We fuse rigorous, methodologically sound analysis with our cutting-edge technology platform, Narrative Analytics®. This powerful combination enables us to quantitatively analyze open-source media, deliver strategic recommendations, and craft executive-level communication strategies for clients with missions that matter.
Why Us?
Our team is a vibrant mix of communication specialists, data scientists, and subject matter experts with extensive experience across U.S. Government agencies, non-profit organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. By joining Protagonist, you’ll immerse yourself in a collaborative environment where innovation thrives, and your contributions truly matter.
What We Do
- Innovative Solutions: We co-develop cutting-edge solutions with our clients to address tough communication problems and capitalize on opportunities to make a tangible impact.
- Data-Driven Insights: Our tools and methodologies provide actionable insights that help clients meet their communication objectives and stay ahead of global challenges.
- Applied Expertise: We integrate our solutions within client organizations, leveraging our profound expertise to address critical issues and ensure sustainable success.
Be Part of Something Bigger
At Protagonist, you’ll work on compelling projects that make a real difference. We seek talented individuals eager to contribute to our mission and grow alongside us. If you’re passionate about communication, data analysis, and making an impact, we invite you to explore a career with Protagonist.
Explore Your Future with Us!
Ready to take the next step in your career? Join us at Protagonist and be part of a team that's making a difference.
Job Description
As a Junior Data Scientist at Protagonist, you are passionate about leveraging data to drive strategic decisions. You are excited about the rapidly evolving data science landscape and the innovative applications of machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). You have a strong foundation in data science concepts, with hands-on experience in machine learning and NLP techniques. You are eager to take an active role in our cutting-edge research and development projects in data analytics and NLP, while also assisting with customer-facing projects to solve data and analytic problems.
You are creative, detail-oriented, and thrive in fast-paced, start-up environments, solving complex data challenges. You are eager to contribute to the development of our technology platform and help our clients succeed by analyzing and isolating the key online media conversations and data trends that matter.
Responsibilities
As a Junior Data Scientist, you will play a key role in our research and development projects, while also assisting with customer-facing initiatives. Your responsibilities include:
- Taking an active role in cutting-edge research and development efforts in the data analytics and NLP domain, contributing to the advancement of our technology platform
- Assisting with customer-facing projects by employing state-of-the-art NLP and machine learning methods to analyze large unstructured text-based datasets, extract topics, and build classification models among other NLP and machine learning tasks
- Collaborating closely with product and engineering teams to advance our technology platform and analytic products, ensuring seamless integration of data science solutions
- Collaborating on projects with leading US government agencies, including DARPA, to apply advanced data science techniques to some of the most critical and forward-looking challenges in the field
- Using scripting languages like Python or R to clean and manipulate datasets
- Conducting statistical modeling and predictive analysis to identify trends and insights
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including Government Solutions, to apply machine learning models to large unstructured text-based data sets and deliver data-driven insights to our customers
- Providing data science guidance to teammates and serving as a data mentor
Requirements
- Must be able to work on US Government contracts that may be restricted to US citizens; existing security clearance (SECRET or higher) a plus
- Must have strong academic grounding or professional experience in machine learning and natural language processing
- Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, or Mathematics
- BS degree with 1+ years of relevant experience, or BS degree with relevant internship experience, with a proven track record of leveraging analytics to drive significant business impact, or a Master’s degree with strong, practical data analytics project experience or relevant internships
- Experience in programming languages like Python or SQL
- Hands-on experience in statistical analysis, machine learning, factor/cluster/regression analysis, and/or classification algorithms
- Experience with data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, Looker, QuickSight, or Power BI)
- Understanding of how to apply data analysis to communications, marketing, and business strategy problems
- Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills; able to communicate complex data problems with clarity
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a cross-functional team
- Ability to meet tight deadlines under pressure, with outstanding attention to detail
- Enthusiastic about working in a fast-paced, startup environment full of complexity, ambiguity, and change
Additional Information
Protagonist is a values-driven company that is committed to doing meaningful work for organizations we respect. We are headquartered in Washington, DC, and offer a competitive salary, flexible paid time-off policy, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, and a retirement plan.
Protagonist is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Salary Range: $70,000-$120,000 based on education and level of relevant experience.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Top Skills
What We Do
Protagonist is the Narrative Analytics company. We uncover deeply held beliefs (narratives) in order to energize brands, win competitive battles, and better engage and understand target audiences. Protagonist uses natural language processing, machine learning, and deep human expertise to gather and analyze billions of pieces relevant data to give customers the insights they need for marketing, product development, and communications strategies. The Protagonist platform was built on 10 years of narrative science that was initially developed to improve the American brand around the world for the US Government. Today, it's used by dozens of the world's leading CMOs, business leaders, and foundations
