Data Science Intern, Sparkbox
More information about location
ML-powered merchandising tools
Be an early applicant
ML-powered merchandising tools
1-20 employees
Be an early applicant
More information about location
1-20 employees
Company mission
Sparkbox's mission is to modernise merchandising, eliminate guesswork, and empower humans with the tools they need to make data-driven retail decisions.
Role
Who you are
- A 2:1 or 1st (or expected 2:1 or 1st) in a data heavy subject (EG Maths, Physics, Chemistry, IT or Engineering). We are open to applications from both masters and promising undergraduate students/recent graduates
- Strong Python skills and familiarity with tools such as Sci-kit, Pandas, etc
- Hands-on data analysis experience and the ability to produce data visualizations to present complex data graphically (distributions, scatter plots, sensitivity analyses)
- Experience of validating and improving the performance of prediction and optimisation algorithms
- Ability to express real-world processes in the languages of mathematics and probability
- Background in machine learning, statistical regression and modeling techniques
- SQL and relational databases skills (MS SQL Server, Oracle, etc.)
- Comfortable processing large data sets for model estimation and analysis (validation, cleansing, normalising)
- Identifying features and relationships useful for predictive modelling
Desirable
- Experience using Google Cloud
- Good communication skills, especially any experience communicating technical concepts to non-technical peers
- Prior experience in a startup or scaleup, especially an enterprise software startup or scaleup
- Prior experience or knowledge of the retail industry
What the job involves
- Pre-processing (validate, clean, normalize, reduce dimension) large data sets for model estimation and pricing event analysis
- Identifying features and relationships useful for the predictive modelling of market dynamics
- Validating and improving the performance of prediction and optimisation algorithms
- Collecting and analysing competitive price information
Application process
- Apply via Welcome to the Jungle
- 60min online interview with our co-founder who leads on data, Kevin Blackmore
- Final stage 60min interview with Kevin and possibly one other co-founder or member of our data science team. This interview would likely be in person in our Manchester or London co-working spaces
Salary benchmarks
Our take
Many retailers are still depending on antiquated manual processes to make inventory decisions. With the events of recent years, however, it’s become clear that failing to use accurate, data-driven insights to ensure good merchandise stock can take a heavy toll on business. Sparkbox is an AI-first startup hoping to change that. It helps brands optimise pricing, forecast demand, act on rebuying opportunities, and ensure their inventory is available across broader wholesale and 3rd party channels.
Profitability isn't the only benefit Sparkbox can sell itelf on, though. Data-driven fashion merchandising will help businesses get ahead of increasing levels of social and regulatory scrutiny regarding waste. The fashion industry is reported to generate around one tenth of all global carbon emissions, and in the UK alone around £140M worth of clothing ends up in landfill every year. So Sparkbox’s service is good for profit, but also increasingly good for business in a consumer market ever-more preoccupied with ethical values.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Most candidates hear
back within 2 weeks
55% female employees
Company
Funding (1 round)
Mar 2022
$2m
SEED
Total funding: $2m
Company benefits
- 33 days holiday (25 days annual leave + UK bank holidays)
- Stock options - We offer team members part ownership of our company as we believe you should be rewarded for being part of our growth
- Flexible working - We are open to discussing part time or flexible working opportunities
- Occasional travel - To conferences, trade shows, or trips to work with colleagues in our London/Manchester hubs
- Extensive Development Opportunities: We encourage our team members to contribute based on their interests, and we’ll provide opportunities to work cross functionally across the business. Tell us what you need, and we’ll make it happen: we are committed to promoting great talent as our business and our needs grow
- Health cash plan
- Monthly team meetups with team lunch or drinks
- Biannual team parties
Company values
- We race to value: Our customers and partners don’t have time or energy to waste - we keep it simple and add value quickly
- We win as a team: We are energetic, collaborative, and open to diverse ideas. We love a great debate, but when we make a decision, we commit to it. We have fun and we don’t take ourselves too seriously
- We do the right thing: We have integrity and we treat our colleagues, partners, and customers with the respect we expect
- We are always learning: We are curious, resourceful, and we don’t shy away from big challenges
- We are fiercely proud of our work: We’re not always perfect, but we care about delivering exceptional products and services we can be proud of
- We are data-driven: We practice what we preach!
Company HQ
Castlefield, Manchester, UK
Articles
Leadership
Matt Wong
(Co-founder)Former project analyst with Balfour Beatty, ex retail consultant, and Forbes 30 under 30 recipient. Leads on Software development.
Lindsay Fisher
(Co-founder)Former fashion merchandiser, ex merchandising consultant, and Forbes 30 under 30 recipient. Leads on business development and customer success.
Kevin Blackmore
(Co-founder)25+ years of retail analytics experience, incl. as a Partner at Accenture and Vice-President of Insights at Best Buy. Leads on machine learning and data science.
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