Lab Data Analyst Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

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Departmental Overview

The California Policy Lab (CPL) generates research insights for government impact. Through hands-on partnerships with government agencies, CPL performs rigorous research across issue silos and builds the data infrastructure necessary to improve programs and policies that millions of Californians rely on every day. We work on California's most urgent issues, including homelessness, poverty, criminal justice reform, and education inequality. At its Berkeley site, CPL resides as a center within the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE).

CPL recognizes the value of having a diverse staff at all levels of the organization. We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent and understand the diverse racial and ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, educational, socioeconomic, cultural, and disability backgrounds present in California. When you join our team, you can expect to be part of an inclusive and equity-focused community.

Position Summary

The Senior Data Analyst is an expert programmer who is fluent in multiple programming languages, has experience with SQL databases and large administrative datasets, and believes in CPL's mission. The Senior Data Analyst contributes to applied research projects that aim to improve programs and policies in California. The Senior Data Analyst is responsible for: helping research affiliates and other staff write and troubleshoot code to accomplish research tasks; using data science, econometric, and machine learning methods to extract meaning from data; building, managing, and optimizing ETL pipelines and SQL databases for research purposes; implementing linkages of large administrative datasets and preparing analysis datasets; and preparing graphs, tables, maps, or other visual displays of research results.
The Senior Data Analyst should have strong working knowledge of multiple languages, including Python, R, Stata, and/or SAS. In addition, the Senior Data Analyst should have experience building and managing SQL databases, preferably in Microsoft SQL Server. The position works directly with leading social policy researchers at UC and beyond, state and local government agency staff, as well as the leadership team at CPL, and it is important that the candidate be able to translate their skills for different audiences.

The Senior Data Analyst reports to CPL's Research Director.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is August 27, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

25%

• Writes and troubleshoots code to prepare analysis datasets and accomplish research tasks.

25%

• Implements linkages of large administrative datasets, maintains and improves CPL's base hashing and linkage code, and works with researchers to use the code.

10%

• Prepares graphs, tables, maps, or other visual displays of research results.

10%

• Builds and maintains ETL pipelines for CPL's data sources. Improves data and workflow automation for the Lab.

10%

• Maintains and implements a data management plan for CPL's principal datasets, including version control procedures.

15%

• Designs, maintains, and optimizes relational databases (MS SQL Server) for sensitive administrative datasets.

5%

• Identifies responsible opportunities to use automation and AI-enabled tools to improve data workflows, documentation, metadata management, code review, and internal knowledge management.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive experience in computer programming required, including fluency in data-analysis packages from commonly used programming languages like Python, R, Stata, and/or SAS, as well as version control systems such as Git.
• Experience with efficiently analyzing large datasets (>10TB).
• Experience building and maintaining databases in SQL, preferably using MS SQL Server, including optimizing large databases of several terabytes.
• Knowledge of data management systems, practices, and standards.
• Strong interpersonal skills and communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.