Contract type/Duration: Permanent
Working hours: Full Time 9 Day Fortnight working pattern
Band: 2.1
Salary: £32,805 - £47,442 (depending on office location and proven ability)
Reports to: Head of Applied Data Science
Location: Milton Keynes, Birmingham or London (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable)
Closing date: 10am on the 11th of August 2026
The Role
We’re looking for a highly motivated and collaborative Consultant Data Scientist to join the team and help deliver digital and data solutions which accelerate innovation in the UK transport and buil environment domains.
Connected Places Catapult provides impartial ‘innovation as a service’ for public bodies, businesses, and infrastructure providers to catalyse step-change improvements in the way people live, work and travel. This often includes the use of data analytics and emerging technologies to understand, model, and solve real-world challenges.
As a Consultant Data Scientist you will contribute to a wide range of projects, working alongside technologists, researchers, designers, project managers and external partners from industry, academia and government. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys problem solving and applying data science to real-world settings and challenges. You will have opportunities to work with emerging digital technologies including digital twins, geospatial analytics, infrastructure data, and innovation testbeds. Your role will involve analysing and visualising data; developing analytical models and prototypes; supporting the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques; and communicating findings to both technical and non-technical audiences through reports and presentations.
You will work as part of multidisciplinary teams under the guidance of more senior data science colleagues and contribute to technical analysis and solution design while continuously learning and upskilling on the job, including developing your domain expertise, commercial awareness, and stakeholder management skills.
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Proven experience in applying data science in an industry or commercial setting.
- Ability to apply statistical analysis, machine learning, AI, and data visualisation techniques to solve real-world problems and generate actionable insights.
- Experience in prototyping and developing data science and data engineering solutions in languages such as Python
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within project teams
- Ability to conceptualise data architecture and design around requirements of multiple stakeholders.
- Experience with AI-assisted development tools and modern Generative AI technologies, including LLMs and agentic workflows.
- Collaborate within multidisciplinary teams using agile delivery approaches
- Experience working in project-based environment, ability to handle multiple projects effectively managing time and delivery.
- Experience of quickly and actively learning key concepts in new methodologies and approaches.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
- Pragmatic and outcomes focused, with problem-solving aptitude and creative thinking skills.
Desirable:
- Degree in an engineering, mathematical, or scientific discipline.
- Experience working in the transport, construction, infrastructure, engineering, or innovation sectors.
- Knowledge of languages such as R, Java, Terraform, C++ etc.
- Knowledge of Git, version control, and collaborative software development workflows.
- Experience working with large-scale urban datasets and applying machine learning techniques to solve city-scale challenges.
- Experience in backend or frontend development frameworks .
- Experience designing and querying databases (e.g. PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc.).
- Experience creating and maintaining digital infrastructure, including infrastructure as code.
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9 day fortnight for everyone
- 23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone, with pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.
- Competitive pension, up to 10% company contribution to help you save for your future.
- Two paid days of volunteering leave per year (pro-rata for part-time employees) to support charitable activities.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.
- Cycle to Work Scheme encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.
- Cash Health Plan, offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.
- Payroll Giving scheme, allowing regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.
- Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.
- Mortgage Advice benefit, delivered in partnership with Charles Cameron & Associates – provides employees with free, expert mortgage advice and end-to-end mortgage support from the application process through to completion.
At Connected Places Catapult, we are on a mission to create better connected places across the UK and beyond. We believe that innovation is the key to unlocking the potential of our towns, cities, and transport systems, making them more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous for everyone.
When connected places work, it benefits:
People: wellbeing, access and inclusion for everyone.
Planet: sustainable and increasingly regenerative living and moving.
Prosperity: prosperous local economies and trade.
From supporting SMEs to develop clean transport technologies to helping local authorities unlock innovation in public procurement, our work is making a tangible difference. We help businesses secure millions in investment, create jobs, and drive forward solutions that address climate change, social isolation, and economic inequality.
