Data Scientist (SME)

Footbridge Federal; Centreville (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Footbridge Federal is seeking a skilled NLP/ML specialist to develop and optimize models for text classification, semantic search, and topic modeling. You will design preprocessing pipelines, select Python libraries, and establish performance metrics across ML systems.

The role requires strong experience with PyTorch or TensorFlow, HuggingFace, and SQL, plus hands-on GPU-accelerated training and deployment.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph (FSP) clearance.
• Strong proficiency with Python NLP libraries (SpaCy, Gensim, NLTK) and HuggingFace Transformers.
• Hands-on experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Keras, including encoder–decoder and generative models.
• Experience building text classification and topic models with Scikit-learn.
• Advanced SQL proficiency with CTEs, subqueries, set operations, aggregations.

Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and evaluate ML models for text classification, semantic search, and topic modeling.
• Design data preprocessing workflows and choose Python libraries for text tasks.
• Establish metrics and frameworks to measure model and system performance.
• Leverage GPUs to optimize training and deployment of DL models.
• Manage code repos and deployment pipelines using standard version control.

Skills

NLP libraries (SpaCy / Gensim / NLTK)

HuggingFace Transformers

PyTorch / TensorFlow / Keras

Text classification

Topic modeling

SQL (CTEs, subqueries, aggregations)

GitHub / Jenkins / GPU computing

Tools

GitHub

Jenkins

GPU-accelerated computing

Job description

• Develop, train, and evaluate machine learning models for text classification, semantic search, and topic modeling.
• Design data preprocessing workflows and select optimal Python libraries for diverse text-processing tasks.
• Establish practical metrics and frameworks to measure and track model and system performance.
• Leverage GPU-accelerated computing to optimize the training and deployment of deep learning models.
• Manage code repositories and deployment pipelines using standard version control systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Clearance: Active TS/SCI with a Full Scope Polygraph (FSP).
• NLP & ML Frameworks: Strong proficiency with Python NLP libraries (such as Spacy, Gensim, or NLTK) and the HuggingFace Transformers library.
• Deep Learning: Hands-on experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Keras, including encoder-decoder and generative language models.
• Core Machine Learning: Experience building text classification and topic models using Scikit-learn.
• Data & Querying: Advanced SQL proficiency, including the use of common table expressions (CTEs), nested subqueries, set operations, and aggregations.
• Tools & Infrastructure: Experience with GitHub, Jenkins, and GPU-accelerated computing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience writing Python scripts to interface with web APIs and relational databases.
• Familiarity with cloud-based development and architecture.
• Experience building lightweight web applications using frameworks like Flask.
• Experience fine-tuning Large Language Models (LLMs) on domain-specific datasets.
• Proficiency in developing interactive dashboards and data visualizations using Tableau.

Required Skills

• Clearance: Active TS/SCI with a Full Scope Polygraph (FSP).
• NLP & ML Frameworks: Strong proficiency with Python NLP libraries (such as Spacy, Gensim, or NLTK) and the HuggingFace Transformers library.
• Deep Learning: Hands-on experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Keras, including encoder-decoder and generative language models.
• Core Machine Learning: Experience building text classification and topic models using Scikit-learn.
• Data & Querying: Advanced SQL proficiency, including the use of common table expressions (CTEs), nested subqueries, set operations, and aggregations.
• Tools & Infrastructure: Experience with GitHub, Jenkins, and GPU-accelerated computing.

Preferred Skills

• Experience writing Python scripts to interface with web APIs and relational databases.
• Familiarity with cloud-based development and architecture.
• Experience building lightweight web applications using frameworks like Flask.
• Experience fine-tuning Large Language Models (LLMs) on domain-specific datasets.
• Proficiency in developing interactive dashboards and data visualizations using Tableau.

Security Clearance

• Level: TS/SCI
• Health and Financial Foundation — Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability coverage, and flexible spending accounts are described in the benefits page.
• Time Away and Flexibility Where Mission Permits — PTO, holidays, sick time, military leave, and flexible arrangements are supported where program and security requirements allow.
• Professional Development — The site references certification support, training, conferences, mentorship, internal mobility, and individual development planning.

About Footbridge

Mission

Footbridge Federal delivers engineering, cyber, mission IT, analytics, and cleared program support for defense, intelligence, federal civilian, homeland security, and research missions.

Culture

Mission Context Matters

Candidates should expect work tied to defense, intelligence, federal civilian, homeland, and research missions rather than generic commercial delivery.

Small-Team Accountability

The culture copy emphasizes ownership, communication, and practical execution across teams that work close to customers and program outcomes.

Growth With Technical Credibility

Career content supports hands-on technical growth, certifications, internal mobility, and program leadership without forcing one career track.

Benefits & why work here

• Health and Financial Foundation: Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability coverage, and flexible spending accounts are described in the benefits page.
• Time Away and Flexibility Where Mission Permits: PTO, holidays, sick time, military leave, and flexible arrangements are supported where program and security requirements allow.
• Professional Development: The site references certification support, training, conferences, mentorship, internal mobility, and individual development planning.