Data Scientist

Salary: $109000 - 147000 per year Requirements: We require a masters or PhD in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or a closely related discipline. We require 7+ years of industry experience in transportation, logistics, mobility, or similarly complex operational settings. We require a proven track record of success in highly cross-functional environments. We require deep expertise in optimization, simulation, and statistical modeling, combined with machine learning. We require strong Python programming skills, including experience integrating optimization solvers and dashboards. We require experience delivering solutions in cloud-based enterprise environments. We require outstanding communication and stakeholder management capabilities. We require experience leading or designing agentic AI systems across multiple teams or functions. We require the ability to explain agentic concepts clearly to operations, leadership, IT, and risk stakeholders. We require sound judgment in determining when deterministic OR is sufficient, when ML adds value, and when agentic AI is appropriate. We require a commitment to responsible AI deployment, especially in safety-, equity-, and compliance-sensitive transportation environments. We prefer experience in public transit, paratransit, logistics, or large fleet operations. We prefer familiarity with Microsoft Azure and Fabric-based analytics ecosystems. We prefer experience influencing AI governance, operating models, or centers of excellence. We prefer prior leadership in enterprise transformation or modernization initiatives. Responsibilities: We partner directly with operations, dispatch, and planning teams to understand constraints, tradeoffs, and real-world decision processes. We design and deploy operations research and analytics solutions for scheduling, rostering, fleet sizing, allocation, demand forecasting, capacity planning, service reliability, on-time performance, and cost optimization. We balance mathematical optimality with operational practicality and change management. We act as the enterprise-wide champion for agentic AI, aligning technical, operational, and leadership stakeholders. We identify opportunities where agent-based systems can support planners, dispatchers, analysts, and executives. We design agentic workflows that combine planning and reasoning, optimization tools, simulation engines, data platforms, APIs, business rules, and human-in-the-loop controls for safety-critical decisions. We establish shared standards for governance, observability, safety, and accountability for agentic AI across departments. We collaborate with data engineering and platform teams to deliver solutions on Microsoft Fabric, including OneLake, Lakehouses, Warehouses, Fabric Notebooks, and Power BI semantic models. We ensure analytics and AI outputs are usable by both technical and non-technical audiences. We influence cloud architecture choices to support real-time and large-scale transportation analytics. We bring rigorous research methods into applied, cross-functional problem solving. We translate advances in operations research, machine learning, reinforcement learning, and autonomous systems into solutions that can be operationalized and sustained. We develop internal frameworks, playbooks, and reference architectures used across teams. We advise senior leaders on AI investment decisions, automation risk and readiness, and tradeoffs between cost, service quality, and equity. We mentor data scientists, analysts, engineers, and operations staff to strengthen AI literacy across the organization. We facilitate cross-functional forums and working groups focused on analytics, AI, and automation. Technologies: AI Azure Cloud Fabric Support Machine Learning Power BI Python Embedded Spark More: We are Meridian Softworks, and we are looking for a Data Scientist to serve as a cross-functional leader at the intersection of transportation operations, operations research, AI, and business strategy. We work closely with Operations, Technology, Product, Finance, Procurement, and Executive Leadership to design analytics and AI solutions that improve service reliability, efficiency, and decision-making. This role sits at the center of our enterprise efforts to introduce agentic AI responsibly and with measurable impact. We operate with a collaborative, cloud-first approach, with solutions delivered through Microsoft Fabric and related data platforms. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and to a respectful, compliant workplace. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test and background check where permitted by law. last updated 28 week of 2026