Principal Data Scientist (onsite)

Vitaver & Associates, Inc; Juno Beach (FL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Part time

Job summary

Vitaver & Associates, Inc is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to work onsite in Juno Beach, FL. This contract role requires relocating candidates and full-time client-site presence.

The ideal candidate will lead forecasting model development across wind, solar, and load using weather data, NWP forecasts, and telemetry. You will implement production pipelines, backtesting, and model validation, with strong AWS and Python tooling.

Qualifications

• Experience with developing and deploying forecasting, time-series, or predictive models.
• Experience with feature engineering.
• Experience with regression and time-series methods.
• Experience with gradient boosting.
• Experience with ensemble forecasting.
• Experience with probabilistic or quantile forecasting.
• Experience with model validation and backtesting.
• Experience with integrating and analyzing weather APIs, NWP forecasts, SCADA/telemetry, databases, and external data feeds.
• Experience with SQL and data analysis.
• Experience transitioning models from R&D to production workflows.
• Experience with AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda, ECS, Step Functions, CloudWatch, SageMaker).
• Experience with Git and version control.
• Experience with testing and reproducible software-development practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop and enhance wind, solar, and load forecasting models from research and backtesting through production implementation.
• Build forecasting approaches using weather and NWP forecasts, historical generation and load, SCADA and operational telemetry, persistence and statistical baselines, gradient boosting, and ensemble/probabilistic methods.
• Perform feature engineering, model selection, optimization, and validation, and develop backtesting and benchmarking processes across sites, horizons, seasons, and operating conditions.
• Analyze multiple weather and NWP providers for accuracy, reliability, coverage, latency, available variables, and forecast horizon, and develop approaches for provider blending, weighting, bias correction, and fallback.
• Investigate forecast errors to determine sources and perform root-cause analysis of significant misses.
• Monitor forecast performance using MAE, RMSE, normalized error, bias, and forecast skill; implement logging, alerts, error handling, and recovery procedures.
• Develop data connectors and pipelines for weather, telemetry, historical data, load, and operational data; support scalable batch and near-real-time forecasting workflows.

Skills

Python

pandas

NumPy

scikit-learn

statsmodels

LightGBM

XGBoost

forecasting

feature engineering

time-series

regression

gradient boosting

ensemble forecasting

probabilistic forecasting

model validation

backtesting

SQL

AWS

SageMaker

Git

testing practices

reproducible software

Tools

EC2

S3

Lambda

ECS

Step Functions

CloudWatch

SageMaker

Git

Streamlit

Plotly

Job description

14950 - Principal Data Scientist (Onsite) - Juno Beach, FL

Start Date: ASAP

Type: Temporary Project

Estimated Duration: 12+ months with possible extensions

Work Setting: 100% of the time at the Client's site. No telecommuting or remote work. This is a non-negotiable requirement from the client.

Only candidates able to relocate as required should apply to avoid removal from future consideration.

Our client is filling this contract position exclusively through approved staffing partners, so this opportunity is not available by applying directly with the client. If you're interested, we'd be happy to represent you throughout the hiring process.

• Availability to work 100% of the time at the Client's site in Juno Beach, FL.
• Experience with Python and data-science libraries such as pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, statsmodels, LightGBM, XGBoost.
• Experience with Developing and deploying forecasting, time-series, or predictive models.
• Experience with Feature engineering.
• Experience with Regression and time-series methods.
• Experience with Gradient boosting.
• Experience with Ensemble forecasting.
• Experience with Probabilistic or quantile forecasting.
• Experience with Model validation and backtesting.
• Experience with Integrating and analyzing weather APIs, Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) forecasts, SCADA/telemetry, databases, and external data feeds.
• Experience with Evaluating weather-provider performance and its impact on forecast accuracy.
• Experience with Structured Query Language (SQL) and data analysis.
• Experience with Transitioning models from research and development into reliable production workflows.
• Experience with Amazon Web Services (AWS) including EC2, S3, Lambda, ECS, Step Functions, CloudWatch, and SageMaker.
• Experience with Git and version control.
• Experience with Testing and reproducible software-development practices.

Preferred:

• Experience with Utility-scale wind forecasting or renewable generation modeling.
• Experience with Multiple commercial or public weather/Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) providers.
• Experience with Working directly with wind-turbine, solar-plant, or SCADA telemetry.
• Experience with Turbine power curves and weather-to-power conversion methodologies.
• Experience with Benchmarking internal forecasts against commercial forecasting vendors.
• Experience with Energy markets, utility operations, generation scheduling, trading, or ISO/RTO environments.
• Experience with Developing forecasts across intra-hour, day-ahead, and multi-day horizons.
• Experience with Probabilistic forecasting and forecast uncertainty.
• Experience with Streamlit, Plotly, or similar dashboard technologies.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and enhance Wind, Solar, and Load forecasting models from research and backtesting through production implementation.
• Build forecasting approaches using weather and NWP forecasts, historical generation and load, SCADA and operational telemetry, persistence and statistical baselines, gradient boosting, and ensemble/probabilistic methods.
• Perform feature engineering, model selection, optimization, and validation, and develop backtesting and benchmarking processes across sites, horizons, seasons, and operating conditions.
• Analyze multiple weather and NWP providers for accuracy, reliability, coverage, latency, available variables, and forecast horizon, and develop approaches for provider blending, weighting, bias correction, and fallback.
• Investigate forecast errors to determine whether they originate from weather, model behavior, data quality, or operational conditions, and perform root-cause analysis of significant forecast misses.
• Monitor forecast performance using metrics such as MAE, RMSE, normalized error, bias, and forecast skill, and implement logging, alerts, error handling, and recovery procedures.
• Develop data connectors and pipelines supporting weather, telemetry, historical generation, load, and operational data, and support scalable batch and near-real-time forecasting workflows.

Why apply?

• Gain experience with one of the world's largest solar and wind energy providers, which last year briefly became the most valued U.S. energy company.
• Work with a great team of professionals and learn newest technologies and approaches.
• Enjoy our Client's wonderful campus with top-notch facilities for work and recreation.
• Benefit from multiple projects extensions.
• Receive support and advice from Vitaver consultants who are already working at our Client's site.
• Get extra cash by participating in Vitaver Successful Completion Bonus Program.
• Always get paid in full and on time.