Research Data Scientist

Job Description and Duties

Join the Covered California team!

Are you passionate about making a real-world impact through data science? Covered California invites you to apply for the Research Data Scientist position. This role involves leading complex empirical studies to improve our marketplace operations, spearheading data science strategies for policy interventions, and offering statistical expertise in health care and enrollment data analysis. You'll drive innovative research, ensure rigorous project standards, develop data infrastructure, and present findings to various stakeholders. Join us to contribute to groundbreaking health policy research and help optimize services for millions of Californians.

At Covered California, we recognize our employees are our most valuable asset. We have a variety of career fields that help make a difference in the lives of Californians, and we’re looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to join our team! Learn more about why you should join the .

This position is headquartered in Sacramento County at 1601 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. Travel expenses associated with commuting to the employee’s office headquarters location are not reimbursable, other than authorized transit subsidies.

NOTE: To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. If you are new to California State service and you do not have list eligibility, you must take the exam for this classification. To gain employment list eligibility, please to access the exam bulletin.

Possession of minimum qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment . If it is determined an applicant does not meet the minimum qualifications, the applicant's name may be removed from the eligibility list.

Covered California does not provide visa sponsorship and is not an E-Verify employer.

Effective October 1, 2025, in response to the budget deficit, the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) has implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 requires that each full-time employee working their assigned work schedule receive a 3.5 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 6 hours of PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 30, 2027.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

This position may be eligible for telework. In accordance with Government Code section 14200, only employees who reside in California are eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Covered California’s current telework policy. While Covered California supports telework, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department.

Special Requirements

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions: A SOQ is required to apply. The SOQ will be used as a pre-interview screening tool. Applicants who do not follow the SOQ instructions and/or do not answer the prompt as stated below may not be considered.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be useful in the development of written responses; however, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically. Where assistive tools may be used, responses within the SOQ should be your own original work. Applicants must write in their own words and avoid plagiarism. Failure to comply may be cause for disqualification.

Please provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring managers review. Applications received without an SOQ will not be considered. The SOQ must not exceed 1 page in length in 11-point Arial font. The SOQ must address the following questions, numbered, and in the order listed below:

1. Describe your experience working with healthcare or health policy data.
2. Describe a research or evaluation project where you developed the study design and analytic plan, executed analyses, generated a report or publication, and made recommendations.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Experience with data analytics with demonstrated mastery of statistical software and/or programming languages such as R, Python, or SQL.
• Research experience in healthcare, health policy, or closely related field.
• Experience applying a range of statistical modeling approaches including regression and linear probability models, randomized and quasi-experimental casual inference approaches (e.g. intent-to-treat analyses, difference-indifference, interrupted time-series models) and/or machine learning models.
• Academic graduate training that included research methods topics such as experimental and quasi-experimental design, program evaluation, survey design, qualitative and mixed methods and/or econometric analysis.
• Experience designing and managing an original research project.
• Experience interpreting analytical output and communication results of analyses to executives and decision-makers through data visualizations, writing, and presentations.

Benefits

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, Retirement, and an array of other options. For more information on the benefits offered by the State of California, please click below:

Pre-Employment Requirements

Background Check: All applicants shall be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The investigation will consist of completion of a pre-employment questionnaire, fingerprinting, and an inquiry to the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose criminal records.

Incompatible Activities: To maintain our integrity and focus on serving Californians, Covered California adheres to unique conflict of interest restrictions on the outside employment and activities of its board members and staff. If you’re considering a role with us, it’s important to know at the time of your start:

• You must not be employed by or otherwise affiliated with health insurance carriers, other insurers, agents, brokers, health care professionals, health facilities, or health clinics, or trade associations of any of these entities. This also means that you must not hold an active license to sell health insurance in California.
• You must not hold an active license to sell health insurance in California.
• Health care professionals are welcome to join our team, provided you do not receive payment for professional services and do not hold ownership or financial interests in a health care practice.

Conflict of Interest: This position is also designated under Covered California’s Conflict of Interest Code. This means if you’re selected to join us, you’ll be required to disclose certain financial interests, including of a spouse, that could potentially interfere with your ability to perform your duties impartially and with the best interests of the public in mind. You may also be disqualified from participating in decisions that may affect those financial interests.

Please email any questions or concerns you may have prior to accepting a final offer of employment to View email address on us.fitly.work .

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Please attach your SOQ to your application. Applications received without an SOQ may not be considered. Resumes and cover letters will not be accepted in place of an SOQ. Please see above “Special Requirements” section for SOQ instructions.

• Other - Cover letter is required and must be included