Data Scientist — Machine Learning Practitioner

About BlueConduit

BlueConduit is a social enterprise and infrastructure analytics software company dedicated to enabling communities to make prompt, equitable decisions regarding vital water infrastructure. Originating from pioneering predictive models for lead service line replacements in Flint, Michigan, BlueConduit now partners with hundreds of cities and utilities across North America. Their platform integrates diverse infrastructure data including fragmented records, field observations, geospatial data, and predictive modeling to help utilities, municipalities, government bodies, and consultants assess risk, prioritize projects, maintain compliance, and communicate effectively.

Position Overview

BlueConduit is seeking a Data Scientist to enhance and expand the machine learning models foundational to its analytics platform. This role involves improving models that assist cities in prioritizing investments, mitigating risks, and enhancing drinking water outcomes. The candidate will also develop new model products covering additional asset categories and will clearly communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. The ideal applicant embraces applied machine learning with a product-focused approach, is adept at handling complex real-world data, and values model validation, reproducibility, and detailed documentation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and enhance machine learning and statistical models for BlueConduit’s analytics products.
• Design and launch new modeling products and asset classes to broaden predictive capabilities.
• Refine data science workflows, reproducibility, model evaluation, and facilitate integration with product and software systems.
• Leverage diverse municipal, infrastructure, geospatial, and field-observation datasets to produce actionable risk predictions.
• Establish validation methods and effectively communicate model uncertainty, limitations, and tradeoffs to teams and clients.
• Utilize contemporary AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, Codex) to speed development while exercising sound programming judgment.
• Manage AI agent workflows to create robust code pipelines featuring built-in testing and peer reviews.
• Support customer analysis efforts and present results that are clear and practical for non-technical decision-makers.
• Contribute to research and development efforts to extend BlueConduit's predictive model impact and reliability.

Required Qualifications

• Proficient experience in Python-based data science environments, including libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, alongside production-level analysis workflows.
• Undergraduate degree in a quantitative field such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, or physics.
• Proven history of building, validating, and refining machine learning or statistical models applied to complex real-world datasets.
• Experience creating reproducible data science workflows in SaaS or comparable operational settings.
• Strong communication skills to articulate modeling results, uncertainty, and tradeoffs to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Fluency in modern AI programming tools and coordinating AI agent-based development workflows, grounded in robust independent coding ability.
• Capabilities in data visualization, verbal, and written communication.
• Familiarity with Git-driven development practices.
• Attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and dedication to producing transparent and trustworthy models for infrastructure decision-makers.
• Passion for socially responsible data science, environmental justice, and public-sector technology.

Preferred Skills and Experiences

• Graduate-level qualification in a quantitative discipline or substantial equivalent applied experience.
• Experience modeling additional asset classes beyond water distribution, such as fire risk, wastewater, hydraulic systems, climate or insurance risk.
• Expertise with geospatial data, GIS platforms, GeoPandas, or spatial modeling methodologies.
• Background in developing new model products or expanding existing ones to novel asset types or domains.
• Knowledge of both global and site-specific predictive models.
• Experience with advanced methodologies like neural networks, transformers, transfer learning, or other contemporary machine learning techniques.
• Familiarity with cloud-based modeling workflows, versioning, Databricks, PySpark, or distributed computation.
• Understanding of infrastructure, water quality, government datasets, or regulated public sector decision frameworks.
• Experience operating in Agile product development environments.
• Enthusiasm for iterative development involving prototyping, feedback, and continuous improvement.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range between $140,000 and $150,000, dependent on experience.
• Equity ownership options.
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance benefits.
• Simple IRA plan with employer matching contributions.

Additional Information

This role operates fully remotely and reports directly to the VP of Data Science. BlueConduit fosters an inclusive hiring process, providing equal opportunity regardless of race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin. This is a unique chance to significantly influence the future of data science solutions within a tight-knit and mission-driven team.