Associate Data Scientist

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Southern California's Office of Institutional Research is seeking an Associate Data Scientist to shape data-driven decision making and help power data-informed strategy at a leading research institution.

You will design, build, and deploy analytics solutions that inform university leadership and institutional priorities. You’ll work with large datasets, modern data tools, and cross-functional stakeholders in a collaborative environment committed to USC’s values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field or equivalent experience.
• 2 years of data science, data analytics, or related experience.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL for data analysis and manipulation.
• Experience with relational and non-relational databases (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, MongoDB).
• Experience with statistical modeling or machine learning approaches.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and interpret medium to large datasets to solve data analytic problems in support of institutional decision making
• Build, test, and optimize statistical, predictive, and machine learning models
• Develop and deploy data pipelines, workflows, and automated processes
• Partner with stakeholders to translate business needs into analytical solutions
• Perform data cleansing, validation, and transformation to ensure data integrity
• Design and evaluate experiments, including A/B testing methodologies
• Create reports, dashboards, and presentations to communicate insights clearly
• Monitor project timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communications
• Maintain technical documentation and support continuous process improvement

Skills

Python

SQL

R

Data analysis

Data manipulation

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, or related field

Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, or related field

Tools

ETL pipelines

Airflow

Tableau

Power BI

D3.js

MongoDB

Snowflake

Redshift

Job description

Associate Data Scientist (Institutional Research)

Shape Data-Driven Decision Making at USC Join the University of Southern California’s Office of Institutional Research and help power data-informed strategy at a leading research institution.

In this role, you will design, build, and deploy analytics solutions that inform university leadership and institutional priorities. Work with complex datasets, modern data tools, and cross-functional stakeholders in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze and interpret medium to large datasets to solve data analytic problems in support of institutional decision making
• Build, test, and optimize statistical, predictive, and machine learning models
• Develop and deploy data pipelines, workflows, and automated processes
• Partner with stakeholders to translate business needs into analytical solutions
• Perform data cleansing, validation, and transformation to ensure data integrity
• Design and evaluate experiments, including A/B testing methodologies
• Create reports, dashboards, and presentations to communicate insights clearly
• Monitor project timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communications
• Maintain technical documentation and support continuous process improvement

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field
• Experience building and maintaining ETL pipelines and data workflows
• Experience with workflow orchestration tools such as Apache Airflow (DAG development)
• Experience with machine learning or statistical modeling techniques
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, D3.js)
• Experience working with large-scale or enterprise datasets
• Familiarity with Git, version control, and testing frameworks
• Experience designing data architecture or automated data system

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum 2 years of experience in data science, data analytics, or a related field
• Proficiency in Python and SQL for data analysis and data manipulation
• Experience working with relational and/or non-relational databases (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, MongoDB)
• Experience performing data cleaning, transformation, and validation
• Demonstrated ability to analyze datasets and deliver actionable insights
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

Salary and Benefits

The annual base salary range for this position is $99,823 – $$116,656.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package.

You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here.

Job Qualifications

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree
• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience

• 2 years

Minimum Field of Expertise

• Experience using statistical computer languages (e.g., R, Python, SQL) to manipulate data and draw insights from large data sets.
• Experience scripting and programming in several languages with common data science toolkits.
• Proficient use of query languages (e.g., SQL, MDX) and experience working with relational (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, Redshift) and non-relational (e.g., Mongo, NoSQL) databases.
• Proven problem-solving and decision-making skills, and the ability to uncover root cause and evaluate different solution options.
• Experience in data science, analytics, IT, cognitive engineering, or related fields.
• Ability to write high-quality Python code.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety.

Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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USC is a leading private research university located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology and international business. As the largest private employer in the city – responsible for more than $5 billion annually in economic activity in the region – we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills. As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks, and you will be a member of the Trojan Family - the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make USC a great place to work.