Data Scientist

Data Scientist

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Job Description

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OVERVIEW

CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP) is a leading global provider of commercial and residential real estate information, analytics, and online marketplaces. Included in the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ 100, CoStar Group is on a mission to digitize the world’s real estate, empowering all people to discover properties, insights and connections that improve their businesses and lives. 

We have been living and breathing the world of real estate information and online marketplaces for over 35 years, giving us the perspective to create truly unique and valuable offerings to our customers. We’ve continually refined, transformed and perfected our approach to our business, creating a language that has become standard in our industry, for our customers, and even our competitors. We continue that effort today and are always working to improve and drive innovation. This is how we deliver for our customers, our employees, and investors. By equipping the brightest minds with the best resources available, we provide an invaluable edge in real estate. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

CoStar is seeking a Data Scientist, with a focus on model estimations, data validation, and accuracy evaluation/tracking, to join our growing analytics organization. The Data Scientist will assist in developing methods to meet CoStar’s primary goal of continual improvement in our quantitative efforts related to data accumulation, modeling, and estimation of current, historical, and forecast data series. The ideal candidate will possess a broad range of experience and quantitative skills to undertake the responsibilities outlined below and will be eager to join a best-in-class team that performs an integral function within the CoStar Group.

This is a full-time in-office position that will be based in our Richmond, VA office.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct independent and creative quantitative research applied towards the evaluation, tracking, and improvement of CRE models, data series and estimations

• Perform econometric-based forecasting and quantitative analysis

• Determine the need for changes to existing models and strategies

• Update model calibration and conduct model validation

• Document models and analytic products and tools for external and internal clients

• Implement data mining techniques to leverage databases for use in a variety of products and tools

• Collaborate with team members to develop methodologies to perform model and data validation

• Partner with team members to assess, track, and enhance model/forecast accuracy through back-testing.

• Perform quality assurance functions and error debugging throughout our models, data series and implementations, writing test cases and scripts as needed

• Investigate, document, and escalate (as appropriate) the defects and other quality metrics identified during testing

• Develop and implement quality standards and best practices, contributing ideas and effort toward continuous improvement

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, data science, real estate, or related field

• 3+ years of relevant experience in a research-oriented environment and/or in professional services such as in commercial real estate, banking, or investment management

• 1+ year of experience with statistical programming using large datasets with known biases

• Well versed in writing unit tests and model validation scripts

• Proficiency in SQL, writing queries and reporting from relational databases, and experience with SQL Server Management Studio, with the ability to conduct data mining in large datasets

• Strong scripting and programming skills with Python, R, or SAS, with hands-on experience

• Strong applied statistics skills, such as distribution analysis, probability theory, statistical testing, regression, etc.

• Strong math and analytical skills

• Accuracy and attention to detail

• A track record of commitment to prior employers

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (Master’s, PhD) in statistics, data science, real estate, or related field