Senior Data Scientist

ABOUT CIM GROUP: CIM is a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender, and developer. Our team of experts works together to identify and create value in real assets, benefiting the communities in which we invest. Back in 1994, our three founders focused on projects in Southern California neighborhoods. Today, we are a diverse team of 900+ employees with projects across the Americas. Our projects have delivered jobs; created comfortable places to live, work, and relax; and provided necessary and sustainable infrastructure. Our focus on enhancing communities is unwavering, and we strive to make an even greater impact in the years to come. Join us and make an impact today!
POSITION PURPOSE:

The Senior Data Scientist will be a pivotal member of our Enterprise Data Management team, playing a critical role in transforming raw, complex data into actionable intelligence that drives superior investment outcomes and operational efficiencies across the firm and its portfolio companies. The role is strategically positioned at the intersection of deep financial domain expertise and cutting-edge data science, requiring a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to translate complex technical findings into clear, strategic recommendations for investment teams and senior leadership. In this role, you will bridge the gap between advanced predictive modeling and production engineering, owning the full model lifecycle from feature engineering and offline experimentation to containerized deployment, CI/CD automation, and post-deployment monitoring. The work will directly contribute to, and be enabled by, the firm’s foundational data assets and policies.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Conduct in-depth analysis of large datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights that can inform business strategy.

Translate complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations.

End-to-end machine learning delivery, including architecting, training, evaluating, and deploying production-grade predictive models and statistical algorithms across vast, disparate datasets.

Design and implement sophisticated AI-powered algorithms and predictive models to continuously monitor, analyze, and optimize company performance across all three investment platforms.

Model governance & monitoring; implement automated monitoring for production models to detect data drift, concept drift, feature skew, and latency degradation. Establish retraining triggers and model registry governance.

Own the deployment and operationalization of ML models using MLflow, containerization (Docker), and automated CI/CD pipelines. Transition models from notebook prototypes into scalable batch jobs or low-latency REST APIs.

Continuously refine search parameters, algorithms, and recommendations based on historical deal patterns, dynamic market conditions, and emerging sectors.

Contribute to the design of scalable data pipelines and data lakes that power advanced analytics and AI applications.

Champion best practices for data protection, including encryption and access controls, to safeguard sensitive information.

Collaborate to define and implement robust data quality standards, ensuring all analytical models are built on a foundation of reliable data.

Operate within our compliance framework to ensure ethical data handling, regulatory compliance, and consistency across the enterprise.

Work with business stakeholders, data engineers, data stewards, and information architects to ensure data quality and accuracy of analytics and reporting.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: (including certification, licenses, etc.)

Required:

Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Quantitative Finance, or a closely related quantitative field.

5+ years of dedicated experience as a Data Scientist.

Expert-level Python and strong SQL skills, with experience using NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch, and SQL databases such as PostgreSQL or T-SQL. (R, MATLAB, C++, Java, or C# are a plus.)

Deep practical expertise with tree-based algorithms and gradient boosting (XGBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost) on structured/tabular business and financial data.

Strong foundational statistics, including hypothesis testing, regression analysis, regularized models, classification, and time-series forecasting.

Strong understanding of MLOps solutions for model deployment, management, and scaling (e.g., SageMaker, Vertex AI, Azure ML, MLflow, Docker).

Proven experience managing the full model lifecycle using MLflow, including experiment tracking, model registry, and artifact storage.

Wide range of ML algorithms, including k-NN, Naive Bayes, SVM, Decision Forests, Boosting Algorithms, Deep Learning, Time Series Forecasting, NLP, and Reinforcement Learning.

Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.

Preferred:

Relevant professional certifications such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Financial Risk Manager (FRM).

Strong working knowledge of one of the following:
Tableau, Power BI, D3.js, Matplotlib, Seaborn, or ggplot.

Familiarity with Git-based CI/CD workflows and automated testing for data science repositories.

ABOUT YOU:

Excellent communication skills to articulate complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Ability to build strong relationships across departments to ensure collaborative data initiatives.

Pragmatic problem solver; prioritize robust, explainable baseline models (like tuned gradient boosted trees) over unnecessary complexity, scaling up architecture only when the business problem demands it.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to innovate and drive improvements in data processes are required.

WHAT CIM OFFERS: At CIM, we believe our success stems from our collective efforts, and we are committed to providing well-rounded support and resources for our employees. In addition to a competitive compensation plan, CIM offers a comprehensive benefits program for employees to thrive both inside and outside of work. Eligible employees can enjoy a wide range of benefits, including:

• A variety of Medical, dental, and vision benefit plans
• Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution
• Company paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) savings plan, with company match
• Comprehensive paid time off, including: vacation days, 10 designated holidays, sick time, and bereavement leave
• Up to 16 hours of volunteer time off
• Up to 16 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Ongoing professional development programs
• Wellness program, including monthly and quarterly prizes
• And more!

Actual base salary considers several factors including but not limited to geography, job-related knowledge, experience, and budget. The start of the salary range is typically associated with the minimum experience required. At CIM, base pay is one part of the total compensation package. For this role, bonus compensation may be a significant part of the total compensation. The anticipated base salary range for the position in Los Angeles, CA is $150,000 - $175,000. #LI-BL1
HOW WE FEEL ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: At CIM Group, we believe that the unique perspectives and backgrounds of our employees enhance everything we do. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is not only respected but celebrated. We strive to ensure that our workplace is free from discrimination and harassment, allowing everyone to contribute meaningfully and feel a sense of belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we strictly prohibit any form of unlawful discrimination and adhere to the laws enforced by the EEOC. Our goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment where all employees can grow and make impactful contributions together. *Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on CIM Group. Please inform our Talent team if you need any assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process. CIM is committed to maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of your personal and financial information. Please click here for our Privacy Policy. CIM does not accept unsolicited resumes from Agencies. Any unsolicited resumes received from Agencies will be considered property of CIM and no fees will be due or paid. If you wish to become an approved Agency with CIM or any of its Affiliates, please contact a member of the CIM Talent Acquisition Team.