Data Scientist

Position Summary

The Start-up, Commissioning & Optimization (SCO) group in the Water Quality & Treatment (WQ&T) section is currently seeking a Data Scientist to support process optimization studies and other projects. Under general supervision, applies statistical analysis, machine learning, and data engineering techniques to extract meaningful insights from complex, large-scale datasets. This role partners with stakeholders to define analytical objectives, identify data requirements, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that enhance business performance. Responsibilities include developing, validating, and deploying predictive models to support machine learning and artificial intelligence initiatives. Contributes to the design and optimization of data pipelines, feature engineering processes, and model evaluation frameworks, ensuring robust and reproducible results.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have formal supervisory responsibilities over other employees.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify and correct data quality issues such as missing, incorrect, incomplete, or inaccurate information to ensure clean and reliable datasets for analysis.
• Collect, process, and analyze structured and unstructured data to derive actionable insights and support data-driven problem solving.
• Apply statistical methods, predictive modeling, and data mining techniques to forecast outcomes and assess model performance.
• Design and implement automated tools and workflows that generate intuitive data visualizations, maps and dashboards to support data interpretations and decision making.
• Develop, test and deploy algorithms and models that support machine learning and artificial intelligence initiatives.
• Utilize programming languages such as Python, R, SQL, and tools like Model Builder to automate data processing, perform analysis, and visualize results.
• Collaborate with teams across Denver Water to optimize data collection, integration, and analysis workflows, improving overall data pipeline efficiency.
• Support organizational goals by translating business needs into analytical tasks, and providing stakeholders with clear, accurate, relevant, and timely insights.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of scalable, production-ready models and participate in continuous improvement of model accuracy and performance.
• Provide clear communication to stakeholders in translating the results of data analysis into actionable results.

Water Quality & Treatment

Additional duties and responsibilities specific to WQ&T include:

• Leverage complex, cross-functional datasets to develop data-driven solutions for water quality and treatment challenges such as treatability, chemical optimization, remote plant operations, and system monitoring.
• Develop dashboards and visualizations to support decision making, compliance and non-compliance reporting, capital planning, and asset management.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders including operations and maintenance, laboratory, distribution, engineering, and water resources.
• Stay apprised of the latest industry trends through research and development, recommending opportunities for innovation in the WQ&T section.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Preferred Skills and Competencies

• In-depth knowledge of treatment processes and associated water quality parameters.
• Experience analyzing water quality across reservoirs, treatment facilities, and/or distribution systems and improving monitoring strategies
• Ability to develop predictive models to improve process performance and mitigate risk of water quality events.
• Experience integrating data from multiple platforms, such as remote sensing, SCADA, LIMS, and GIS.
• Strong project management abilities.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, or related field.
• Minimum 4 years of related work experience.
• Any equivalent combination of certifications, education, or experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities for the position.

Licenses, Registration, and Certifications

• Must be able to possess and maintain a valid Class 'R' Colorado driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record at time of hire.

** Cover letter preferred

** Potential work from home opportunities