Senior Applied Research Scientist

Key Skills

C Programming, C# Programming, C++, Data science techniques, Java Programming, Machine learning techniques, Perl Programming, Python Programming, SQL

Job Description

We're seeking a technically-minded Senior Applied Research Scientist (ARS) to join our multi-disciplinary Freight Planning Team with a focus on Ocean Planning. This role is perfect for someone passionate about applied research and who wants to collaborate with engineers to tackle the most challenging problems in global trade optimization. The successful candidate will be comfortable working as an embedded Data Scientist within an engineering team, creating production systems, and building the vision for how engineering and research work together. Specializations in optimization, or space and route planning technology and their approaches is a plus, but not required.

You will:

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including product, engineering, and business to identify opportunities for enhancing our technology products; translate business requirements into robust optimization solutions.
• Lead the research, development, and deployment of large-scale planning optimization solutions tailored to various freight modes, driving efficiency and ease of use.
• Conduct research and analysis to inform the development of models and algorithms, establishing appropriate metrics and targets for success.
• Deliver data-driven solutions to support automated decision-making at scale, leveraging advanced Operations Research (OR) and Machine Learning (ML) methods.
• Tackle complex data analysis problems using innovative analytical methods, effectively communicating findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Provide analysis for launched solutions to quantify the outcome based on business results in the real world.

You should have: 

• PhD or MS (or equivalent industry experience) in quantitative fields such as Operations Research, Computer Science, or Mathematics.
• Minimum of 5 years of industry experience solving transportation/logistics optimization problems, with a focus on developing practical, scalable solutions.
• Expertise in algorithm design, engineering, and implementation, particularly in optimization methods for linear, mixed-integer, and dynamic programs.
• Strong software development skills using languages like Python, Java, C, C++, or C#, with experience working with large datasets and big data analytics tools (e.g., SQL, Python, Perl).
• Familiarity with commercial/open-source solvers and MIP strategies for customization and optimization.
• Preferred experience includes knowledge of decomposition/iterative methods, designing and implementing optimization models for discrete/combinatorial problems, and familiarity with machine learning and statistical techniques.
• A compliance first attitude to keep our regulators happy and enthusiastic about Flexport since we operate in a heavily regulated industry.

About You:

• You are self-motivated, highly analytical, and passionate about delivering cutting-edge solutions that make a tangible impact on global trade.
• You thrive in a collaborative environment, working closely with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and solve complex problems.
• You stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in optimization techniques, machine learning, and market dynamics, continuously seeking opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Worried about not having any logistics experience?

Don’t be! Our mission is to make global trade easy for everyone. That’s why it’s important to bring people from diverse backgrounds and experiences together with our industry veterans to help move the global logistics industry forward.

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.

The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range displayed, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and / or training.

The US base salary range for this position: (exclusive of bonus, equity and benefits.)

$173,340—$192,600 USD