Required skills Strong mathematics / statistics (regression, distributions, normalization, variance, shrinkage, model validation) Solid Python engineering (pandas/numpy, clean architecture, testing, reproducibility) Experience with sports/racing analytics or time-series/competition modelling Ability to explain assumptions and tradeoffs clearly Nice to have Prior work with horse racing specifically (pace, sectionals, speed maps, track bias, class ratings) Bayesian modelling, Elo-style ratings, survival/hazard models Experience scraping/cleaning messy sports data