Data Scientist

About The RoleThe Data Team is the technical and analytical engine for all quantitative research, data science, and voter modeling at Echelon Insights. We architect the infrastructure for large-scale, high-velocity research, combining modern data engineering, statistical rigor, and responsive client reporting.As a Data Scientist at Echelon Insights, you will design and deploy the models, pipelines, and analytical tools that power our research and strategy work. You will work with large-scale voter files, survey datasets, and external data sources to build predictive models, automate workflows, and generate insights that inform political and policy decision-making.This role sits at the intersection of data science, engineering, and political analysis. The work ranges from modeling voter behavior to building internal platforms that accelerate research workflows across the firm.We are looking for someone who is technically sophisticated, intellectually curious, and motivated to rethink how modern political research is conducted.The Kind Of Person Who Thrives On Our TeamYou may be a strong fit if you:Take exceptional pride in the accuracy and quality of your workAre intensely curious and constantly exploring new analytical techniques and technologiesBalance rigorous quantitative thinking with an intuitive understanding of real-world strategic questionsHave a genuine interest in politics and public policyActively use AI-enabled development tools such as Claude Code, Cursor, and related systems to expand your productivityPush continuously to improve systems, workflows, and analytical approaches rather than accepting the status quoWhat You Will DoModeling And Statistical AnalysisBuild predictive models of voter and consumer behavior, including turnout, persuasion, issue support, and candidate preferenceDevelop statistical tools for identifying persuadable audiences, segmentation clusters, and voter typologiesDesign and analyze experiments and advanced survey methods, including message testing and multivariate research designsProduce statistical deliverables such as cluster analysis, regression models, and persuasion or switching modelsData Engineering And InfrastructureHelp build and maintain the firm's core data infrastructure, including a continuously updated national voter fileDevelop pipelines to integrate survey data, voter-file attributes, and external datasetsBuild reproducible analysis workflows that support large-scale research across multiple projectsMaintain clean, well-documented datasets and code repositoriesAutomation And Tool DevelopmentBuild tools to automate research workflows including data processing, modeling, and deliverable generationDevelop internal platforms that accelerate analysis and reporting across the organizationApply AI and machine learning tools to tasks such as survey analysis, classification of open-ended responses, and research summarizationRapidly prototype and deploy new analytical systems that improve speed-to-insightResearch InnovationPropose and test new modeling approaches to improve predictive accuracy and strategic insightExperiment with new data sources, modeling frameworks, and machine learning approachesContribute ideas for the next generation of AI-enabled survey research and political analyticsQualificationsRequiredStrong programming skills in Python, R, SQL, or similar data science toolsExperience working with large datasets and building reproducible analytical pipelinesDemonstrated understanding of statistics, regression modeling, and machine learning methodsAbility to communicate complex analytical findings to non-technical audiencesStrong attention to detail and commitment to data qualityPreferredExperience working with voter files, survey data, or political datasetsFamiliarity with survey methodology, weighting, or experimental designExperience building production-level analytical workflows or data infrastructureExperience with cloud data environments or distributed data systemsExperience integrating AI tools or LLM-driven analysis into research workflowsAbout Echelon InsightsEchelon Insights is a right-of-center decision strategy firm that blends innovative survey research techniques with data science and digital analytics to help our clients win the battle for hearts and minds.Our work supports political campaigns, public affairs organizations, advocacy groups, and private-sector clients seeking to understand public opinion and persuasion.The environment is fast-paced and growth-oriented, with team members expected to take ownership of both technical excellence and client success.Echelon Insights is headquartered in historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The firm operates on a hybrid schedule with staff in-office three days per week and remote two days per week.Benefits include health, dental, vision, and retirement options through a SIMPLE IRA plan.Echelon Insights is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.