Data Scientist

Position: Data Scientist - Tamil Nadu Financial Data Analytics Unit (TN-FDAU) Location: Chennai Position Summary We are looking for an innovative and results-driven Data Scientist to join our team. As a Data Scientist, you will be responsible for leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to extract valuable insights from complex data sets. The ideal candidate should possess a strong background in statistics, programming, and machine learning, with the ability to translate findings into actionable business strategies. The role will report to the FDAU Head / Lead and would require active interaction with other team members (Economist, Business Analyst, Data Engineers, etc), senior researchers, consultants and partner organisations for effective project delivery. Role and Responsibilities ● Problem Statement formulation - Participates actively in the formulation of the problem or the objective statement, along with the Lead / Business Analyst and the Economist including, but not limited to, technical / modelling or data constraints ● Data Collection and Preparation - Collaborates with Data Engineers/Analysts to collect, clean, and preprocess large volumes of s ructured and unstructured data from various sources including databases, APIs, spreadsheets, tc for analysis - Ensures data availability and quality - Creates the analysis dataset, including creation of derived variables ● Statistical Analysis and Modeling - Works with the Economist in assessing various modelling strategies and finalising the appropriate one (model, methodologies, etc), clearly documenting the reason for the choice a d the expected outcomes - Applies strategy / model development methodology and testing to the analysis dataset - Develops and implements machine learning models to predict outcomes and identifies patterns, where appropriate - Uses machine learning models developed to build predictive models and classifiers, tuning parameters for optimal performance - Optimises models for performance and scalability ● Exploratory Data Analysis - Performs Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) to understand characteristics of data including visual sing data distributions, identifying outliers, and uncovering preliminary patterns in data - Prepares the initial draft of insights/presentation for internal discussion - Identifies relevant features and variables to enhance model accuracy - Collaborates with the Economist or other domain experts to incorporate industry specific knowledge into analyses ● Data Insight and Visualization - Collaborates with the Business Analyst/Economist to interpret the results of analyses and models, to provide actionable insights assisting the organisation to make effective decisions - Creates visualisations to effectively communicate complex findings and insights to stakeholders to convey trends, patterns, and anomalies - Develops interactive dashboards for ongoing monitoring and reporting, where needed Profile Education ● Postgraduate in Quantitative discipline (Mathematics / Statistics) or Economics or other data-centric disciplines from a reputed institution ● Skilled in using tools like R, Stata, Python ● Skilled in machine learning algorithms, statistical modelling, and data analysis. ● Familiarity with big data technologies and distributed computing (e.g., Spark) is a plus. Experience & Expertise ● 4 to 6 years’ proven experience in statistical modelling and analysis, especially involving Government’s administrative datasets ● Skilled in handling large and disparate datasets, including real-world data ● Experience of designing experiments, testing hypotheses, building models, conducting advanced and complex multi-dimensional data analysis ● Demonstrated experience of application of advanced statistical, predictive modelling, machine learning techniques to build, maintain, re-calibrate, and redevelop models / algorithms ● Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically about business challenges ● Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders Personal Characteristics and Desired Qualities ● Ability to build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships both within and outside the organisation ● Ability to set priorities, plan timelines and meet deadlines. ● Intellectual curiosity and ability/willingness to constantly learn ● High ability to collaborate and actively listen to others, understanding and valuing others’ views ● Public-spirited and generous temperament ● Continuous Learning and Research Stay abreast of the latest developments in data science, machine learning, and related fields. Contribute to research activities and evaluate emerging technologies for potential implementation. Location and Compensation This role will be based out of Chennai. Remuneration will be competitive with government sector pay scales and will depend on the candidate’s experience levels. Interested candidates are requested to submit their application