Data Scientist (Open Continuous)

US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 77,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

The NGA in St. Louis, MO seeks data scientists to apply advanced statistical and machine learning methods to national defense data. This open continuous job announcement builds a qualified pool for future staffing needs.

Responsibilities include probabilistic modeling, data analysis of GEOINT datasets, collaboration with analysts, and developing actionable insights for mission partners. Requires US citizenship and security clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Experience with exploratory data analysis on large datasets.
• Ability to clean, transform, and enrich data for modeling.
• Experience reporting insights to non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply probabilistic modeling, AI/ML, and CV methods to large data.
• Analyze imagery, ML outputs, and GEOINT datasets for insights.
• Collaborate with analysts and data professionals on teams.
• Conduct data analysis across multiple systems.
• Model GEOINT mission data to support decisions.
• Work with mission partners on data needs.
• Provide complex solutions across deployed systems.
• Integrate new data into existing workflows.

Skills

Structured/unstructured data analysis

Data science programming (Python/R/SQL

Communication of technical methods

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mathematics/Statistics/Data Science/CS/Geospatial or related field with stats coursework

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Tableau

matplotlib

Job description

Data Scientists at the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) apply advanced mathematical, statistical, and scientific methods to convert national defense and intelligence questions into actionable insights. This open continuous announcement is designed to build a qualified applicant pool for future staffing needs.

Role Overview

This Open Continuous Job Announcement is used to establish a pool of qualified candidates. There is no immediate opening, and applications are reviewed when staffing needs arise. Multiple selections and placements may occur as positions become available across agency allocation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply methods such as probabilistic modeling, AI/ML, and computer vision to identify, collect, process, and analyze large volumes of data to support actionable outcomes.
• Analyze data that may include imagery holdings, machine learning outputs, computer vision results, and other GEOINT mission datasets.
• Collaborate on teams integrated with analysts and other data professionals.
• Conduct data analysis across different systems.
• Model GEOINT mission data.
• Work with mission partners on their data needs.
• Provide complex solutions across deployed systems.
• Integrate new data into workflows already in use.

Summary of Duties

• Translate complex national defense and intelligence questions and business problems into actionable insights using advanced mathematical, statistical, and scientific techniques.
• Support mission areas that may include business analytics, model development offices, and GEOINT mission and data.

Job Information

• Location: St. Louis, MO (onsite). Additional locations listed include Springfield, VA (1 vacancy).
• Telework eligible: No.
• Relocation expenses reimbursed: No.
• Salary: USD 76,573 - 158,322 per year.
• Pay scale & grade: IA 03.
• Promotion potential: 3.
• Work schedule: Full-time.
• Travel required: Not required.
• Appointment type: Permanent (Excepted Service).
• Occupations and job series: 1560 Data Science Series.
• Supervisory status: No.
• Drug test: Yes.
• Security clearance: Sensitive Compartmented Information.
• Announcement number: 20270055.
• Control number: 889388700.

Eligibility and How to Apply

This position is open to the public, including U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or individuals who owe allegiance to the U.S. External applicants only per agency clarification.

Required Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing is required.
• Security investigation is required.
• Applicants must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.
• Direct Deposit is required.
• Trial period: NGA will evaluate your fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest.

Security and Ongoing Eligibility

• Ability to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI.
• Retaining access requires a counterintelligence polygraph examination.
• Employees are subject to periodic random examinations to determine continued eligibility.
• Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.
• Employees with SCI access and under NGA cognizance must submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report (SF-714) annually.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience using structured or unstructured data for exploratory data analysis, classification, regression, and/or other statistical analysis.
• Experience analyzing, interpreting, and reporting on big data sets.Demonstrated experience cleaning, filtering, transforming, and/or enriching data.
• Demonstrated experience manipulating data using a programming language such as Python, R, SQL, or similar.
• Education requirement: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Mathematics, Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Geographic Information Science, Information Science, Informatics and Computing, or a related field that included at least 6 semester hours in statistics and 9 additional semester hours in scientific or technical coursework such as engineering, medicine, physical, biological, or social sciences.
• OR combination of education and experience: Minimum of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) equivalent to a major field of study in the listed areas, plus experience that included programming for data science (for example, Python, R) and a full range of professional statistical work.

Desirable Qualification Criteria

• Ability to communicate technical methods and solutions to non-technical audiences verbally or in writing.
• Experience collaborating with experts in other fields to analyze and respond to customer requirements.
• Experience applying analytic techniques such as classification, regression, clustering, data reduction, or causal modeling to solve data problems.
• Demonstrated expertise with one or more visualization techniques and/or tools, such as Tableau or matplotlib.

Technologies

• Python
• R
• SQL
• Tableau
• matplotlib

Evaluation Process

• Applicants will be evaluated based on how well they meet the qualifications.
• Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter, though a cover letter is recommended.
• Process: (1) evaluated using Mandatory Qualification Criteria, (2) qualified applicants reviewed by an expert or panel using a combination of qualification criteria to determine best-qualified candidates, (3) best-qualified candidates may be further evaluated through an interview process.

Recruitment Incentive

This position may be eligible for a RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE. Selected candidates may be offered an incentive if they are eligible under 5 CFR Part 575, Subpart A, upon issuance of the Final Offer Letter. To receive the incentive, selected candidates must sign a service agreement to remain within NGA for the agreed time; if the service agreement is terminated early, the employee may be required to repay a pro rata share amount to the government.