Senior Data Scientist (Secret Clearance)

Praescient Analytics • Fairfax, VA

3d • Remote

About The Position

Praescient Analytics is seeking a highly skilled and visionary Senior Data Scientist to provide enterprise-level analytical leadership, advanced statistical modeling, and machine learning oversight for the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) and Enterprise Information Technology (EIT) application development suites. In this role, you will define the overarching predictive analytics vision, establish rigorous machine learning workflows, and conceptualize advanced statistical models optimized for a secure cloud environment. Working without supervision on highly complex initiatives, you will lead the evolution of traditional reporting into modern, highly scalable, and secure predictive models within an AWS GovCloud environment. You will collaborate closely with principal data architects, data engineers, chief data officers, and federal program stakeholders, exercising wide latitude for independent judgment to ensure our nation's background investigation analytics frameworks are resilient, secure, and compliant with zero-trust mandates.

Requirements

• Active U.S. Secret clearance is required.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen to meet federal contract mandates.
• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field with 10–12 years of relevant data science and machine learning experience OR Master’s degree in a related field with 8–10 years of relevant experience OR PhD in a related field with 5–7 years of relevant experience.
• Deep, extensive proficiency in advanced statistical methods (regression analysis, forecasting, causal inference) and machine learning algorithms (supervised/unsupervised learning, ensemble methods, deep learning, NLP).
• Mastery of Python (including PyData stack: Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-Learn, SciPy) and advanced SQL (complex joins, window functions, analytical queries) for handling multi-million row datasets.
• Comprehensive experience designing and deploying scalable ML models and analytics pipelines within AWS and AWS GovCloud, specifically utilizing SageMaker, Redshift, Glue, EMR, Athena, S3, and DynamoDB.
• Expert-level knowledge of extracting and manipulating data from enterprise-grade relational databases (Oracle, PostgreSQL), NoSQL engines, and massive parallel processing (MPP) data warehouses.
• Expert proficiency with Git, Jira, Confluence, and MLOps principles within an automated DevSecOps environment to manage model versioning and deployment pipelines.
• Proven ability to work without supervision on highly complex, mission-critical projects, exercising wide latitude for independent judgment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to articulate complex mathematical and analytical visions to both engineering teams and senior federal stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• An active Top Secret (TS) clearance.
• Prior experience providing enterprise data science oversight or technical leadership directly on Department of Defense (DoD), DCSA, or NBIS programs.
• Advanced expertise in federal data compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST, HIPAA), responsible AI principles, and automated data encryption at rest and in transit within machine learning workflows.

Responsibilities

• Advanced Statistical Analysis & Modeling: Formulate, experiment with, and articulate alternative statistical frameworks. Apply rigorous experimental design, hypothesis testing, and statistical analysis to massive federal datasets, validating results against strict requirements and security assumptions.
• Machine Learning Engineering & Vision: Design, build, and deploy end-to-end machine learning pipelines (including predictive modeling, anomaly detection, and NLP), aligning model development life cycles with the Agile SAFe v6.0 roadmap.
• Scalable Analytics & Cloud Optimization: Author the scripts and frameworks for modernizing legacy analytics systems into highly distributed, cloud-native processing and intelligence solutions specifically optimized for AWS GovCloud.
• Data Exploration & Advanced Querying: Establish standardized methodologies for data extraction, manipulation, and feature engineering across enterprise-grade relational and non-relational datastores. Maintain strict data integrity and reproducible research practices.
• High-Throughput Integration Strategy: Partner with data engineers to design and integrate ML models directly into high-volume, low-latency batch and stream processing pipelines (e.g., Kafka, Spark) that effortlessly bridge application and analytics tiers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the principal data science advisor across the entire program. Work with software engineers, data architects, and customer application experts to evaluate technical trade-offs and drive advanced analytics capabilities.
• Agile Requirements Optimization: Leverage Jira, Confluence, and SAFe processes to translate high-level mission capabilities and agency mandates into foundational analytical epics, technical features, and modeling roadmaps.

Benefits

• Very competitive salary based on qualifications and experience
• Comprehensive, Company paid healthcare for you (We pay your premiums and deductibles)
• 401(k) with company match
• Travel & performance incentives
• 3 weeks paid time off (plus Federal Holidays)
• $5K annual training allowance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior