What you'll do:

As a Data & Operations Research Scientist in our Principal Global Investors Data Science team, you’ll use quantitative methods, GIS, advanced mathematical models, operations research techniques, simulation and strong business acumen to deliver insight, recommendations and solutions for our business.

Here are few examples of the kinds of things you’ll do:

• Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decision making, policy formulation or other managerial functions.
• Play a crucial role in leading world class financial solutions, logistics and distribution capacity planning and diagnostics, network design, flow modeling and operations research on regional and global levels.
• Help drive decisions that optimize total cost, lead time on strategic and tactical, and more opportunistic levels.
• Present compelling, validated stories to all levels of organization, including peers, senior management and internal customers to drive both strategic and operational changes in business.

What you'll get from us:

• Competitive pay, benefits, perks and more. We’ll reward you for the skills and experience you have. Find out more.
• A great place to live, work and play. Greater Des Moines is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. Given its vibrant and welcoming culture, it’s no wonder Des Moines has garnered so much national recognition—including #3 Best Affordable Place to Live (U.S. News & World Report, 2019).
• Respect for your unique perspective. Diversity, inclusion and empowerment are at the core of our culture.
• A career, not just a job. Principal is a place where you can learn and innovate. Do important work. Make an impact. And achieve your professional goals.
• The ability to have a great job and a great life. Sure, work is important. But so is your family. And your friends. And your community. That’s why we provide the flexibility needed to find the right balance between your job and the rest of your life.

Qualifications:

We’re looking for someone with:

• BS, MS or PhD in a recognized quantitative science field, GIS, agent-based modeling, operations research, Engineering, or Mathematics or related field required. 
• Advanced degree in engineering, statistics, data science, computational biology, complexity science, quantitative social science or related quantitative field preferred.
• Analytical thinking skills required.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of quantitative sciences, Bayesian statistics, GIS, operations research and mathematical optimization concepts is highly preferred.

Additional preferred technical experience:

• Good understanding of algorithms and computational complexity 
• Expertise in agent-based modeling, probability theory, Bayesian statistics, textual analytics, queuing theory, game theory
• Experience with operations research, stochastic, machine learning algorithms and statistical techniques

Core Competencies for success:

• Drive for translating business problems into research initiatives that deliver business value.
• Creativity in defining challenging exploratory projects and developing solutions.
• Strong business aptitude, the ability to rapidly learn new problem domains, and become conversant in the domain with subject matter experts.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and proven problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work in a matrix environment, leading & influencing people at varying levels of responsibility.
• Proven ability to communicate complex qualitative analysis in clear, precise and actionable manner.
• Creative, proactive, bold and out-of-box thinking.
• Strong influencing skills to lead alignment and adoption on process and methods.
• Good communication skills.

Job Level:

Willing to consider applicants at multiple job levels. 

Additional Information:

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship available. 

Principal is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship status, disability, genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic partner status, military status, protected veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Investment Code of Ethics

For positions with Principal Global Investors, you will be required to follow a Code of Ethics which covers a number of obligations related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.