Principal Data Scientist

phone number removed) Principal Data Scientist

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 25th November 2025

📍 Location: Birmingham, Leeds, London (Hybrid)

💷 Salary: £57,515 (National Salary: £57,515, London Salary: £62,034 plus an additional allowance up to £25,543)

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

🕒 Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Roles available: 2

You will play a key role in expanding the use of Data Science and AI across the DfT, helping apply cutting-edge techniques to high-stakes decisions. Working collaboratively with data engineers, digital and policy teams, you’ll help embed data-driven insight at the heart of decision-making and increase the impact of data science across the Department.

The Data Science Team, part of the Advanced Analytics Division (AAD), is a growing multidisciplinary unit within the Analysis Directorate, bringing together experts from GORS, GSS, GSE and GDaD. Based across London, Hastings, Leeds and Birmingham, we use techniques from systems thinking and modelling to AI, machine learning and digital twins to tackle complex challenges.

Our ambition for 2025 is to establish DfT as a leader in AI, advancing the Prime Minister’s AI Opportunities Action Plan and DfT’s Transport AI Action Plan.

Top Responsibilities

• Engaging with DfT stakeholders to identify high impact data science projects.
  
  
• Planning, leading and delivering high value data science projects, acting as the main customer link.
  
  
• Carrying out technical work: machine learning and AI, automation, big data analysis tools and techniques, and cloud computing.
  
  
• Building data science capability both within the team and across DfT.
  
  Benefits
  
  
• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
  
  
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
  
  
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
  
  
• Access to the staff discount portal.
  
  
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
  
  
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
  
  
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
  
  
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
  
  About you
  
  To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
  
  
• Leading and delivering data science projects yourself and through others.
  
  
• Engaging with Stakeholders to understand their needs and identify where data science can improve decision making.
  
  
• Building technical capability in the team and organisation.
  
  
• Expert Python (or similar with a desire to develop Python knowledge).
  
  
• Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices. Includes a range of scientific methods through experimental design, exploratory data analysis and hypothesis testing to reach robust conclusions.
  
  
• Confidence using analytical approaches and interpreting data.
  
  
• Experience inferring, predicting or forecasting using a variety of machine learning techniques. Understanding of good practices in model development and deployment.
  
  
• Experience identifying efficient and effective ways to use data science to tackle business and organisational challenges.
  
  
• Experience promoting professional development by expanding data science knowledge and sharing best practice across departments/industry.
  
  
• Experience presenting, communicating and disseminating data science products and findings.
  
  
• Knowledge of data manipulation techniques to produce or improve data.
  
  
• Use a range of data sources, analytical tools and techniques to develop and deploy robust data science solutions into the business.
  
  
• Understands the ethical considerations of potential data science approaches, and the legislation applicable in this area, i.e. GDPR, DPA etc.
  
  Additional Information
  
  The role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.
  
  The base pay is £57,515 (National) and £62,034 (London). In addition to this, the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £25,543.
  
  How to Apply
  👉 Read the full job description and apply at CS Jobs using the link provided.
  
  This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Tuesday 25th November 2025