Senior Data Scientist - Carbon-Free Transportation

Job Description:

Position Summary 

RMI is seeking a Senior Data Scientist for our Carbon-Free Transportation Program. This person will focus on accelerating transportation electrification by providing data-driven insights to facilitate key decisions that will enable this transition. The Senior Data Scientist will build custom models and develop analytical pipelines that use vehicle travel and other data to create tools that enable the rapid and effective deployment of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Examples of project work include analyzing vehicle travel patterns to estimate the locations and types of charging that those vehicles would require if electrified or developing and launching a user-facing tool for utilities or policymakers to understand impacts on their local electric grid from transportation electrification. A successful candidate will also work closely with other RMI programs such as Carbon-Free Electricity, and our India and China programs to support transportation-related analysis or project work. The Senior Data Scientist will also provide mentorship to junior data scientists and staff on technical questions and applying analytical pipelines to other Carbon-Free Transportation projects.

We highly encourage individuals of underrepresented groups to apply!

Overview 

Senior Data Scientists are independent contributors who work closely with colleagues on projects under the direction of more senior staff. They are creative problem solvers who use their quantitative, technical and analytical abilities to conduct compelling analyses around vital energy issues and to develop engaging storylines to communicate insights. They collaborate with team members to craft visionary yet practical solutions for our research questions and for our clients. 

Our team is looking for aptitude at solving challenging problems, thinking in numbers, and working in groups. We expect self-motivation, curiosity, creativity, the ability to drive oneself and others toward meaningful results, and a passion for RMI’s mission of transforming the global energy system to secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all.

The key job responsibilities for this position include: 

• Lead and support core research on projects. With senior guidance, develop hypotheses and analytical approaches to answer core research questions and address client needs. 

• Locate and manage high quality data that allow us to shed new light on problems and solutions. 

• Develop creative problem-solving and analytical approaches to derive new insights. 

• Develop analysis-driven, actionable data products including maps, dashboards, tools, calculators, and case studies to enable our analytical insights to be more broadly used by our stakeholders.  

• Synthesize research into clear and compelling presentations and written reports, including direct engagement with clients and non-technical audiences.

• Present quantitative information in a clear, visual format. 

• Engage with external experts via phone interviews, conferences, and on occasion responding to outreach or media requests. 

• Support and coordinate with team members to identify and prioritize new project opportunities, deliver on existing projects, and transfer knowledge to increase team effectiveness. 

• Structure and guide the work of more junior team members. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Education and Work Experience: 

• An advanced degree in a quantitative subject such as computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, statistics, or data science, and a strong track record of excellent data science work.

• 3+ years of cumulative work experience in data science, either in academia or the private sector.

Technical Skills: 

• Demonstrated excellence in Python including familiarity with geopandas, numpy, scikit-learn, and pytorch, or excellence in other programming languages (e.g., R) and a willingness to quickly learn and translate those skills to Python.

• Strong documentation practices

• Experience in batch data processing, cleaning, and visualizing

• Ability to write and maintain clean and reusable code

• Experience with collaborative code development with Github

• Experience with predictive and explanatory data modeling, including machine learning and classical statistics

• Interest in developing creative/novel approaches to data analysis and modeling, using technical tools to generate innovative solutions to complex problems

• Familiarity with GIS and mapping tools

• Ability to use standard tools (matplotlib, seaborn,Tableau, plotly, dash, etc.) to create clear, communicative data visualizations.

General Skills: 

• Familiarity with energy, climate, and the transportation sector 

• Experience working collaboratively in global, multi-cultural team 

• Ability to be self-motivated and work independently while maintaining excellent communication with senior staff, especially in a remote environment

• Ability to listen actively, be diplomatic, and share knowledge and information. 

• Ability to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively

• Willingness to take risks with new ideas to explore unfamiliar disciplines, subject matter, tools, or technical approaches. 

• Communicating research results, solutions, or recommendations to a variety of audiences, including non-technical stakeholders A passion for RMI’s mission 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• A Masters degree or PhD in quantitative field with peer-reviewed publications leveraging data science techniques

• Transportation analysis and/or economic experience with strong knowledge of EVs and charging infrastructure, mobility systems, and electric utilities

• Familiarity with energy modeling, common transportation data (telematics and/or household travel surveys), and/or big data practices

• Familiarity with constructing and running Monte Carlo simulations

• Experience or interest in user experience/user interface design, tool development and deployment

• Experience structuring, organizing, and executing project work 

• Experience supporting external stakeholder engagement 

We strongly value passion for RMI’s mission and deep curiosity about transportation electrification. We encourage folks who think they would be a good fit for this role to apply even if you are missing some qualifications.

Location

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby.

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies.

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

Important Note: As a U.S. federal contractor, RMI must comply with requirements outlined in Executive Order Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This Executive Order requires that all federal contractors and subcontractors mandate and verify that all U.S. based employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are based in the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of full vaccination status as a condition of employment. You may request accommodation for medical or religious reasons. If you are based outside of the U.S., this requirement does not apply. 

Compensation

RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary range for this position is $86,000-$105,000. You would also have an additional 5% bonus target!  

Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package adjusted to regional norms, including (for U.S. employment):

• Medical, dental, vision insurance 

• 403b retirement options (up to 5% match immediately)   

• Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability   

• Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)   

• Generous paid time off  

• Parental leave   

• Work from home and commuter allowance

Diversity     

Increasing the diversity of thought, perspectives, ideas and opinions within RMI is a critical change element supporting our long-term sustainability and mission to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future.    

We strive for a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this—regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic class, educational attainment or other social identities—is critical to the success of each RMIer and collectively as an organization. This ensures that we:   

• Have the different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.   

• Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating others with dignity, respect and appreciation enabling them to feel welcomed, supported and valued.   

• Effectively connect, communicate and build long-lasting relationships with decision makers, stakeholders and constituents within diverse communities.   

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.        

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.