Principal Data Scientist

At FourKites we have the opportunity to tackle complex challenges with real-world impacts. Whether it’s medical supplies from Cardinal Health or groceries for Walmart, the FourKites platform helps customers operate global supply chains that are efficient, agile and sustainable.

Join a team of curious problem solvers that celebrates differences, leads with empathy and values inclusivity.

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Staff Data Scientist with 8-10 years of experience to drive technical innovation in Shipments ETA prediction across multiple transportation modes. This senior individual contributor role requires deep expertise in predictive modeling, supply chain analytics, and transportation logistics, with particular strength in regression problems and modern deep learning architectures. You will be the technical authority driving ETA accuracy improvements for Full Truck Load (FTL), Less-than-Truckload (LTL), Parcel, and complex multi-pickup/delivery scenarios

What you'll be doing:

Technical Leadership & Innovation

• ETA Modeling Excellence: Design and implement state-of-the-art predictive models for shipment ETAs across FTL, LTL, Parcel, and multi-stop delivery scenarios
• Cross-Modal Optimization: Develop unified frameworks that account for mode-specific characteristics while maintaining consistency across transportation types
• Complex Routing Intelligence: Build sophisticated models for multi-pickup and delivery scenarios with dynamic routing optimization
• Real-time Prediction Systems: Architect scalable solutions that provide accurate ETAs with sub-second latency for millions of shipments

Advanced Analytics & Research

• Time Series Mastery: Lead development of advanced time series models incorporating seasonality, weather, traffic, and operational constraints
• Geospatial Analytics: Implement cutting-edge location-based models combining GPS tracking, route optimization, and historical patterns
• Feature Engineering Innovation: Create novel features from telematics data, driver behavior, carrier performance, and external data sources
• Uncertainty Quantification: Develop probabilistic models that provide confidence intervals and risk assessments for ETA predictions

Strategic Technical Influence

• Architecture Design: Define the technical roadmap for ETA prediction systems, balancing accuracy, scalability, and operational efficiency
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Product, Engineering, and Operations teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Industry Leadership: Represent the company at conferences, publish research, and establish thought leadership in transportation analytics
• Mentorship & Knowledge Transfer: Guide junior data scientists and establish best practices for transportation modeling

Transportation Domain Challenges You'll Solve

Multi-Modal ETA Complexity

• FTL Challenges: Long-haul routing with driver hours-of-service, fuel stops, and carrier-specific performance patterns
• LTL Complexity: Hub-and-spoke networks with consolidation delays, sorting times, and terminal-specific processing
• Parcel Dynamics: Last-mile delivery optimization with address-level precision and delivery attempt modeling
• Multi-Stop Scenarios: Complex pickup/delivery sequences with dynamic routing and time window constraints

Advanced Technical Problems

• Data Fusion: Integrating GPS tracking, weather data, traffic patterns, carrier performance, and operational constraints
• Uncertainty Modeling: Providing confidence intervals and risk assessments for critical shipments
• Real-time Adaptation: Updating predictions as new information becomes available during transit
• Performance Optimization: Balancing model complexity with sub-second prediction requirements

About the team:

You’ll join a deeply technical data science team responsible for one of FourKites’ most mission-critical capabilities: shipment ETA accuracy across global, multi-modal supply chains. The team operates at scale—building real-time, low-latency prediction systems powered by rich telematics, geospatial, and operational data. We value scientific rigor, practical impact, and cross-functional collaboration, giving senior individual contributors the autonomy to shape architecture, influence product direction, and set modeling standards across the organization.

Who you are:

Education & Experience

• Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, or related quantitative field (required)
• 8+ years of data science experience with at least 2+ years in transportation, logistics, or supply chain analytics (Good to have)
• Deep ETA/Transportation Knowledge: Proven track record of building production ETA systems for multiple transportation modes(Good to have )
• Supply Chain Expertise: Understanding of logistics operations, carrier networks, and transportation economics(Good to have )
• Scalable Systems Experience: Experience with high-volume, real-time prediction systems serving millions of requests

Technical Excellence

Core Data Science Mastery

• Expert-level EDA skills: Advanced proficiency in transportation data analysis, anomaly detection, and pattern recognition
• Advanced Regression Modeling: Deep expertise in time series regression, spatial regression, and hierarchical modeling
• Deep Learning Expertise: Hands-on experience with sequence models, attention mechanisms, and transformer architectures for temporal prediction
• Statistical Modeling: Mastery of Bayesian methods, survival analysis, and probabilistic forecasting

Specialized Transportation Skills

• Geospatial Analytics: Proficiency with PostGIS, spatial indexing, routing algorithms, and map-matching techniques
• Time Series Forecasting: Advanced knowledge of ARIMA, state-space models, neural forecasting (LSTM, GRU, Transformers)
• Optimization Methods: Experience with route optimization, network flow problems, and multi-objective optimization
• Real-time Systems: Understanding of streaming data processing, model serving, and low-latency prediction systems

Technical Infrastructure

• Programming Mastery: Expert-level Python/R with pandas, numpy, scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch, and transportation-specific libraries
• Big Data Platforms: Experience with Spark, Kafka, and distributed computing for large-scale transportation data
• Database Systems: Advanced SQL skills with time-series databases (InfluxDB, TimescaleDB) and spatial databases
• Cloud & MLOps: Proficiency with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), containerization, and ML deployment pipelines

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree: PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or related quantitative field
• Domain Certifications: Professional certifications in supply chain, logistics, or transportation (APICS, CSCMP, SOLE, etc.)
• Industry Recognition: Publications in transportation/logistics conferences (INFORMS, TRB) or top-tier ML venues
• Leadership Experience: Track record of leading technical initiatives and influencing product strategy
• Open Source Contributions: Contributions to transportation analytics or forecasting libraries

What We Offer

• Competitive Compensation: Comprehensive package including base salary, equity, and performance bonuses
• Technical Excellence: Access to cutting-edge infrastructure, datasets, and research resources
• Industry Impact: Opportunity to shape the future of transportation analytics and supply chain optimization
• Professional Growth: Conference speaking opportunities, research publication support, and industry networking
• Innovation Environment: Collaborative culture with world-class engineering and product teams

We know that job postings can be intimidating, and research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalized folks tend to only apply when they check every box. We encourage you to apply if you think you may be a fit and give us both a chance to find out!

Who we are:FourKites®, the leader in AI-driven supply chain transformation for global enterprises and pioneer of advanced real-time visibility, turns supply chain data into automated action. FourKites’ Intelligent Control Tower™ breaks down enterprise silos by creating a real-time digital twin of orders, shipments, inventory and assets. This comprehensive view, combined with AI-powered digital workers, enables companies to prevent disruptions, automate routine tasks, and optimize performance across their supply chain. FourKites processes over 3.2 million supply chain events daily — from purchase orders to final delivery — helping 1,600+ global brands prevent disruptions, make faster decisions and move from reactive tracking to proactive supply chain orchestration.

FourKites provides competitive compensation with stock options, outstanding benefits and a collaborative culture for all employees around the globe. To help you be your best, we have 5 global recharge days, in addition to generous PTO and standard holidays. Parental leave for all parents, an annual wellness stipend and volunteer days also provide you with time and resources for self care and to care for others. Throughout the year, FourKites sets aside time during the workday to learn and celebrate diversity. We're always listening for new ways to support everyone in and out of the office.

Benefits:

• Medical benefits start on first day of employment
• 36 PTO days( Sick, Casual and Earned) , 5 recharge days, 2 volunteer days
• Home Office set ups and Technology reimbursement
• Lifestyle & Family benefits
• Mental Wellness support and guidance
• Ongoing learning & development opportunities ( Professional development program, Toast Master club etc.)

FourKites is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.