Junior Data Scientist

Are you ready to be part of a company that's not just talking about the future, but actively shaping it? Join The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), a Fortune 500 company that's leading the charge in the global energy revolution. With operations spanning 14 countries, AES is committed to shaping a future through innovation and collaboration. Our dedication to innovation has earned us recognition as one of the Top Ten Best Workplaces for Innovators by Fast Company in 2022. And with our certification as a Great Place to Work, you can be confident that you're joining a company that values its people just as much as its groundbreaking ideas.

AES is proudly ranked #1 globally in renewable energy sales to corporations, and with $12.7B in revenues in 2023, we have the resources and expertise to make a significant impact as we provide electricity to 25 million customers worldwide. As the world moves towards a net-zero future, AES is committed to meeting the Paris Agreement's goals by 2050. Our innovative solutions, such as 24/7 carbon-free energy for data centers, are setting the pace for rapid, global decarbonization.

If you're ready to be part of a company that's not just adapting to change, but driving it, AES is the place for you. We're not just building a cleaner, more sustainable future - we're powering it. Apply now and energize your career with a true leader in the global energy transformation.

Position Summary

The Junior Data Scientist will support AES’s US Utilities operations by applying data science techniques to improve grid reliability, customer experience, and operational efficiency. This entry-level role is ideal for candidates passionate about solving real-world energy challenges through data exploration, predictive modeling, and cross-functional collaboration. You’ll work alongside our team of experienced data scientists, data analysts, data architects and engineers, and data governance experts to deliver insights that drive smarter decisions and accelerate the future of energy.

Key Responsibilities

- Work cross-functionally within the team of data scientists, data architects & engineers, machine learning engineers, data analysts, and data governance experts to support integrated data solutions.

- Collaborate with business stakeholders and business analysts to define project requirements.

- Collect, clean, and preprocess structured and unstructured data from utility systems (e.g., meter data, customer data).

- Perform exploratory data analysis to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement in grid operations and customer service.

- Use both traditional machine learning methods and generative AI tools to create predictive models that solve utilities-focused problems, particularly in the customer space (e.g., outage restoration, customer program adoption, revenue assurance).

- Present data-driven insights to internal stakeholders in a clear, concise manner, including visualizing data to provide predictive insights and drive decision making.

- Document methodologies, workflows, and results to ensure reproducibility and transparency.

- Be a champion of data and AI at all levels of the AES US Utilities organization.

- Stay current with industry trends in utility analytics and machine learning.

Qualifications

Must Have

- Bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, computer science, engineering, or a related field. Master’s degree or Ph.D. is preferred.

- 5 years of experience in a data science or analytics role.

- Strong applied analytics and statistics skills, such as distributions, statistical testing, regression, etc.

- Proficiency in Python or R, with experience using libraries such as pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn.

- Proficiency in traditional machine learning algorithms and techniques, including k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), naive Bayes, support vector machines (SVM), convolutional neural networks (CNN), random forest, gradient-boosted trees, etc.

- Familiarity with generative AI tools and techniques, including large language models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), with an understanding of how these can be applied to enhance contextual relevance and integrate enterprise data into intelligent workflows.

- Proficiency in SQL, with experience writing complex queries and working with relational data structures. Google BigQuery experience is preferred, including the use of views, tables, materialized views, stored procedures, etc.

- Proficient in Git for version control, including repository management, branching, merging, and collaborating on code and notebooks in data science projects. Experience integrating Git with CI/CD pipelines to automate testing and deployment is preferred.

- Proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Looker).

- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

- Excellent communication and storytelling abilities.

- Experience with cloud computing platforms (GCP preferred).

- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

- Interest in learning more about the customer-facing side of the utility industry.

Nice to Have

- Experience in the energy and/or utilities sectors.

- Understanding of utility-specific data sources (e.g., SCADA, CIS, GIS).

- Familiarity with SAP (especially IS-U and ERP modules).

- Exposure to data governance tools (e.g., enterprise data catalog and data quality tools).

Physical Responsibilities

- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer.

- Capable of walking through office environments and occasionally visiting field or operational sites.

- Must be able to communicate effectively with colleagues in person, via video conferencing, and through written formats.

- Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or support project work.

- Valid driver’s license may be required depending on team assignment.

AES is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed to building strength and delivering long-term sustainability through diversity and inclusion. Respecting all backgrounds, differences and perspectives enables us to improve the lives of our people, customers, suppliers, contractors, and the communities in which we live and work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. E-Verify Notice: AES will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.