Senior Data Scientist

Who we are: First Street is the standard for Climate Risk Financial Modeling. We use transparent and peer-reviewed methodologies to calculate the past, present, and future climate risk for every property in the world. We started working with the world’s leading climate scientists to create groundbreaking, climate-adjusted, property specific models over 8 years ago and haven’t stopped. 

Our mission: We exist to connect climate and financial risk. 

Our data: We create physics-based, deterministic models of flooding, wildfire and hurricanes, and advanced statistical models of extreme heat, air quality, drought, hail, severe convective storms, winter storms, and more. All of this data is used to create property-level financial risk metrics and macroeconomic variables to quantify the impacts of climate, property by property.

Our customers: We empower governments at the highest levels to make smart regulations, businesses to avoid bad investments, and everyday homebuyers to understand their personal risk from climate change. We are relied on every day by:

• Agencies ranging from the U.S. Department of Treasury to Fannie Mae

• The world's biggest banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo 

• Institutional investors like Nuveen and Blackstone 

• Millions of everyday users on Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, Homes.com, and more 

We believe:  With the right data, we can identify the problems, avoid bad investments, and implement solutions. This is why we have invested tens of millions of dollars into our science, data, people, and products and have raised tens of millions more to move even faster. Read more about our culture here and see what Climate Risk Financial Modeling is all about here. 

Come join us and use your talents to change the world.

Team & Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior Data Scientist to join our team. The successful candidate will be someone who deeply cares about the environment, loves information technology, and appreciates the importance of data for the success of the First Street mission. They will assist in the ingestion of climate risk and ancillary data from First Street modelers and data partners, develop data pipelines, query geospatial databases, calculate applicable statistics, implement Quality Assurance and Quality Control processes, utilize geographical imagery, and develop machine learning and AI models. This individual will be responsible for developing data operations across the Data Team, and through their expertise and leadership generally enabling all members of the Data Team to be successful in their roles.

What you’ll do:

• Provide technical support in the processing, analysis, and interpretation of geospatial observations and modeling data.

• Develop and implement processes for processing large volumes of hazard prediction data to improve risk assessment quality and accuracy.

• Plan, execute and direct Unix-based workflows on local and cloud-based clusters, using GDAL, PostgreSQL, Python and related technologies.

• Analyze raster and vector data at scale to improve model accuracy, identify quality control issues, and develop suggested remedies for identified issues.

• Perform statistical analysis to validate hazard model predictions and assess model uncertainties.

• Design and implement quality assurance checks on the climate risk data and derived statistics

• Assist in resolution of customer support issues through quality control checks and explanation of the models and risk statistics

What you’ll need:

• Bachelor's Degree in Data or Climate Science, or a related Field

• 5+ year of professional experience

• Data operations: Experience with the design, and use of databases, such as PostgreSQL

• Programming: Proficiency with Python to efficiently and reproducibly analyze complex datasets preferred. Additional languages like SQL and R also required

• GIS knowledge: Experience with writing software to efficiently process and analyze with geospatial data using open source tools

• Strong understanding of probability and statistics as applied to spatial data

• Expertise using scripted languages to build data pipelines on both local and cloud-based systems

• Experience with big data analysis, parallel processing, and batch/spot workflows on cloud platforms including AWS, GCP, and/or Azure

• Proficiency with source control platforms such as Git

• A science-based approach with a high degree of concern for reliability, accuracy and reproducibility

• Experience in GIS and/or geospatial statistical analysis

What will make you stand out:

• Previous experience in the physical sciences

• Masters Degree Preferred

Our anticipated US base salary range for this role is $90,000-120,000 and competitive benefits package, which includes equity, 401(k), paid time off, paid parental leave, and comprehensive health benefits. Actual compensation will vary depending on factors such as work location as well as additional factors such as a candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, competencies, and relevant education. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

How we work: 

• Impact: We only focus on things that move the needle 

• Drive: We are driven by the role we play in connecting climate and financial risk 

• Ownership: This is our company and we act accordingly

• Urgency: We move quickly because the world depends on it 

• Resilience: We have a growth mindset in all that we do

What we offer: 

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience 

• Ownership interest in the company via Employee Stock Option Plan 

• Hybrid Schedule with in-office work days on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 

• 15 vacation days along with 5 days for winter break office closure, 8 statutory company holidays, and 10 sick days 

• Health benefits covered at 100% for employee or a significant contribution for family plans 

• Vision and dental benefits with partial employee contribution

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave 

• Access to One Medical, Teledoc, HealthAdvocate, Kindbody, and Talkspace

• Company 401k program 

• Commuter benefits 

• Life Insurance

• Tech startup environment 

• Weekly team meals and an office stocked with coffee and snacks 

• Working on the world’s biggest issue with other passionate professionals 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.