Data Scientist

The Data Scientist position is located in the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), within the Innovation and Performance Division (IPD). DDOT’s mission is to provide a safe, sustainable, and reliable multimodal transportation system that serves all residents and visitors of the District of Columbia fairly. The IPD guides the agency in using data-driven methods for process improvement, decision-making, and fostering innovation.

Data Scientists in these roles will use a variety of data engineering, analytics, and visualization techniques to monitor transportation asset conditions, support informed decisions, and improve project and program communication. These jobs demand strong technical expertise in Python, Tableau, ESRI ArcGIS, or a combination of them, as well as excellent communication abilities, a robust project management mindset, and a commitment to taking full responsibility for their work.

Contributes to data science activities that provide insight into and support priority goals for DDOT by obtaining, merging, reshaping, cleaning, and evaluating the quality of datasets and automating data pulls, manipulations, and other rote activities to enable efficient team and agency operations. Uses descriptive statistics, predictive analytics, machine learning, and other methods to learn about the patterns and relations within a dataset.

Uses inferential statistics to learn about the causal relations between variables in a dataset, including randomized field evaluations. Creates intuitive and compelling graphics to visualize and think about data.

Ensures that work product adheres to methodological and open science best practices. Creates data dictionaries, annotated code, and similar materials to ensure the work product is as open and reproducible as possible. Plans and organizes data science assignments with some oversight from supervisor; and informs supervisor of issues or problems encountered. Identifies and works with others to navigate through ambiguity and project challenges.

Proactively provides ideas and critical feedback—as well as being open to such constructive dialogue.

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

or

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

or

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Preferred experience in data science, engineering, statistics, or a related field.

Experience with Tableau, GIS, Microsoft Office Suite, Python/R, SQL, and interpreting statistical methods strongly preferred. A successful candidate should also have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write briefing memos and reports, deliver presentations, and facilitate effective meetings. An ideal candidate will display strong project management skills and deep expertise with data analysis and visualization.

The work is performed in the normal office setting and in the field when investigating and analyzing street conditions. Field work may bring the incumbent to construction sites and in contact with construction materials (soils, concrete, asphalt, steel, etc.).

Tour of Duty:
Varies

Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0101-12

Promotional Potential: No known promotion potential

Type of Appointment: Career Service – Term Appt

Collective Bargaining Unit:(Non-Union): This position is not in a collective bargaining unit

Position Designation: The incumbent of this position will be subject to…