Desktop Data Scientist

Company Description

We are the world’s largest independent energy and commodities trading company. Every day, we use our knowledge and logistical networks to distribute energy around the world, effectively and responsibly. From 40 offices globally, we aim to add value across the energy supply chain, including deploying our scale and market comprehension to support the energy transition. To date, we have devoted over $2.2 billion of capital to renewable projects and are identifying and developing low-carbon opportunities globally.

Our people are our business. We value talent dearly and foster an atmosphere where individuals can reach their full potential, unimpeded by hierarchy. Our team consists of individuals from more than 65 nationalities, and we are dedicated to fostering and maintaining a diverse workforce. .

Job Description

The Desk Data Scientist at Vitol has a role that spans the full data science workflow: from collaborating with business stakeholders to define the project to data collection and processing, exploratory analysis, model selection and fine-tuning, and application of production models or custom visualizations. We mine value from data in various ways, and the aptitude to study and extract insights from data is as crucial as the skill to build intricate models. When leveraging data to drive business outcomes, a compelling visualization is often just as effective as a small MAE. The data we work with is often complex and messy, and a successful Desk Data Scientist at Vitol is always ready to dive deep into the data to achieve results.

The Desk Data Scientist will regularly interact directly with traders, brokers, analysts, and researchers across nearly all aspects of Vitol to comprehend the data that feeds into internal models and the business problems that need to be addressed. However, the day-to-day collaboration will also be with the small and highly agile Data Science team. 

Responsibilities include:

• Being a dynamic and enthusiastic member of a team uniquely positioned to leverage the power of data to understand the inner workings of the energy industry
• Effortlessly connecting with the business side, continually seeking new ways to create value for Vitol through AI/DS
• Exploring new datasets, extracting insights, and visualizing the results
• Standardizing and structuring data in clear, extendible, easily comprehensible ways
• Applying machine learning models innovatively to heterogeneous datasets to help optimize Vitol’s diverse businesses
• Assisting in reviewing other data scientists' code and experimental designs to ensure high production quality
• Building data expertise with domain experts in specific aspects of Vitol’s operations
• Aiding in the production-level implementation of the above models and custom visualizations to help drive business value

Qualifications

• Degree in a STEM subject with a strong understanding of coding best practices
• 3-5+ years of industry experience as a data scientist with machine learning models applied to real-world data 
• Substantial experience presenting intricate data visually to a broad audience (plotly, bokeh, etc.)
• Vast experience exploring and extracting insights from heterogeneous multi-dimensional datasets
• Proficiency in Python (3) with the ability to write clean, modular, well-documented code in a collaborative development environment
• Advanced coursework in math, statistics, and machine learning preferred
• Demonstrable attention to detail
   

Desired Experience

• Time series modeling (both machine-learning and econometric approaches)
• Application of a wide range of machine learning methodologies to real-life applications 
• Enterprise software development (code design, code review, version control, etc.)
• Cloud-based data science workflows (particularly AWS) and understanding of AWS services
• Experience in building pipelines in Python and on AWS is a significant plus
• Awareness of continuous integration and delivery concepts/technologies  

Personal Characteristics

• A self-driven individual who thrives on seeing the results of their work impact the business 
• Strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing – passionate about using data to help tell a story
• An instinct for the art of the possible
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and hard-working, both independently and collaboratively
• Methodical and organized – in general, in experimental design, and in code!
• Attention to detail with strong analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills
• An interest in learning about the commodities space
• Resourceful and able to think creatively and adapt in a dynamic and energetic environment
• Team player, with an open, non-political style and a high level of personal integrity
• Aspiration to be a thought-partner in a rapidly growing team, and make an impact at a business that is at the heart of the world’s energy flows
   

Additional Information

What we offer

• A vast variety of projects with real-world impacts on a truly global scale
• An entrepreneurial environment within a flat hierarchy, where great ideas quickly become a reality
• Close cooperation with various business units across our key regions (e.g., London, Houston, Geneva)
• A highly motivated DS team (currently largely based in London) composed of experienced individuals with a supportive attitude and great team spirit
• Participation in the energy transition through an increased focus on renewable & alternative energy sources at a critical moment in the industry
• Strong management commitment to incorporating data science into the future of Vitol’s operations