Transport Data Scientist - Various UK Locations in Leeds

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

We're excited to offer a new opportunity within our growing Transport team, where data, technology and innovation are helping shape the future of transport in the UK and around the world. This role offers the chance to work on high-profile, data-driven projects while developing your expertise alongside some of the industry's leading transport modellers, data scientists and technical specialists.

We're seeking an experienced Transport Data Scientist to join our growing data and analytics capability, working on challenging, high-profile transport projects across the UK and internationally. This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping innovative, data-driven solutions while enjoying significant autonomy, technical growth and career development.

You'll work closely with senior technical leaders, including our Global Principals for Big Data and Strategic Modelling, as well as experts from across our transport modelling and analytics community. At Jacobs, you'll be joining one of the largest and most respected transport modelling teams in the UK and Europe, offering unparalleled exposure to a diverse portfolio of projects, clients and technical challenges across the UK and internationally.

Our Transport team has built a strong reputation for delivering innovative, data-driven solutions for clients including Heathrow Airport, Transport for London, the National Transport Authority in Ireland, National Highways and the Department for Transport, as well as international clients across the Middle East, Australia and North America.

As part of this growing capability, you'll play a key role in transforming complex datasets into meaningful insights that help shape the future of transport. Working with datasets that often exceed a billion records, including GPS tracking data and Mobile Network Data, you'll help uncover how people and vehicles move across both highway and sustainable transport networks.

Your expertise could contribute to a variety of exciting projects, including:

• Trend analysis, clustering, data fusion and data engineering.
• Developing advanced inputs for transport models.
• Applying machine learning and AI-driven approaches to solve complex challenges.
• Building predictive models using both machine learning techniques and established discrete choice modelling methods.
• Turning large-scale, complex data into actionable insights that influence transport policy, planning and investment decisions.

You’ll be joining a collaborative and supportive global team, with modelling excellence centres across the UK, Poland and India. Working as One Jacobs, we actively encourage cross-office collaboration, giving you access to a broad network of specialists and opportunities that extend far beyond your local office.

Most importantly, we’re looking for curious and driven individuals who can bring fresh thinking, strong analytical skills and a passion for solving complex problems with data. Whether your background is in data science, statistics, machine learning, AI, data engineering, econometrics or transport modelling, you’ll have the opportunity to make a tangible impact while continuing to develop your own expertise and career.

We have successfully embedded hybrid and flexible working into the way we operate and welcome applications from across the UK - 2 days office based role (Offices in Leeds / Newcastle/ Manchester/ Bristol/ Birmingham / London/ Reading).

Here’s what you’ll need:

We’re particularly interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Transport Data Science and Data Engineering.
• Application of big data within transport modelling and transport planning.
• Machine Learning, Applied AI and advanced statistical techniques.
• Predictive modelling and forecasting.
• Discrete Choice Model estimation and econometrics.

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:

• A degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, Physics, Economics, Operational Research, Transport Planning, or another highly numerate discipline.
• Experience working with transport data, mobility data, transport analytics, travel demand analysis, or transport modelling applications.
• Strong proficiency in Python, R, or equivalent tools for large-scale data analysis and modelling.
• Experience analysing large and complex datasets, including trend analysis, data fusion, data engineering and insight generation.
• Experience applying Machine Learning, Applied AI, Predictive Modelling, Advanced Econometrics, or Discrete Choice Modelling techniques to solve complex problems.
• The ability to transform complex data into clear, actionable recommendations for clients and project teams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary project teams.

Whether your background is in transport data science, analytics, modelling, statistics, AI or machine learning, if you’re passionate about using data to solve real-world transport challenges and want to work on industry-leading projects, we’d love to hear from you.

At Jacobs, you’ll find more than just a job. You’ll discover a global network of expertise and opportunity, a culture founded on safety, integrity, inclusion, and belonging, working arrangements that support your well-being and potential to make a real-world impact through our global giving and volunteering programs.

Ready to shape the future of transport? Join us in creating smarter, more sustainable mobility solutions that transform communities and improve lives. Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed.

We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees. With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place.

No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation.

We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process, please contact the team via Careers Support.