Applied Research Scientist

Flexport is looking for a creative, technically-minded Applied Research Scientist (ARS) who is motivated to solve some of the world’s most challenging problems in global trade.   

Data is at the heart of our business, and as an Applied Research Scientist, you will work to evaluate and provide insights into our physical and digital products. In collaboration with multidisciplinary product, engineering, and business/operations teams, you will apply advanced quantitative methods to deliver data-driven insights and automated decision-making in Flexport’s freight forwarding products. 

Our business, product, and engineering teams collaborate closely with our Applied Research Scientists to share domain knowledge, test hypotheses at scale, and develop promising solutions that can be quickly and widely deployed. We are passionate about providing effortlessly accessible intelligence and actionable insights to our end users. Our ideal candidate is: self-motivated, highly analytical, technically excellent at writing code, and passionate about delivering cutting-edge solutions.  

• Work collaboratively with product, engineering, and business to:
• find opportunities to improve and enhance our technology products, 
• understand Flexport’s business and operations processes to identify impact opportunities, and
• translate ambiguous business requirements into the right technical/quantitative solution.

• Perform requirements gathering and data gathering & analysis.  
• Research prior work to inform and develop models and algorithms and quantify appropriate metrics & targets.
• Perform R&D of new models/algorithms and refactor ML/OR solutions to support scalable production deployment. 
• Deliver compelling data-driven solutions to support automated decision-making at scale.
• Work with large and complex data sets. Solve difficult data analysis problems by applying advanced analytical methods as needed. 
• Develop prototype data analyses and data assets iteratively as needed to generate actionable insights. 
• Communicate findings to technical collaborators and business stakeholders. 
• Drive and hands-on contribute to model/algorithmic development.  

• Ph.D. (or equivalent industry or research experience) in quantitative fields, such as Operations Research, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, etc. 
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in predictive and quantitative modeling and analysis.
• Experience and a strong background in algorithm design, engineering, and implementation.
• Experience and a strong background in optimization methods for solving linear, mixed-integer, and dynamic programs, or inventory management and revenue management.
• Experience in business analytics, forecasting, pricing, or supply chain planning, emphasizing quantitative modeling and analysis.
• Software development experience using general-purpose programming languages like Python, Java, or C/++, C#
• Experience working with large data sets and knowledge of tools for big data analytics (e.g., SQL, Python, Perl, or Ruby).

• Advance knowledge in one of the following areas
• Designing and implementing optimization models and algorithms for large-scale discrete/combinatorial problems (e.g., vehicle routing, inventory planning, scheduling, network design, scheduling, and facility location) 
• Designing and implementing solutions for dynamic pricing, multi-period inventory management and assortment optimizations.
• Proven object-oriented design and implementation skills (Python, Java, and C++)
• Some experience in machine learning and statistical techniques such as classification, clustering, regression, statistical inference, collaborative filtering, and experimental design.
• Some experience in business analytics, forecasting, or supply chain planning, emphasizes quantitative modeling and analysis.
• Strong research track record with contributions to research communities via publications in top conferences and journals and code contributions in open source communities such as COIN-OR, scikit-learn, CLTK, NLTK, etc.

We believe global trade can move the human race forward. That’s why it’s our mission to make global trade easier for everyone. We aim to do this by building the Operating System for Global trade - a strategic model combining advanced technology and data analytics, logistics infrastructure, and supply chain expertise. Flexport today connects almost 10,000 clients and suppliers across 109 countries, including established global brands like Georgia-Pacific as well as emerging innovators like Sonos. Started in 2013, we've raised over $1.3B in funding from SoftBank Vision Fund, Founders Fund, GV, First Round Capital, and Y Combinator. We’re excited about the three big ways we’re moving forward after our recent $1B investment from SoftBank Vision Fund in February 2019.

• Don’t be! We’re building the first Operating System for Global Trade. That’s why it’s incredibly important for us to bring people from diverse backgrounds and experiences together with our industry veterans to help move the freight forwarding industry forward.
• What’s freight forwarding, and why does it matter? Freight forwarding is the coordination and shipment of goods from one place to another and it’s what makes global trade possible. Flexport is on a mission to make global trade easier for everyone because we believe it can help connect the world and break down economic barriers.
• We know this industry is complex. That’s why we invest in education starting day one with Flexport Academy, a one-week intensive onboarding program designed specifically to set every new Flexport employee up for success.

At Flexport, our ability to fulfill our mission of making global trade easy for everyone relies on having a diverse, dedicated, and engaged workforce. That is why Flexport is committed to creating and nurturing an environment where anyone can be their authentic self. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, health status, marital and family status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.