Data Scientist

Who We Are

Murmuration is a nonprofit organization that amplifies the power of civic engagement by providing data, digital tools, and research-driven insights to community-focused organizations so that together we can create an America where everyone can lead healthy, free, and dignified lives.

Every day, people are trying to shape our future for the better. Fighting for water that’s safe to drink. Schools that serve students equitably. Gun laws that make sense. And rallying people who care like we do. And yet too often the skillful organizers working to mobilize communities lack access to technology that could supercharge their efforts. Knocking on every door instead of knowing which will open most easily. And going up against outside interests that have half the heart, but twice the tools.

In communities across America, Murmuration’s partners are leveraging our data, tools, and insights to help thousands of organizers orchestrate millions of individual people to do big things together. Demand big things together. To create the world they want. Together.

About the Position

As a Data Scientist at Murmuration, you’ll practice “full-stack” data science, shepherding problems from ideation to implementation. The Data Science Team works on diverse datasets with hundreds of millions of records to analyze data, build pipelines, and derive insights to power Murmuration’s data and tools. The Data Scientist will contribute to our core predictive stack, developing innovative methodologies with a focus on campaign data models and entity resolution. You’ll work closely with other data scientists on the team and collaborate with the engineering, product, and research teams.

Note: At Murmuration, we are committed to becoming an even more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. To this end, all staff members are expected to actively participate in DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging) programming.

Job Level: IC3

What You’ll Do:

• Execute data science projects, including predictive modeling, algorithm design, and data pipelines;
• Develop innovative, industry-leading campaign data science models, specifically partisanship and turnout models;
• Independently (and often collaboratively) explore data sets for insights and understand what can help drive product development and feature prioritization;
• Transform data into actionable and compelling insights through analysis and visualization, and then effectively communicate these data-driven stories to internal and external stakeholders through memos and presentations; and
• Collaborate with the engineering team to take data science products and concepts into production.

• 2+ years of work experience as a Data Scientist or equivalent role producing models and analytics for business applications;
• Solid understanding of advanced data science techniques, machine learning algorithms, and optimization methods;
• Experience with predictive analytics and building machine learning models;
• Experience working with voter file data and in campaign data science;
• Familiarity with data engineering and data pipelines;
• Skill in using advanced data visualization to effectively communicate insights and tell compelling stories with data;
• Proficiency in programming languages (Python and SQL), version control (Git),  and the ability to learn and apply new data science tools and techniques efficiently;
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities and a bias for rapid prototyping and iteration; and
• Capacity to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Nice to Haves:

• Domain expertise in organizing and advocacy;
• Familiarity with data engineering tools, such as dbt and Dagster; and/or
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Talented Data Scientists come from all walks of life and career. If you are passionate about civic engagement and technology, please apply, even if you do not check every box!

Location and Compensation

The Data Scientist is a full-time, salaried position with a comprehensive benefits package (more detail below). It is based anywhere in the U.S. The starting salary range for this position is $95,000 - $125,000 and is commensurate with experience.

Our Culture of Care

We work hard to create a culture of care to ensure that our staff are best equipped to lead happy, healthy, and balanced lives. To that end, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance with 100% of premiums covered for you and qualifying family members;
• Retirement benefits with a 5% employer match;
• A flexible unlimited PTO plan;
• Generous paid parental leave;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits;
• A company laptop;
• A flexible remote work environment;
• A home office setup stipend for all new employees;
• Monthly reimbursement for remote work expenses;
• A yearly professional development fund;
• Mental health and wellness benefits through Calm and Better Help; 
• Yearly in-person staff retreats; and
• A welcoming culture that celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Murmuration is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation, and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.

Note: Murmuration is two organizations working together to pursue our mission of amplifying the power of civic engagement: Murmuration Research Institute, a 501(c)(3) that conducts research to identify, design, and create the data, tools, and insights that build healthier and more equitable communities; and Murmuration, Inc., a 501(c)(4) that supports organizations working across the country on the nation’s most challenging issues with access to data, tools, and research that build healthier and more equitable communities.