational optimization.

You will lead large-scale airline data science initiatives, applying cutting-edge techniques to solve complex aviation challenges—such as demand forecasting, route optimization, fuel efficiency modeling, predictive maintenance, and crew scheduling. You will also oversee the airline’s data lake and analytics infrastructure, ensuring seamless data integration across commercial, operational, and financial functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of 40 data scientists, data analysts and data engineers focused on aviation-specific use cases.

• Manage four pillars composed of Predictive Modelling, Data Analytics, Data Engineering and Operational Research teams.

• Work with large, complex aviation datasets (e.g., flight schedules, passenger bookings, load factors, weather, fuel consumption, maintenance records) to extract actionable insights.

• Develop predictive models to optimize fleet utilization, demand forecasting, crew scheduling, and revenue management.

• Enhance real-time operational decision-making through AI-driven analytics, including anomaly detection and automated recommendations.

• Collaborate with airline operations teams (Network Planning, Revenue Management, Ground Operations, Engineering & Maintenance) to design and deploy data-driven solutions.

• Build scalable machine learning and optimization pipelines for applications such as predictive maintenance, baggage handling efficiency, and disruption management.

• Work closely with engineering teams to deploy models in a cloud-based production environment (Google Cloud Platform, Tableau, Kubernetes, Spark, Airflow).

• Ensure compliance with aviation industry regulations, data governance, and privacy standards (ICAO, GDPR, etc).

• Represent AirAsia in strategic data partnerships with Google, AIMS, Airbus, GE, Navitaire and academia, driving innovation and research collaborations.

Required Skills & Experience

• 12+ years of experience in Data Science or Advanced Analytics or similar fields, with a strong focus on the operational or commercial airline domain.

• Deep expertise in aviation analytics, including forecasting, scheduling, optimization, and real-time decision-making.

• Proficiency in Python, SQL / BigQuery, and any distributed computing frameworks will be a plus (e.g. Spark, Airflow, TensorFlow, PyTorch).

• Experience with aviation data sources such as Navitaire, AIMS data sets, Type B and ACARS messaging, and flight tracking.

• Strong statistical and machine learning skills, including time-series forecasting, reinforcement learning, Bayesian modeling and others.

• Hands-on experience in deploying ML models in cloud environments (Google Cloud, AWS, Azure).

• Proven leadership in managing cross-functional data science teams and delivering real-world impact in a dynamic environment.

• Excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to translate complex analytics into clear business strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Data Science, Operations Research, Computer Science, or a related field.

• Experience in aviation, travel tech, or logistics industries.

• Knowledge of airline revenue management, fuel efficiency modeling, and crew pairing optimization.

• Familiarity with aviation regulatory frameworks will be a plus (e.g., ICAO, CAAM, FAA).

Why Join Us?

At AirAsia, data is at the heart of transforming aviation. Join a team where your insights directly impact millions of passengers, optimize airline operations, and drive the future of air travel. If you’re passionate about applying data science to real-world aviation challenges, this is your chance to make a difference at 35,000 feet and beyond.