Geospatial Data Scientist Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Data Scientist II
Job Summary:
The Office of Informatics is seeking an outstanding candidate for a Data Scientist II position to support research related data needs. The Data Scientist II will design, develop, and maintain data pipelines, data models, visualizations and analytical tools to support research and decision-making across multiple stakeholder groups. This role works collaboratively with researchers, analysts, and other partners to transform complex data into accessible, actionable insights, including geospatial data and visualizations. The Data Scientist II will leverage SQL, Python, dashboarding and GIS tools to build scalable data solutions, create engaging visualizations and maps, and enable efficient data access for research use cases.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Develops and Maintains Data Solutions

• Design and build interactive visualizations for a variety of stakeholder groups
• Develop and maintain scalable data pipelines and data models to support research and operations
• Incorporate geospatial data into dashboards and analytical workflows where appropriate
• Ensure solutions follow data visualization best practices and accessibility guidelines

Data Integration and Transformation

• Develop and maintain data pipelines using SQL and Python
• Clean, transform, and validate datasets from multiple sources, including spatial datasets
• Create reusable data models and semantic layers within Power BI
• Support integration of GIS data sources into enterprise data environments

Stakeholder Collaboration and Requirements Gathering

• Translate requirements into technical solutions, including dashboards and geospatial visualizations
• Partner with stakeholders to understand research data needs, including location-based analysis
• Communicate insights effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences

Documentation and Governance

• Document data sources, workflows, dashboards, and spatial data assets
• Support data governance, quality, and consistency standards
• Maintain version control and standard deployment processes

Continuous Improvement and Support

• Monitor and troubleshoot data pipelines, dashboards, and geospatial outputs
• Stay current with Azure, Power BI, GIS tools, and data engineering best practices
• Recommend enhancements to improve data accessibility, visualization, and spatial analysis capabilities

It is anticipated that this position will be remote and requires work be performed at an offsite, non-campus work location.
Key Job Responsibilities:

• Prepares data sets for analysis including cleaning/quality assurance, transformations, restructuring, and integration of multiple data sources

• Composes and assembles reproducible workflows and reports to clearly articulate patterns to researchers and/or administrators

• Organizes and automates project steps for data preparation and analysis

• Independently identifies and implements appropriate data science techniques to find data patterns and answer research questions chosen by the lead researcher including data visualization, statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining

• Documents approaches to address research questions and contributes to the establishment of reproducible research methodologies and analysis workflows

Department:
School of Medicine and Public Health, Office of Informatics, Research Data Services.
Compensation:
The starting salary for the position is $80,000 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage.
SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026
Required Qualifications:

• Professional experience developing Power BI, Tableau, or similar dashboards for multiple stakeholders
• Experience writing complex SQL queries for data extraction and transformation
• Experience using Python for data processing, scripting, or automation
• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into data visualizations
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with data modeling concepts (star schema, dimensional modeling)
• Familiarity with data warehousing platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Redshift, Azure Synapse)
• Experience with Power BI Service, including publishing and governance
• Knowledge of data governance, security, and best practices
• Experience working in a collaborative or matrixed environment
• Experience working with geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data
• Ability to design and create engaging, user-friendly maps and geospatial visualizations for research and operational use cases

Education:
Master's degree preferred
How to Apply:
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Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. Failure to submit the required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position.
• Cover letter [required)
• Resume required (required)
Your cover letter should address [how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above]. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected
University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. [This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.
Contact Information:
Cody Roekle, croekle@wisc.edu, 608-263-7676
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
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Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
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