Affordability Analyst/Data Scientist

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

10d

About The Position

Are you seeking an opportunity to integrate affordability into the design of systems? Do you enjoy the challenge of interpreting and organizing data into a structured analytic framework? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL! We are seeking an Affordability Analyst/Data Scientist to help develop robust cost estimates, perform timely affordability analysis, and generate econometric models in support of DoD / US Govt. Sponsors. Significant tasks will include the collection, normalization and relation of cost and parametric data in order to generate credible and defendable cost estimates. You'll be joining a hardworking team of analysts who incorporate affordability, cost, and economic considerations into the critical solutions to the critical challenges our nation faces. As a member of our team, you will contribute to important trade space studies (Analysis of Alternatives, Business Case Analyses, Economic Analyses), Cost and Schedule Risk Assessments, affordability studies (Life Cycle Cost Estimates, Total Ownership Costs), and empiric economic modeling (Economic Statecraft, Market Forecasting, Institutional Economics). As an Affordability Analyst/Data Scientist, you will... Learn to build cost estimates integrating statistical analysis, modeling and simulation, cost databases, and expert opinion in Excel, Python, MATLAB, ACEIT, Price Trueplanning, etc. Be responsible for aggregating cost and parametric data of government projects through both structured (DAMIR, CADE, VAMOSC, USASpending.gov, OECD, BLS, BEA, USITC) and unstructured (open-source web searches, LLM prompt engineering, market research, domain expert interviews) research in order to improve upon existing or generate new and innovative cost estimating and economic empirical relationships. Contribute to studies that quantify best value assessments through affordability analysis, economic impact assessments, decision frameworks, data visualization, feasibility analysis, and sensitivity analysis. Apply statistical and econometric techniques to identify cost drivers, estimate price elasticities, evaluate uncertainty distributions, and conduct scenario-based forecasting. Collaborate with APL staff from all sectors and departments on technical studies across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace domains.

Requirements

Have a Bachelor's degree, or equivalent years of professional level experience.
Have proven experience organizing data into flexible, scalable, and reusable structures and performing comprehensive data analysis.
Possess proficiency in most foundational statistical and econometric methods (descriptive statistics, inferencing, probability theory, regression, time series forecasting).
Have knowledge of at least one statistical analysis package (R, Stata, SAS, JMP, Python, MATLAB, CO$TAT, @RISK, etc.).
Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Have a Master's degree, or Ph.D, in Economics, Operations Research, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Business Analytics, or Cost Estimating.
Have a certification related to cost analysis (DAWIA or CCEA).
Possess proficiency in advanced statistical and econometric methods (causal inference using DiD and RDD, equilibrium methods, structural models, panel data techniques).
Have domain expertise in creating data analysis dashboards through Shiny, Python, JavaScript, CSS, Visual Basic, Tableau, etc.

Responsibilities

Learn to build cost estimates integrating statistical analysis, modeling and simulation, cost databases, and expert opinion in Excel, Python, MATLAB, ACEIT, Price Trueplanning, etc.
Be responsible for aggregating cost and parametric data of government projects through both structured (DAMIR, CADE, VAMOSC, USASpending.gov, OECD, BLS, BEA, USITC) and unstructured (open-source web searches, LLM prompt engineering, market research, domain expert interviews) research in order to improve upon existing or generate new and innovative cost estimating and economic empirical relationships.
Contribute to studies that quantify best value assessments through affordability analysis, economic impact assessments, decision frameworks, data visualization, feasibility analysis, and sensitivity analysis.
Apply statistical and econometric techniques to identify cost drivers, estimate price elasticities, evaluate uncertainty distributions, and conduct scenario-based forecasting.
Collaborate with APL staff from all sectors and departments on technical studies across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace domains.