Title: Solstice Initiative Data Scientist

Term: Full-time

Compensation: $100,000-120,000/year

Location: Remote

Position Overview: Solstice Initiative is a nonprofit that empowers traditionally excluded communities towards a just and inclusive clean energy transition. As the fossil fuel industry continues to exacerbate the climate crisis, frontline communities bear the brunt of its effects while spending a disproportionate share of household income on their utility bills. Solstice works at the nexus of clean energy and social justice to provide all households, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, homeownership status or other factors access to clean energy through community-driven projects, research and innovation, clean energy education, and advocacy for inclusive clean energy policies

Solstice Initiative is seeking an experienced Data Scientist to join our team and continue the development of our EnergyScore product and assist in Solstice’s research to expand access to clean energy in the United States. EnergyScore, an alternative to traditional credit scores, is a machine learning-based algorithm that improves access to clean energy products for low-to-moderate-income households. By predicting the probability of utility payment delinquency using several consumer datasets, Solstice can ensure better accuracy in consumer underwriting for clean energy while making the industry more inclusive.

The Data Scientist will work with Solstice’s C-Corporation arm, Solstice Power Technologies, to improve and commercialize our EnergyScore, a machine-learning based algorithm used to qualify consumers for residential clean energy products in lieu of FICO scores. In addition to working on our EnergyScore product, the Data Scientist will contribute to data analyses for other research and innovation projects that aim to expand access to clean energy in the U.S.

The Solstice team works with a start-up mentality where everyone equally contributes to our vision and strategy and prioritizes equity and inclusion in our internal and external work above all. The right candidate is passionate about environmental justice and social equity, is comfortable with project management, has an understanding of data science for sociotechnical systems, and at least a basic knowledge of machine learning. To be successful, you will need strong software skills, technical aptitude, communication skills and a collaborative work style. Candidates that may require additional accommodations for this role are welcomed and encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:

• Be the primary owner for EnergyScore’s machine learning technology, including all previous work to-date and future improvements to the model
• Conduct research and analyses as to bias and fairness related to the EnergyScore product, including literature review and experimentation; implement findings to improve EnergyScore
• Partner with software development team to develop the EnergyScore model as a commercialized software product
• Develop plan for continuous improvement of EnergyScore model’s accuracy, inclusivity and fairness.
• Analyze and report on outcomes and performance of EnergyScore model
• Work alongside research team to analyze data sets for federally funded research projects related to equity in the solar energy sector, including multifactor regression analyses
• Communicate research findings to external audiences including funders and industry thought leaders
• Publish papers or attend conferences to disseminate knowledge of Solstice’s research

Qualifications:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills: Translate complex concepts, findings, and limitations into concise, plain language in briefs and visualizations. Closely tie findings and conclusions into the agency mission, original problem statement and team objectives. Research and design presentations and interpretations of analytical outputs tailored to specific audiences including the use of interactivity and narrative storytelling where appropriate
• Expertise with the core data science languages (such as Python, R, Scala), and familiarity & flexibility with database systems (e.g. SQL, NoSQL)
• Experience with designing and applying machine learning techniques at scale and their tuning parameters (Neural Networks, Random Forest, Bayesian Models, K-Means Clustering)
• Study Design and Data Analysis: Consulting with stakeholders to identify the appropriate data, methodological approach, and design. Conduct analyses to explore/group data, test hypotheses, predict outcomes, estimate causal impacts of policy, and inform decisions.
• Understanding of or willingness to learn and apply knowledge from the field of fairness in AI and responsible AI practices
• Hands on experience with software design for scalability, reliability, and performance
• An M.S., P.H.D., or equivalent experience in a related discipline (Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or C.S.)
• Demonstrated experience collaborating across diverse department and teams
• Project Management skills
• Excellent organizational skills and critical thinking
• Candidate must have an entrepreneurial and self-starting mentality
• Intellectual curiosity and a desire to always be learning
• Passionate about climate change and environmental and/or social justice
• Willingness to work within equitable and inclusive frameworks and actively engage in ongoing learning about these frameworks within the mission of Solstice
• Nice to have: familiarity with javascript

As a Data Scientist for Solstice You Will Gain:

• Ownership over the development of a sustainable, scalable, and replicable project model for inclusive community solar
• Access to a network of diverse stakeholders, including community advocates, industry leaders, and public officials at the forefront of policy, finance, and project innovation
• Deep understanding of the rapidly growing community solar and renewable energy space

Solstice was founded to advance equity and inclusion in America. We are committed to living those values, not just in the work we do to promote environmental and energy justice, but in how we grow as an organization. We seek always to expand leadership opportunities for traditionally excluded communities in the global transition to clean energy.

Solstice is an equal opportunity employer. We hire, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, national origin, genetics, veteran status, or any of the other characteristics that give each of us unique perspectives and capacities. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but do not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their application.

We’re a team of mission-driven, passionate, and dedicated individuals. Apply today and get to know us!