Data Scientist (Direct Hire)

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA’s senior Data Scientist position in Washington, DC, serves as a technical authority guiding agency data and analytic systems. You will lead the design and deployment of advanced statistical and machine learning models, establish standards for data quality and model validation, and architect analytic environments to support mission priorities.

You will oversee ML operations, governance, and data stewardship across enterprise data systems, ensuring reproducibility and security while advising

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in designing and deploying statistical or ML models and enterprise data pipelines.
• Establishing organization-wide standards for data quality, model validation, and technical documentation.
• Developing MLOps practices including deployment, monitoring, and governance across environments.

Responsibilities

• Define agency standards and reference architectures for data and AI engineering solutions.
• Lead the design and deployment of statistical or ML models and enterprise data pipelines.
• Establish ML operations practices, including deployment, monitoring, and risk controls.
• Direct implementation of AI governance, privacy protections, and access controls for enterprise data systems.
• Architect analytic environments and guide data lineage, documentation, and environment transitions.
• Oversee integration of statistical and ML methods into operational systems for reproducibility and security.
• Set and oversee data quality, model validation, and documentation standards and monitor compliance.
• Lead metadata, catalog stewardship, including tagging, classification, lineage, and certification processes.

Skills

Advanced modeling & ML

Data pipelines

Governance & compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in math, stats, CS, or data science

Education/experience equivalent combination

Job description

As a senior Data Scientist, you serve as a technical authority guiding agency data and analytic systems. You lead the design and deployment of advanced statistical and machine learning models, establish standards for data quality and model validation, architect analytic environments, and advise leadership on data and analytic strategy to support mission priorities.

As a senior Data Scientist, you serve as a technical authority guiding agency data and analytic systems. You lead the design and deployment of advanced statistical and machine learning models, establish standards for data quality and model validation, architect analytic environments, and advise leadership on data and analytic strategy to support mission priorities.

Duties

• Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Define agency standards and reference architectures for data and artificial intelligence engineering solutions.
• Lead the design, define agency standards and reference architectures for data and artificial intelligence engineering solutions.
• Establish machine learning operations practices, including model packaging, deployment, monitoring, and risk controls.
• Direct implementation of artificial intelligence governance, privacy protections, and access controls for enterprise data systems.
• Architect analytic environments and data designs and guide lineage, documentation, and environment transition practices.
• Oversee integration of statistical and machine learning methods into operational systems to ensure reproducibility and security.
• Set and oversee data quality, model validation, and documentation standards and monitor organizational compliance.
• Lead metadata, catalog stewardship, including tagging, classification, lineage, and certification processes.

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Requirements

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• To be considered for employment, you must submit your complete application by 11:59 PM ET on August 27, 2026.

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Qualifications

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:

• Leading the design and deployment of statistical or machine learning models and enterprise data pipelines that support mission or program decisions.
• Establishing organization-wide standards for data quality, model validation, and technical documentation and overseeing adherence to those standards.
• Developing and implementing machine learning operations practices, including model deployment, monitoring, and governance across multiple environments.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process.

Education

Basic Requirement: You must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree with a major in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position.

OR

Have a combination of education and experience equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) equivalent to one of the majors shown above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

U.S. degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
• Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents.'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/.

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.