DATA ANALYST/SCIENTIST

Zel Technologies LLC; Virginia Beach (VA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401k immediate vesting with company

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Account

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Bonuses for performance

Job summary

Zel Technologies is seeking an AI Specialist in Virginia Beach to support development, deployment, and maintenance of AI solutions that enhance municipal operations. The role focuses on applying AI technologies to solve operational challenges and enable data‑driven decision making across city departments.

The ideal candidate has 2–5+ years of AI/ML experience, strong Python/SQL skills, and a commitment to ethical, responsible AI use in the public sector.

Qualifications

• Must be a US citizen.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field; OR 4 or more years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree
• 2–5+ years of experience in AI/ML development, data science, or advanced analytics.
• Proficiency with Python, SQL, and AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit‑learn).
• Experience with data modeling, feature engineering, and model evaluation techniques.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with responsible AI principles and data‑governance practices.
• Successful background and drug screening.

Responsibilities

• AI Solution Development & Implementation: Design, develop, and deploy AI models, tools, and applications that support city operations.
• Data Analysis & Feature Engineering: Analyze datasets to identify trends and opportunities; prepare, clean, and transform data for model training.
• AI Operations & Support: Monitor AI systems in production, retrain models as needed, and provide training to staff.

Skills

Python

SQL

AI/ML development

Data modeling

Feature engineering

Model evaluation

Communication with stakeholders

Responsible AI

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Job description

* This position is eligible for a $500 ZelTech Non-Employee Referral fee. Contact ZelTech Recruiters for questions concerning this matter. *

Join Our Talent Community to Stay Connected!*This position is contingent upon contract award*

Work Location: Virginia Beach, VA (Onsite or Hybrid depending on department policy)

Job Summary

The City of Virginia Beach is seeking a skilled and forward‑thinking AI Specialist to support the development, deployment, and maintenance of artificial intelligence solutions that enhance municipal operations and public‑service delivery. This role focuses on applying AI technologies—such as machine learning, natural language processing, predictive analytics, and intelligent automation—to solve operational challenges, improve efficiency, and support data‑driven decision‑making across city departments.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with a commitment to ethical, transparent, and responsible AI use in the public sector.

Responsibilities

AI Solution Development & Implementation

• Design, develop, and deploy AI models, tools, and applications that support city operations.
• Build machine learning pipelines, NLP models, and predictive analytics solutions using structured and unstructured data.
• Support the integration of AI capabilities into existing enterprise systems, workflows, and cloud platforms.
• Conduct model testing, validation, and performance tuning to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Data Analysis & Feature Engineering

• Analyze datasets to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for AI‑enabled improvements.
• Prepare, clean, and transform data for model training and evaluation.
• Collaborate with data owners to ensure data quality, accessibility, and compliance with city policies.

AI Operations & Support

• Monitor AI systems in production, retrain models as needed, and maintain documentation for transparency and auditability.
• Troubleshoot AI‑related issues and coordinate resolution with IT teams and vendors.
• Provide technical support and training to staff using AI tools and applications.

Requirements

• Must be a US citizen.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field; OR 4 or more years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree
• 2–5+ years of experience in AI/ML development, data science, or advanced analytics.
• Proficiency with Python, SQL, and AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit‑learn).
• Experience with data modeling, feature engineering, and model evaluation techniques.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with responsible AI principles and data‑governance practices.
• Successful background and drug screening.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience working in local government, public‑sector IT, or civic‑tech environments.
• Knowledge of municipal operations, public‑service workflows, or government data systems.
• Experience with cloud‑based AI services (Azure AI, AWS AI, Google Cloud AI).
• Familiarity with workflow automation, RPA tools, or AI‑enabled service platforms.
• Certifications in AI/ML, data engineering, cloud technologies, or analytics.

Core Competencies

• Analytical and Critical Thinking.
• Technical Problem Solving.
• Ethical and Responsible AI Awareness.

Physical Demands or Work Environment

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The majority of the time is spent in an office setting.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance, vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

About ZelTech

Founded in 1988 by Ret. Col. Jack L. Ezzell Jr., Zel Technologies is a trusted leader in national security, providing comprehensive research, development, engineering, and operational support to the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and federal agencies. Originally focused on leveraging operational and software expertise to improve time‑critical targeting capabilities for the military, the company advanced its capabilities to provide scientific and HUMINT expertise for CBRNE collection and analysis. In the wake of 9/11, Zel Technologies rapidly expanded its capabilities to provide turnkey ISR support services to US Special Operations Forces (SOF), as well as advanced technical & operational intelligence, physical & data science, and engineering support services to the greater Intelligence and SOF Communities supporting global counterterrorism and CWMD operations.

Today, Zel Technologies remains at the forefront of intelligence missions, advancing CWMD and global counterterrorism efforts, while also addressing emerging threats posed by near‑peer adversaries. Our team remains committed to delivering adaptive, innovative, and cost‑effective solutions across multiple domains, in alignment with the mission priorities of the U.S. Government and its partner nations.

Our Mission

Through our commitment to innovation and quality, our skilled teams deliver robust, technology driven solutions and insights that empower our customers to overcome complex challenges and achieve their mission objectives.

Our Workforce

ZelTech team members represent a wide range of backgrounds, skills, experience, and personalities bound together by common objectives and mutual respect. You will join a caring community of professionals, including many military veterans who challenge and support each other in seeking the right solutions to important matters.

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401k immediate vesting with company match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account with company contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bonuses for performance
• Educational assistance and special training programs
• Voluntary benefits (accidental, critical illness, whole life)
• Group life insurance (Company paid)
• Short‑term and Long‑term Disability Insurance (Company paid)
• Paid Time Off (PTO), Holiday Leave, Jury Duty, and Military Leave
• Health and fitness reimbursement
• Employee discounts on various services and products

ZelTech is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, military status, genetic predisposition, or any other basis protected by law.