Data Scientist Engineer II - Data Lab

DEPARTMENT MARKETING STATEMENT

Are you a forward-thinking Data Engineer with a passion for building scalable and efficient data solutions? Do you want to make a meaningful impact in your city? Join the Data Lab, WMATA's cross-functional data science and engineering team on a mission to transform public transit in the DC metropolitan area through data-informed solutions.

Were excited to add a data engineer to our team who can take proof-of-concept ETL/ELT pipelines from prototype to full production deployment. In this role, you will build data applications that transform raw operational data (e.g. vehicle locations, faregate transactions, or passenger counts) into clean sources of truth used throughout the Authority. You will be responsible for optimizing performance and efficiency of pipelines while ensuring data quality and integrity through robust testing and validation. We value strong attention to detail, proactive ownership, and professional accountability; the ideal candidate learns new concepts and adapts to new workflows without extensive guidance, has a demonstrated history of applying engineering best practices, and hands-on experience deploying and operating machine learning services.

Join a team dedicated to both innovation and public service. At WMATA's Data Lab, your work will directly contribute to making transit smarter, more accessible, and efficient for everyone.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree in Civil/Transportation Engineering, Data Science, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or a related field
• In lieu of a Bachelor's Degree, a High School Diploma/GED and four (4) years of data science experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be considered
  

Minimum Experience

• Minimum of four (4) years of relevant data science experience. Experience must include at least two (2) year of experience using programming languages or database systems to develop data flows, data models, and/or data marts.
  
  

Minimum Certification/Licensure

• N/A
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in civil/Transportation Engineering, Data Science, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science, or a related field
• Advanced experience using R, Python, SQL or similar tools to extract, manipulate, and clean data; Advanced experience in relational database management and/or application development.
  
  

Medical Group

Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Summary

The Data Scientist/Engineer II contributes to research, data science, and data engineering activities of the Data Lab within the Department of Performance, Data and Research. The incumbent supports internal task teams and academic research partners executing a work program of quantitative analysis and research, and development and maintenance of data infrastructure. The primary duties of the Data Scientist/Engineer II include contributing to development of data modeling and analysis, the development of data pipelines, and data documentation. Additional duties include supporting development of documentation and supporting project teams with integration and analysis of large and complex datasets. These critical data assets support peer offices and other teams developing data-informed, action-oriented, and equity-focused recommendations and insights for executive leaders and managers .

Essential Functions

Principal Job Duties

• Participates in project teams of data scientists, data engineers, consultants, and academic research partners collaboratively executing a portfolio of quantitative research and development initiatives to support critical business functions including planning, performance, scheduling, operations, budgeting, maintenance, and safety and enable data-informed decision-making throughout the Authority.
• Supports the integration, and maintenance of third-party datasets, data transformation services, and data software platforms to ensure agency analysts have the best data and tools to support data-informed decision making. '
  
  

Other Duties

• Implements, maintains, supports, and develops documentation for internal projects and helps empower analysts and other data users to develop actionable intelligence confidently and consistently for specific business uses.
• Implements and supports data pipelines, including the capture, transformation, aggregation, and publication of new and existing data sets to provide analyst teams and other internal customers with advanced tools to support business needs.
• Assists senior staff with the design and development of advanced data models using a variety of statistical and data science methodologies to provide analytics for a variety of real-time, performance, maintenance, and planning applications.
• Aids in the creation and maintenance of architecture diagrams, system documentation, data models, mapping documents, business rules, data flow diagrams and other design related artifacts in a manner consistent with team standards to ensure understanding of teammates and as needed, other audiences, both technical and non-technical.
• Contributes to the development and deployment of tools and datasets for partner teams within Planning and Performance and others to support advanced analytics and data-informed decision making throughout the agency.
• Develops automated test scripts, conducts root cause analyses in response to data issues, and implements cost effective resolutions for data anomalies to monitor and report on data quality, validity, accuracy, and usability, identifies opportunities for corrections, and implements fixes that ensure internal customers have the highest quality data for decision making.
• Maintains and promotes awareness and accountability with safety policies and procedures while performing job functions. Promotes a positive safety culture and encourages reporting of safety concerns consistent with our Agency Safety Plan, other regulatory requirements within the Safety Management System and just culture principles.
  
  

The functions listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report
  
  

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.