Lead Data Scientist

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Department Summary:

MITRE’s Data Science department is looking for qualified applicants to bring their advanced data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and applied research skills to bear on solving problems of critical national importance. MITRE’s diverse work program provides opportunities to apply your expertise and creative thinking in challenging domains such as national security, intelligence, transportation, and healthcare. Employees may also participate in MITRE’s internal research and development program, which provides funding for innovative applied research that addresses our sponsors’ hardest problems.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The successful candidate is a Data Scientist with a strong theoretical and technical foundation and the ability to frame problems, develop and evaluate solutions, and communicate results effectively. Our organization values innovation, staying current with relevant research and technologies, and the practical application of emerging methods and tools. Candidates should have hands-on experience in several of the following areas relevant to this role:

• Machine Learning and Model Evaluation (e.g., supervised, unsupervised, deep learning)
• Statistical Analysis and Exploratory Data Analysis (e.g., descriptive statistics, regression, visualization)
• Computer Programming and Databases – Proficiency in Python and SQL required; experience with NoSQL or graph databases preferred
• Large Language Models and AI-Assisted Workflows
• Natural Language Processing (e.g., summarization, classification, entity recognition, topic modeling)
• Anomaly Detection
• Graph Analytics (e.g. centrality, similarity, link prediction)
• Big Data Analysis (e.g., distributed data processing tools)
• MLOps and Environments (e.g. cloud platforms, Linux, version control)

Expectations for the successful candidate for this position are as follows:

• Leads functional teams or complex projects with moderate resource requirements, risks, or complexities; Develops strategies and objectives and leads others to execute them.
• Works independently, with guidance needed only in highly complex situations.
• Identifies and leads others to solve complex problems; Uses sophisticated analytical thought to exercise judgement and identify innovative applications; May develop and recommend solutions to novel or atypical problems within the Artificial Intelligence discipline.
• Applies extensive in-depth conceptual, practical, and technical knowledge within the Data Science discipline and transfers that knowledge to others.
• Communicates complex concepts clearly and simply and persuades others to adopt a different point of view.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, or related field with 8 years of relevant experience.
• Hands-on proficiency with advanced Data Science techniques, including Machine Learning (e.g., supervised, unsupervised, deep learning, reinforcement learning), anomaly detection, statistical analysis, and/or analysis of very large datasets.
• Computer programming skills (e.g., Python, R, C/C++, Java, Scala, Julia, Rust, MATLAB).
• Must be a U.S. citizen with ability to possess and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, or related field with 6 years of relevant experience; PhD in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, or related field with 3 years of relevant experience.
• Possess an active U.S. Government security clearance.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

None

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