Data Scientist

About the Role

The 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 Team

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Take exceptional pride in the accuracy and quality of your work
• Are intensely curious and constantly exploring new analytical techniques and technologies
• Balance rigorous quantitative thinking with an intuitive understanding of real-world strategic questions
• Have a genuine interest in politics and public policy
• Actively use AI-enabled development tools such as Claude Code, Cursor, and related systems to expand your productivity
• Push continuously to improve systems, workflows, and analytical approaches rather than accepting the status quo

What You Will Do

Modeling and Statistical Analysis

• Build predictive models of voter and consumer behavior, including turnout, persuasion, issue support, and candidate preference
• Develop statistical tools for identifying persuadable audiences, segmentation clusters, and voter typologies
• Design and analyze experiments and advanced survey methods, including message testing and multivariate research designs
• Produce statistical deliverables such as cluster analysis, regression models, and persuasion or switching models

Data Engineering and Infrastructure

• Help build and maintain the firm’s core data infrastructure, including a continuously updated national voter file
• Develop pipelines to integrate survey data, voter-file attributes, and external datasets
• Build reproducible analysis workflows that support large-scale research across multiple projects
• Maintain clean, well-documented datasets and code repositories

Automation and Tool Development

• Build tools to automate research workflows including data processing, modeling, and deliverable generation
• Develop internal platforms that accelerate analysis and reporting across the organization
• Apply AI and machine learning tools to tasks such as survey analysis, classification of open-ended responses, and research summarization
• Rapidly prototype and deploy new analytical systems that improve speed-to-insight

Research Innovation

• Propose and test new modeling approaches to improve predictive accuracy and strategic insight
• Experiment with new data sources, modeling frameworks, and machine learning approaches
• Contribute ideas for the next generation of AI-enabled survey research and political analytics

Qualifications

Required

• Strong programming skills in Python, R, SQL, or similar data science tools
• Experience working with large datasets and building reproducible analytical pipelines
• Demonstrated understanding of statistics, regression modeling, and machine learning methods
• Ability to communicate complex analytical findings to non-technical audiences
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality

Preferred

• Experience working with voter files, survey data, or political datasets
• Familiarity with survey methodology, weighting, or experimental design
• Experience building production-level analytical workflows or data infrastructure
• Experience with cloud data environments or distributed data systems
• Experience integrating AI tools or LLM-driven analysis into research workflows

The starting salary range for this position is $60,000- $75,000

About Echelon Insights

Echelon 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.