Senior Data Scientist – Applied Analytics & Remote Sensing

CDM Smith; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility

12 weeks paid parental leave

2-week secondary carer leave

Health & wellness programs

Annual flu vax

Employee recognition program

Learning platforms

Job summary

CDM Smith Australia is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join the Data Science and Applied AI capability. This hands-on role involves solving real-world problems using data, spatial analysis and remote sensing across environmental, mining, water, infrastructure and planning sectors.

You will lead technical work packages from problem definition through delivery, developing reproducible analyses and communicating findings to clients and project teams in a consulting environment.

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience in applied data science or analytics.
• Strong Python capability, including experience with common scientific, statistical and geospatial libraries.
• Demonstrated experience designing analytical approaches rather than solely implementing prescribed methods.
• Strong analytical reasoning and the ability to independently assess whether results are technically credible.
• Experience in geospatial analysis and remote sensing, particularly working with raster data, satellite imagery, vegetation or environmental monitoring, spatial statistics or time-series analysis.
• Strong professional ownership, with work that is reproducible, traceable, appropriately tested and technically reviewed before being presented as complete.
• Experience in environmental consulting, mining, water, infrastructure or another applied scientific or engineering environment will be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement analytical methodologies.
• Develop reproducible Python-based data science, spatial and remote-sensing workflows.
• Undertake statistical, machine-learning and time-series analyses.
• Work with satellite imagery, spatial datasets and environmental monitoring data.
• Independently QA/QC analytical results before technical review.
• Clearly document methods, assumptions, limitations and outputs.
• Communicate technical findings to project teams and clients.
• Contribute to business development, proposal writing, technical scoping, methodology development and estimation for new projects.

Skills

Python

Geospatial analytics

Remote sensing

Machine learning

Data analysis

Consulting

Docker

PostGIS

SQL

REST APIs

Azure DevOps

Cloud platforms

Tools

Docker

PostGIS

SQL

REST APIs

Azure DevOps

Cloud platforms

Job description

Senior Data Scientist – Applied Analytics & Remote Sensing

Shape the Future with CDM Smith Australia – Senior Data Scientist - Applied Analytics & Remote Sensing

Location: We are open to this role being based in Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth.

Are you ready to leave your mark on the world and build a legacy for generations to come?

At CDM Smith Australia, we believe meaningful careers start with connection. We aren’t simply hiring, we’re partnering with passionate professionals who want to make a real difference. Your expertise, vision and values are what matter most to us. If you’re looking for more than just a job, join us to shape the future of digital and environmental services across Australia and beyond.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Data Scientist to join our growing Data Science and Applied AI capability in Australia.

This is a hands-on technical consulting role for someone who enjoys solving complex real-world problems using data, analytics, spatial analysis and remote sensing. Our work spans environmental, mining, water, infrastructure and planning applications and includes statistical analysis, machine learning, time-series analysis, geospatial analytics, remote sensing and development of reproducible analytical workflows.

The successful candidate will be expected to independently lead technical work packages from problem definition through methodology development, implementation, QA/QC and delivery.

This is not a role focused solely on executing predefined analytical tasks. We are looking for someone who can understand the underlying problem, investigate available data, determine an appropriate analytical approach, identify limitations and assumptions, and deliver technically defensible results.

What you’ll do

Design and implement analytical methodologies.

Develop reproducible Python-based data science, spatial and remote-sensing workflows.

Undertake statistical, machine-learning and time-series analyses.

Work with satellite imagery, spatial datasets and environmental monitoring data.

Independently QA/QC analytical results before technical review.

Clearly document methods, assumptions, limitations and outputs.

Communicate technical findings to project teams and clients.

You will also contribute to business development, proposal writing, technical scoping, methodology development and estimation for new projects and work collaboratively with specialists across environmental science, hydrogeology, GIS, engineering and digital disciplines.

What you’ll bring

Substantial professional experience in applied data science or analytics.

Strong Python capability, including experience with common scientific, statistical and geospatial libraries.

Demonstrated experience designing analytical approaches rather than solely implementing prescribed methods.

Strong analytical reasoning and the ability to independently assess whether results are technically credible.

Experience in geospatial analysis and remote sensing, particularly working with raster data, satellite imagery, vegetation or environmental monitoring, spatial statistics or time-series analysis.

Strong professional ownership, with work that is reproducible, traceable, appropriately tested and technically reviewed before being presented as complete.

Experience in environmental consulting, mining, water, infrastructure or another applied scientific or engineering environment will be highly regarded.

Technical Capability

Data Science & AI: Python, statistical analysis, machine learning, time-series analysis, data processing and applied AI.

Spatial & Remote Sensing: GIS, GEE, raster/vector processing, satellite imagery and spatial analytics; environmental remote-sensing experience is highly desirable.

Software Engineering: well-structured and maintainable code, Git/version control, testing, APIs, databases, application architecture, CI/CD, containers and reproducible development practices.

Cloud: practical experience developing and deploying solutions in cloud and cloud application deployment will be highly regarded

Technical problem solving: demonstrated ability to take an incompletely defined problem, investigate it, develop a defensible technical approach and independently deliver the solution.

Consulting: ability to translate client and scientific requirements into technical solutions and communicate effectively with scientists, engineers, project managers and clients.

Experience across most of the following technologies is expected: Python, R, SQL/PostgreSQL/PostGIS, REST APIs, Docker, GitHub/Azure DevOps, cloud platforms and modern web application architectures. We do not expect candidates to have experience with every technology listed; strong capability across several areas and the ability to work across the broader technical stack are more important.

Why CDM Smith?

Join a growing digital capability where data science, applied AI, geospatial analytics and remote sensing are used to solve complex, real-world challenges across water, environment, mining, infrastructure and planning.

As part of a global, employee-owned organisation, you’ll collaborate with digital specialists, scientists, engineers and project teams across Australia and internationally. You’ll have access to global expertise while helping shape innovative, practical and scalable digital solutions for our clients.

You’ll have the opportunity to influence how emerging technologies are applied, strengthen our digital offering and grow your career in a collaborative environment that values technical excellence, curiosity and continuous improvement.

As part of the CDM Smith Team you have

Flexibility: Design your work-life balance with genuine flexible working options.

Support: 12 weeks paid parental leave, 2-week secondary carer leave, health & wellness programs, and annual flu vax.

Recognition: Celebrate your achievements through our employee recognition program.

Growth: Unlimited access to learning platforms, mentoring from industry leaders, and global mobility options.

Rewards: Referral bonuses, employee discounts, and benefits programs.

Belonging: Be part of a global, employee-owned consulting firm committed to diversity, inclusion and a positive workplace culture.

Join Us – Make Your Mark

Ready to be part of a team where your insight, expertise and ideas truly matter? Where client relationships are built on trust, and solutions are shaped by passion and knowledge? At CDM Smith Australia, we’re growing because we invest in our people and our clients by delivering fit-for-purpose, sustainable answers for industry’s toughest problems.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Diversity, technical ability, integrity and innovation are the hallmarks of our team. If you want to be heard, valued and inspired, let's shape your NOW and your NEXT, together.

At CDM Smith, we Listen, Think, Deliver.