Data Scientist

Data Scientist – GCP | Python | BigQuery | Forecasting & Planning ModelsOverviewWe are seeking an experienced Data Scientist to support a high-impact client engagement focused on building advanced analytics, forecasting, and planning capabilities within the UK Energy and Utilities sector. This role will work closely with business and technical stakeholders to develop predictive models, enhance enterprise data solutions, and deliver actionable insights that support strategic decision-making.The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in Google Cloud Platform (GCP), particularly BigQuery, along with hands-on experience in developing forecasting and planning models, time series analysis, statistical modelling, and data visualisation using Looker Studio. Experience with UK Energy Imbalance and Settlements processes is a plus, enabling the candidate to develop analytical solutions that support operational forecasting, settlement accuracy, and commercial performance.Key ResponsibilitiesCollaborate with business and technical stakeholders to understand business challenges and translate them into advanced analytics and data science solutions.Design, develop, and deploy forecasting and planning models to support operational and strategic business decisions.Build and optimise time series forecasting models using historical data and external variables where applicable.Develop predictive models to support energy demand forecasting, imbalance analysis, settlement optimisation, and operational planning.Analyse settlement and imbalance data to identify trends, anomalies, financial impacts, and opportunities for process improvement.Develop scalable data pipelines and analytical datasets within BigQuery to support data science and reporting use cases.Create interactive dashboards and visualisations in Looker Studio to communicate model outputs, forecasts, settlement insights, and business performance.Evaluate model performance, validate assumptions, and continuously improve predictive accuracy.Ensure data quality, governance, and documentation across analytical models and reporting assets.Provide technical leadership and best practice guidance on statistical modelling, machine learning, and cloud-based analytics.Required Skills & ExperienceStrong hands-on experience with Google BigQuery and the GCP ecosystem.Advanced SQL development and query optimisation skills.Proven experience developing forecasting and planning models.Strong understanding of time series forecasting techniques (ARIMA, SARIMA, Prophet, Exponential Smoothing, or similar methodologies).Proficiency in Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, Statsmodels, TensorFlow, or similar libraries) for data science and model development.Hands-on experience building dashboards and visual analytics using Looker Studio.Experience working with large-scale datasets in cloud environments.Strong understanding of UK Energy Imbalance and Settlements, including settlement processes, imbalance reporting, consumption forecasting, and reconciliation.Experience analysing energy market data, metering data, and settlement datasets to support operational and commercial decision-making.Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex analytical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, delivery-focused environment.Desirable SkillsExperience with the UK electricity and gas retail markets, including industry data flows and market messaging.Knowledge of Elexon, Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC), MHHS, and settlement-related data processes.Experience with demand forecasting, capacity planning, or energy portfolio optimisation.Knowledge of MLOps, model deployment, monitoring, and lifecycle management.Experience with Vertex AI or other cloud-based machine learning platforms.Familiarity with feature engineering, model explainability, and experimentation frameworks.Previous experience delivering data science solutions within UK Utilities or Energy organisations