Data Scientist

Rippling, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 172,000 - 241,000; Part time

Job summary

Priorities USA is seeking a data science contractor to support R&D efforts prototyping digital intelligence tools for digital campaigns. The role blends data science with software engineering, requiring rigorous development standards and strong communication across teams.

Based in the United States and remote, with Eastern Time check-ins, you will prototype methods, build modular pipelines, and produce well-documented code while collaborating with the Senior Director of R&D.

Qualifications

• Strong programming skills in SQL and Python.
• Experience applying statistical and data science methods.
• Solid software engineering habits (VCS, reviews, testing, docs).
• Hands-on experience with LLMs in real projects.
• Experience with agentic software development tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code, Codex).
• Experience building data pipelines in cloud environments (GCP/AWS).
• Experience using Git/GitHub.
• Cybersecurity awareness and best practices.
• Strong communication across teams with varied technical experience.
• Curiosity and self-directed exploration through side projects.
• Experience working with diverse groups and multicultural teams.

Responsibilities

• Explore and prototype new analytical methods and LLM applications across political, media, and advertising data contexts.
• Build proof-of-concept tools, features, and datasets, iterating on feedback from digital practitioners.
• Engineer validated methods into modular, sturdy, well-documented pipelines and applications ready for production.
• Develop software primarily through agentic development workflows with well-specified, reviewable, tested code.
• Communicate findings, tradeoffs, and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

SQL

Python

Statistics

Data science

Version control

Code review

Testing

Documentation

LLMs

Agentic tools

GCP

AWS

GitHub

Cybersecurity

Communication

Self-direction

Diversity & inclusion

Tools

Cursor

Claude Code

Codex

Job description

Priorities USA runs effective, large-scale, digital voter mobilization and persuasion campaigns in key battleground states. We invest in cutting-edge research and data. We build training and tools to grow our collective, progressive power. In partnership with movement allies, we employ innovative digital strategies and empower voters.

Position Summary

We are looking for a data science contractor who will support R&D efforts to prototype Priorities USA’s next generation of digital intelligence tools in addition to experimentation on new data methods to be applied to digital campaigns. This role will sit at the intersection of data science and software engineering, requiring a strong intuition for understanding and applying data & statistical methods as well as the ability to maintain rigorous shared software development standards within a team.

This person will be involved with prototyping, evaluating, and implementing methods and features geared at helping digital media practitioners run more efficient and effective campaigns. The role is ideal for someone with a strong foundation in data science, who is excited by innovation, and is eager to apply those skills in service of progressive causes. The contractor will work directly with the Senior Director of R&D.

This is a remote engagement. Contractors must be based in the United States and will provide their own equipment. We expect availability for regular check-ins during Eastern Time business hours.

Scope of Work

• Explore, prototype, and validate new analytical methods and LLM applications across a range of political, media, and advertising data contexts.
• Build proof-of-concept tools, features, and datasets, and iterate on them based on feedback from digital practitioners.
• Engineer validated methods into modular, sturdy, well-documented pipelines and applications that are ready to graduate into production systems.
• Develop software primarily through agentic development workflows, producing well-specified, reviewable, tested, and documented code.
• Think critically about what data is saying and communicate findings, tradeoffs, and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Qualifications

• Strong programming skills in SQL and Python.
• Demonstrated ability to apply statistical and data science methods in real-world contexts.
• Strong software engineering habits (version control, code review, testing, documentation).
• Hands-on experience applying LLMs in real projects — e.g., prompt and context engineering, classification or extraction pipelines, evaluation of model outputs, or agentic frameworks.
• Experience working with agentic software development tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code, Codex).
• Experience working with GCP (and preferably AWS), including building and maintaining data pipelines.
• Experience using git + GitHub
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across teams with different working styles and levels of technical experience.
• Demonstrated curiosity and self-directed exploration through side projects, prototypes, experiments, or other evidence that you build and try things on your own initiative.
• Experience communicating with diverse groups, working in a multicultural workforce, and bringing a sensitivity and appreciation of cultural differences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with digital advertising, media performance, social listening, or media consumption data.
• Experience working with political, advocacy, or campaign data such as voter files.
• Experience with containerization and orchestration.
• Experience developing front-end applications or dashboards.
• Experience building evaluation frameworks or benchmarks for LLM or ML systems.

Compensation

Compensation for this engagement is $125–175 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer

People of color, women, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. If you need an accommodation for a disability to apply to this position, please let us know by emailing [e-mail].

This engagement runs through December 31, 2026.