Computational Data Scientist

ARA; Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Computational Data Scientist to join a multi-disciplinary team focused on agentic AI models and data analytics for the DoD.

The role involves building interactive visualizations, dashboards, and training materials in Jupyter environments, leveraging ML libraries, and deploying analytics tools in both unclassified and classified settings. Hybrid work is permissible and encouraged to adapt to evolving project requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 2–4 years of experience OR Master's with 0–2 years.
• Strong Python programming skills.
• US citizen with ability to obtain DoD secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Collect, curate, impute, and normalize structured and unstructured data.
• Develop visualizations and dashboards using Marimo and Jupyter notebooks.
• Build ML models with SciKit-Learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch.
• Create adult learning tools within Jupyter Book.
• Develop computer vision approaches to analyze images/video.
• Deploy ML tools for operational use and support evaluations.

Skills

Python

Jupyter

Data Visualization

ML/AI

Data Cleaning

Education

Bachelor's degree in data science/related field

Master's degree in data science/related field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

SciKit-Learn

OpenCV

Plotly

Bokeh

HoloViz

Job description

The Mission, Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Computational Data Scientist to join a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and scientists developing agentic AI models and visualization tools focused on data analytics for the Department of Defense. The ideal candidate has a passion for data science, data visualization, machine learning and artificial intelligence, analytics, and enjoys writing computer code. Representative tasks may include using Jupyter and Marimo Notebooks to create interactive training materials for weapons effects applications, building interactive visualizations and dashboards for sensor analytics, creating modern, adult learning tools for presentation and deployment within Jupyter Books, developing agentic AI tools with large language reasoning models for automating complex scientific analysis and advanced search and discovery tasks. This position will place you in a team of engineers and scientists developing a suite of software tools used by the defense community, to include interactive training materials, weapons effects modeling and simulation applications, and artificial intelligence solutions to aid research and development projects.

Hybrid work is permissible depending on the evolving project requirements.

What You'll Do

• Collect, curate, impute, and normalize structured and unstructured data
• Develop interactive visualizations and dashboards within Marimo and Jupyter notebooks to facilitate knowledge discovery and analysis using libraries such as Plotly, Bokeh, and HoloViz
• Develop machine learning algorithms and models using libraries such as SciKit-Learn, TensorFlow, and PyTorch
• Develop adult learning tools and applications within Jupyter Book
• Develop computer vision approaches to analyze images and video
• Conduct data analysis of outputs from engineering and first principles physics codes
• Deploy machine learning and analytics tools for operational use
• Support testing, evaluation, and demonstrations of software and analytics tools in unclassified and classified environments
• Take on new challenges and learn new skills to enhance algorithm and software performance in previously unanticipated ways

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in data science, computational science, computer science, mathematics, artificial intelligence, engineering, or related field with 2-4 years of experience OR Master's degree in the same fields with 0-2 years of experience
• Strong Python programming skills
• Experience with Jupyter suite (e.g., Jupyter Lab, Jupyter Notebooks, Jupyter Book)
• Hands-on experience completing projects (academic or otherwise) in data science, data visualization, machine learning, and/or data analytics
• Eagerness to learn new tools and techniques
• US citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense secret security clearance

Desired Qualifications

• Previous internship or support to the Department of Defense
• Active security clearance
• Experience developing applications for ATAK or Android with Kotlin
• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in data science, computational science, artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics, engineering, or related field
• Experience with a variety of industry standard tools for data visualization and machine learning such as OpenCV, SciKit, R, TensorFlow, etc.
• Familiarity with interactive visualizations using tools such as MatplotLib, Plotly, HoloViz, Julia, D3, and Bokeh
• Programming experience in other memory safe by default languages such as Rust and Java

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Ranges: From $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that you may bring to the position. We mostly reserve the upper half of our compensation bands for internal growth. During all call with one of our recruiters or hiring managers, they can further clarify the salary range and total compensation. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees' needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/

Company Information

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2,000 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics. At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging and innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit, sums up the ARA experience.