RIPL is a tech, research and social impact nonprofit organization founded in 2018.   We provide powerful scientific grade insights at the speed of policy directly to policymakers. We do this by adapting the best existing data and science methodologies for the government environment and enlisting the help of academic researchers to apply their skills and insights to solving policy problems.  RIPL science has supported policy and process improvements in health care, education, social insurance, civic participation, workforce development, and criminal justice.  During COVID-19, we worked with Rhode Island to make it the first state in the country to pay out Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits to support Rhode Island workers after they lost their jobs due to the pandemic.  To date, we have helped over 70,000 RI workers receive their benefits.

RIPL’s early work focused in Rhode Island and is now expanding to new states.  As a result, we are adding several new positions to support the organization’s next phase of growth. As a Data Engineer at RIPL, your primary responsibility will be developing secure data lake solutions with government partners optimized for research and policy insights and developing applications for translating science into policy production. You will work closely with academic researchers and may have opportunities to develop your findings into peer-reviewed journal articles. You will also collaborate with a broader team of cloud engineers from major technology sector partners as we develop secure data lakes for transforming administrative data into positive impact with partners, and with experts in behavioral economics to develop “nudges” and data-and-research-driven applications to empower individuals with information they need to benefit from innovative and effective public policy programs.

With a collaborative environment, all RIPL team members work cross-functionally.  Regardless of the team you join, you’ll develop a solid understanding of the technology we deploy, the power of scientific-grade research, how to productionize science for lasting impact, and how to navigate government partnerships to help government build lasting capacity for data-driven improvement as well as solving immediate needs.  RIPL’s staff are located all over the country but stay connected with online chat, regular coffee hours and in-person time when travel is possible.  As an organization we value quality over quantity, we believe our government partners deserve the best, we know that changing culture and systems takes longer than anyone ever thinks it will and we’re committed for the long-term. To learn more about what we value, check out our leadership values.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications, experience, and skills: