Data Scientist (Computational Design)
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA)
Singapore · Contract
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Job description
About Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is Singapore's leading land use planning and conservation agency, dedicated to shaping Singapore into a distinctive, lively, and sustainable city where people live, work, and play. URA collaborates with government agencies and the community to strategically plan Singapore's physical environment.
About URBEX and DPLab
URA champions innovation in urban planning and design through urban science, geospatial data analytics, modeling and simulation, and AI technologies. In 2022, URA was appointed the Whole-of-Government Urban Planning & Design Technology Centre of Excellence (URBEX), spearheading the enhancement of planning sector capabilities. The Design & Planning Lab (DPLab) is a multidisciplinary unit within URA driving URBEX initiatives, alongside experts in data governance, product strategy, software and cloud engineering, urban design tech, AI/ML, and modeling & simulation.
URA's technological achievements include the 2024 Esri Special Achievement Award for GIS innovation and the Esri Singapore GeoInnovation Award for groundbreaking geospatial solutions. The flagship web-based ePlanner platform won the Excellence Award at the 2024 Singapore Public Service Science, Technology and Engineering Conference.
Role Description
As a Data Scientist specializing in Computational Design, you will develop parametric frameworks to generate, assess, and analyze building and urban forms at scales ranging from individual structures to entire neighborhoods and cities. Collaborating with senior team members, you will convert urban planning requirements into computational models, create generative design tools, and perform large-scale scenario analyses to uncover patterns and insights. You will also assist in integrating these computational tools into URA's internal planning platforms.
Key Responsibilities and Requirements
- Demonstrate proficiency in Python or similar languages, leveraging computational geometry and spatial libraries (such as Shapely, NumPy) for programmatic form generation and manipulation.
- Utilize data analysis libraries (Pandas, GeoPandas) to process and examine extensive geospatial and generated datasets.
- Possess familiarity or experience with parametric/generative design tools like Rhino/Grasshopper or CityEngine, or procedural content generation systems from game/VFX pipelines like Unity or Unreal.
- Have foundational web development skills or eagerness to learn, particularly in TypeScript/React for feature development on web platforms.
- Understand architectural or urban design principles — massing, floor area ratios, site coverage, spatial layouts — or show aptitude to learn these concepts rapidly.
- Be experienced with GIS and spatial data analysis using platforms such as ArcGIS or QGIS, including spatial joins and geospatial statistics.
- Basic exposure to data or 3D web visualization (Matplotlib, Plotly, Three.js, deck.gl) is advantageous.
Skills and Abilities
- Strong background in computational design, parametric modeling, data analytics, web development, or closely related areas demonstrated via academic, internship, personal projects or professional experience.
- Ability to conceptualize design challenges as systems composed of executable parameters and logic.
- Proficient in spatial reasoning including the manipulation and interpretation of shapes and geometric relationships through code.
- Advanced analytical aptitude working with structured and spatial datasets to draw sound, evidence-based insights.
- Capability to convert proof-of-concept prototypes (scripts or notebooks) into operational features for shared web platforms, with mentorship from senior engineers.
- Excellent spatial and visual judgement ensuring generated designs align with architectural and urban planning sensibilities beyond technical accuracy.
- Flexibility and motivation to engage across multiple domains such as design, engineering, analytics, front-end development while learning urban planning and architectural context.
Desired Attitudes
- Passionate about urban environments, architecture, and the interplay of rules, systems, and data in shaping built form.
- Enjoys working at the crossroads of design, computation, analytical methods, and tool/product development.
- Eager to learn and expand skills in GIS, procedural design software, data analysis, web frameworks, and AI/ML technologies.