Senior Data Scientist (Public Trust) with Security Clearance

Location: Bethesda, MD (Hybrid) Clearance: Public Trust (Role may require additional background investigations) Employment Type: Full-Time US Citizenship is Required Position Overview: Praescient Analytics is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist for support on a major federal data and analytics modernization program. This role leads the design, development, evaluation, and operationalization of advanced statistical, machine learning, and AI-driven analytics that directly support mission-critical decision-making in a regulated government environment. The Senior Data Scientist plays a central role in advancing predictive analytics, real-time hazard detection, semantic analysis, and AI-enabled insight generation, working across large-scale structured and unstructured datasets. This position supports the federal client’s transition to a cloud-native, open-source analytics ecosystem and contributes directly to improving speed, accuracy, and effectiveness of mission outcomes. Key Responsibilities Design, develop, and deploy advanced statistical, machine learning, and AI models to support predictive analytics, anomaly detection, classification, regression, and clustering. Apply supervised and unsupervised learning techniques, including NLP and semantic analysis, to extract insights from structured and unstructured data sources. Conduct rigorous model evaluation using metrics such as precision, recall, F1-score, AUC, and other performance and fairness indicators. Assess model robustness, bias, explainability, and suitability for use in high-impact decision-making environments. Perform advanced exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify patterns, anomalies, and relationships across diverse datasets. Develop compelling data stories that communicate complex analytical results to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Create dashboards, visualizations, and analytic products using Power BI or equivalent tools to support decision-making and executive briefings. Work closely with data engineers, AI/ML engineers, analysts, architects, and Agile project managers in an iterative delivery environment. Contribute to Agile ceremonies, backlog refinement, sprint planning, and retrospectives. Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to shared analytical standards and best practices. Required Qualifications: Experience Minimum of 8+ years of hands-on experience developing advanced statistical and AI/ML models in production or mission-critical environments. Demonstrated experience building predictive, classification, NLP, and anomaly detection models. Proven ability to work with large, complex, and diverse datasets. Technical Skills Strong proficiency in Python, including libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, and deep learning frameworks (PyTorch and/or TensorFlow). Experience using SQL for data extraction, transformation, and analysis. Hands-on experience in cloud-based analytics environments, preferably Microsoft Azure. Experience developing dashboards and analytic visualizations (Power BI or equivalent). Familiarity with Git-based version control and collaborative development workflows. Communication & Leadership Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to translate complex analytical concepts into clear, decision-ready insights. Proven ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional and Agile teams. Clearance: Minimum of a Public Trust (U.S. Citizenship is Required) Preferred Qualifications Master’s or Ph.D. in Data Science, Machine Learning, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience. Experience supporting federal, public-sector, or regulated environments. Familiarity with responsible AI frameworks, model governance, and ethical AI principles. Experience working with real-time or near-real-time analytics pipelines. Azure certifications (Data Scientist, AI Engineer, or related) are a plus. What you can expect from us: Real opportunity for career growth in an environment where your achievements will be celebrated Constant collaboration with numerous teams to ensure client success A team that respects and embraces your ideas and expertise Coworkers that are motivated by pursuing excellence, rather than the prospect of personal gain A workplace dedicated to supporting and bettering public safety and government agencies 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