Sr/Staff Data Scientist

About BNSF Railway

Be part of a team that values safety, inclusion, and excellence. BNSF Railway is one of the largest U.S. railroads, transporting the nation’s freight across 28 western states and 3 Canadian provinces. As a member of our team, you will play a role in supporting the movement of essential products and materials that help feed, clothe, supply, and power communities throughout America and the world.

BNSF | Tech: Innovating and Transforming the Future of Freight Rail

BNSF | Tech is the technology division making BNSF the preeminent freight and mobility company in North America. Are you ready to drive change? If you are passionate about making a difference and eager to advance your career in a dynamic and supportive environment, we want you on our team! Join us in reshaping the future of freight rail and discover a fulfilling career where your contributions matter.

We are committed to a culture where all employees are included, belong, and have equal opportunity to achieve their full potential. Come make a difference with us! Learn more about BNSF and our benefits.

Job Details for Sr/Staff Data Scientist

• Job Location: Remote US (Employees may work from anywhere within the contiguous 48 states of the United States)
• Anticipated Start Date: 01/01/2026
• Salary Range: $165,000-$300,000 (US base salary for this full-time position)
• Employment Type: Full-time remote position
• Travel: Up to 20%, required for occasional in-person meetings at corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, TX. Travel expenses covered by BNSF.
• Eligibility: Open to candidates currently authorized to work in the United States. BNSF is open to sponsoring H-1B transfers, TN nonimmigrant status, and STEM OPT candidates with at least 2 years of remaining eligibility.

Data & AI: Lead Our Charge into the Future

As a Sr/Staff Data Scientist, you will be part of a team transforming BNSF into an AI company by turning data assets into a real-time enterprise.

Key Responsibilities May Include

• Lead cross-functional collaboration to identify analytic initiatives, formulate strategies, and develop solutions using data and machine learning models to achieve business goals.
• Apply data science skills to analyze large, complex datasets and identify meaningful patterns that lead to actionable insights and data-driven solutions to business problems.
• Lead the development and deployment of advanced machine learning models to forecast outcomes and optimize workflows.
• Engage closely with stakeholders to understand their requirements and deliver actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making.
• Design and present compelling visualizations and reports to effectively communicate analytical findings.
• Oversee the maintenance and enhancement of data pipelines to uphold data quality and precision.
• Keep abreast of emerging trends and breakthroughs in data science and machine learning fields.
• Proficiently extract, aggregate, and transform data from SQL and NoSQL databases, leveraging languages like R, Python, or other relevant tools for analysis and modeling.
• Build, test, and validate statistical, and machine learning models and analyses using Python, R, or other appropriate language as part of overall solution development.
• Lead implementation of analytic solutions into reporting platforms or production systems by leading the solution design, development, testing, and monitoring.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience with building optimization algorithms or relevant experience.
• Advanced proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, SQL, and Java.
• Demonstrated expertise in utilizing data visualization tools to communicate insights clearly and effectively.
• In-depth experience with data science cloud platforms and their integration into business solutions.
• Exceptional intellectual curiosity and a proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment.
• Track record of rapidly acquiring new technical skills and adapting to cutting-edge technologies.
• Strong communication skills to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences with clarity and professionalism.
• Deep understanding and application of statistical analysis and advanced machine learning techniques.
• Must understand and have proficiency in the core architecture of LLMs (e.g., transformers and attention mechanisms).
• Experience with prompt engineering techniques, including chain-of-thought prompting, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), fine-tuning of language models, and evaluation methodologies.
• Experience with Vector Databases and embeddings.
• Experience with Model Fine-tuning.
• Experience with GPU optimization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Operations Research, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, or a related field. Ph.D is a plus.
• Knowledge of geospatial analytics, route optimization, and GIS concepts.
• Previous hands-on experience with AI/Machine Learning frameworks and tools, showcasing innovative solutions.
• Extensive background in Rail, Shipping, Airline, Logistics, Warehousing, Supply Chain, or Transportation industries, or in the High-Tech sector.
• Proficiency in leveraging open-source libraries and frameworks to drive data science initiatives.
• Seasoned in Agile methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, or SAFe for efficient project management and delivery at a senior level.

Benefits at BNSF

At BNSF, you will have access to a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including:

• An industry-leading 401(k) and renowned Railroad Retirement program.
• A range of robust health care options for you and your dependents (including domestic partners), including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, mental health, cancer support, and high-quality care network options.
• Health care spending accounts (HSA) with employer contributions, as well as life and disability insurance, provided at no cost.
• Family benefits including parental, pediatric and family building support, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, and dependent care spending account (with employer match).
• Access to discounts on travel, gym memberships, counseling services and wellness support.
• Annual bonus (Incentive Compensation Program).
• Generous leave / time off policies.

Key skills/competency

• Data Science
• Machine Learning
• AI/LLMs
• Python
• SQL
• Cloud Platforms
• Data Visualization
• Statistical Analysis
• Prompt Engineering
• Optimization Algorithms