Data Scientist

Citizenship and Immigration Services•Camp Springs, MD

About The Position

As a Data Scientist with USCIS, you will gather and analyze facts, determine data accuracy, use current software functionality, and research ways to improve production and work-product quality. This is a Pathways Recent Graduates Program position that includes formal and on-the-job training. The role supports the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS), which works to strengthen national security and the integrity of the legal immigration system by identifying potential threats, detecting and deterring fraud, and coordinating information sharing with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The position involves collecting specialized data from restricted and readily available sources, creating and improving visualization products, analyzing and validating complex datasets, and developing frameworks to evaluate algorithmic analysis. The appointment is a one-year developmental program in the excepted service. At its successful conclusion, USCIS may, at its discretion, non-competitively convert the participant to a term or permanent position in the competitive service; conversion is not guaranteed.

Requirements

Be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
Successfully pass a background investigation, including financial disclosure, and pass a drug screening.
Meet the stated residency requirement if not currently employed by USCIS: for three of the five years immediately before applying, have resided in the United States, worked overseas as a U.S. Government employee in a Federal or Military capacity, or been a dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas.
Meet the basic education requirement: a major field of study at least at the baccalaureate level in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science, or a directly related field; alternatively, 30 semester hours equivalent to a major field of study plus additional education or appropriate experience.
Meet the Recent Graduates Program eligibility requirement by obtaining a qualifying degree, vocational degree, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years, subject to the stated extended eligibility for qualifying veterans.
For GS-07 through experience, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05, including most of the following: assisting with data collection, cleaning, and organization; supporting statistical analysis using software under supervision; preparing visualizations and reports; and using a programming language such as Python, R, or SQL for routine data manipulation and analysis.
For GS-07, qualifying alternatives to experience include one year of full-time graduate education demonstrating the necessary skills, or superior academic achievement in a bachelor's degree as specified in the announcement.
For GS-09 through experience, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07, including most of the following: data preparation, cleaning, and exploratory analysis; applying statistical and analytical techniques to support data models and generate insights; creating visualizations and reports for technical and non-technical audiences; and writing and executing Python, R, or SQL scripts to automate processing and analysis.
For GS-09, a qualifying alternative to experience is two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree, demonstrating the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Submit the required transcript or coursework documentation supporting the basic education requirement; transcripts must include the applicant's name and educational institution, and degree verification documentation must include the conferral date.
Submit a resume of no more than two pages with the required work-history details and upload it under the Resume category.
Sign the Pathways Program Participant Agreement.
Meet the qualifications by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 11/02/2026.

Responsibilities

Assist in prioritizing and collecting specialized data sets from restricted and readily available sources to create visualization products, such as dashboards.
Create, refine, and modify data visualization products, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and relevance of insights.
Analyze, validate, and interpret complex datasets using statistical software, with a focus on data quality and methodological rigor.
Design and implement validation frameworks for algorithmic analysis, assessing performance and reducing errors in data-matching processes.
Propose and apply enhancements to statistical methodologies and reporting to improve data integrity and analytical accuracy.
Respond to data requests from leadership and other staff by providing analytical support and actionable insights.