Advanced Analytics Specialist — Hybrid, High-Impact Modelling

Virgin Australia; Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flight discounts

Hybrid work

Onsite gym

South Bank office

Job summary

Virgin Australia is seeking an Advanced Analytics Specialist to tackle complex business problems across Commercial, Network Planning and Operations. You will structure issues with stakeholders, translate them into predictive models and deliver practical decision-support tools.

You'll apply forecasting, optimisation, and simulation techniques using Python, R, C++, and SQL, with Databricks and cloud deployments. A hybrid Brisbane-based role offers diverse analytics impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Operations Research, Economics or related quantitative field.
• Strong analytics experience in a complex environment.
• Proficiency in Python, R or C++ and in SQL with large datasets.

Responsibilities

• Structure ambiguous business problems with stakeholders and define decisions, drivers, constraints, and opportunities.
• Translate problems into mathematical or predictive models and deliver actionable recommendations.
• Develop forecasting, modelling, optimisation or simulation to improve business outcomes.
• Build and maintain analytical decision-support applications for the wider business.

Skills

Problem solving

Business judgement

Stakeholder engagement

Independent worker

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field

Tools

Python

R

C++

SQL

Databricks

Gurobi/CPLEX

Power BI

Job description

Hello. We’re Virgin Australia. We’re the airline that’s always done things a little different. Our way. The Virgin way. We’re on a mission to make flying better than ‘nice’. And to do that, it takes a team of talented people who are passionate about customer experience, doing the right thing always, with a focus on safety – in the air, on the ground and in our workplaces. A team who values real diversity and inclusion, in a big brand with big ambitions.

What you’ll be doing

As an Advanced Analytics Specialist, you’ll work on some of Virgin Australia’s most complex and important business problems. These are often ambiguous problems where the question, data, and decision criteria aren’t completely defined upfront. You’ll work with stakeholders to structure problems, understand the underlying drivers and trade-offs, select and develop appropriate analytical approaches, and turn that analysis into practical recommendations and decision-support tools.

The problems are wide ranging and can span Commercial, Network Planning, and Operations. Depending on the problem, you might use forecasting, statistical modelling, optimisation, simulation, and machine learning, in order to help the business make better decisions and deliver measurable benefits.

The role sits in a small, high-impact Advanced Analytics team combining operations research, mathematical optimisation, data science and commercial analysis to improve airline performance and profitability. We work end to end, from framing the business problem, through analysis and modelling, to delivering the recommendation and embedding it within the business.

Further responsibilities include:

• Work with stakeholders to structure complex and ambiguous business problems, and identify the decisions, key drivers, constraints, and potential opportunities
• Translate loosely defined business problems into well-structured mathematical or predictive models, producing practical recommendations and measurable business outcomes
• Evaluate alternative business decisions and quantify their financial, operational, and customer impacts, translating analytical findings into actionable recommendations and measurable business benefits
• Develop and apply forecasting, predictive modelling, optimisation, simulation, and other quantitative approaches to problems across Commercial, Network Planning, and Operations
• Build and maintain analytical decision-support applications using C++, Python and R both for use within the Advanced Analytics team as well as for use by the wider business in daily workflows.
• Leverage cloud technologies such as Databricks to streamline data processing, model development and deployment.
• Identify opportunities for automation, scalability and responsible use of AI in analytical workflows.
• Ensure high standards of data integrity, consistency and governance across the team’s analytics outputs.

You’ll be great in this role if you have…

• Strong structured problem-solving skills, including experience taking ambiguous business questions, identifying the real decision to be made, developing analytical approaches, and translating results into action.
• Strong business judgement and curiosity, with the ability to consider financial, operational and customer impacts, recognise trade-offs and avoid optimising individual metrics at the expense of broader business outcomes.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Operations Research, Economics or a related quantitative field.
• Strong professional experience in advanced analytics, operations research, optimisation, data science or quantitative modelling within a complex organisation.
• Strong programming skills in Python, R or C++.
• Experience building predictive modelling, optimisation, or simulation models to solve practical business problems.
• Experience building decision-support tools or analytical applications that translate complex problems into usable business solutions.
• Experience with SQL, relational databases and large commercial, customer, or operational datasets.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to translate complex technical findings for non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment.

Highly regarded:

• Experience in consulting, internal consulting, or cross-functional analytical roles involving structured problem-solving, quantitative analysis, and business recommendations.
• Additional experience across multiple quantitative disciplines, including forecasting, machine learning, mathematical optimisation and simulation, beyond the candidate’s primary area of expertise.
• Experience with optimisation solvers or libraries such as Gurobi, CPLEX, HiGHS, OR-Tools or equivalent.
• Experience with discrete-event simulation, including but not limited to packages such as AnyLogic, Simio, JaamSim, or SimPy
• Experience with Databricks or equivalent modern data platforms.
• Proficiency with AI-supported coding tools such as Codex, and the ability to use them responsibly to improve development productivity, code quality and analytical workflow efficiency.
• Experience with data visualisation or application tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Shiny or similar.
• Airline, travel, distribution, revenue management, pricing, network planning, GDS or travel technology experience.

We’re committed to looking after you, with some of the best benefits and conditions in the industry – including (but not limited to):

• Discounted flights for you and your loved ones (including $1000 worth of travel credits per year)
• A flexible, hybrid work style. Work from home or the office, adapt your location to suit your style and needs
• One of Brisbane’s most admired head office locations, with South Bank train station, a supermarket, pharmacy, and lunch options downstairs plus a 5-minute walk to the Busway, a rooftop restaurant and onsite gym (with a low membership fee) and South Bank Parklands just across the road
• Discounts on travel insurance, lounge membership, car hire, accommodation, and experiences worldwide
• Cheaper hospitality, retail, technology, beauty and wellness services
• Free counselling and access to a wellbeing app to support your physical, mental, social and financial health
• ‘Dress for Your Day’ – enjoy the freedom to wear whatever makes you feel great for the type of work you do and the day you have ahead of you.

When everyone is included, everyone wins

We’re all individuals. And we love that. That’s why we encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, those from diverse cultural backgrounds, our friends in the LGBTQI+ community, and anyone else who wants to join our family.

Ready to apply?

We’re ready to hear from you. Apply now.

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