Data Scientist Specialist

US Office of the Inspector General, USPS; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

USPS Office of the Inspector General in Arlington, VA seeks a Data Scientist Specialist to support the Research and Insights Solution Center (RISC) Directorate’s Strategic Foresight & Oversight team onsite. You will develop analytical products mixing qualitative and quantitative methods, applying AI and advanced analytics to emerging risks.

The role emphasizes building scalable models, transforming data into actionable intelligence for auditors and investigators, and communicating complex

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum 2 years of specialized experience with query language (e.g., SQL), programming languages (e.g., Python), business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI), and analytics platforms (e.g., Databricks).
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13, including handling large structured and unstructured data sets and building analytics tools using Python and Databricks.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain/maintain Moderate Background Investigation clearance.

Responsibilities

• Independently and collaboratively extract, manipulate, and validate data for varied projects.
• Research, interpret, and visualize data to produce actionable intelligence for auditors and investigators.
• Advise on automation to improve program operations.
• Design experiments and build scalable models using data science, ML, and AI methods.
• Translate complex technical findings into clear narratives for non-technical audiences.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

SQL

Python

Power BI

Databricks

Job description

The USPS Office of the Inspector General (USPS OIG) seeks a Data Scientist Specialist to support the Research and Insights Solution Center (RISC) Directorate’s Strategic Foresight & Oversight (SFO) team in Arlington, Virginia (onsite). In this role, you will develop analytical products that combine qualitative and quantitative methods to support audit and investigative work, including AI and advanced analytics for emerging risks.

Salary range is USD 143,913 to 187,093 per year. This position requires a U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Moderate Background Investigation security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Independently and collaboratively use data extraction, manipulation, and aggregation techniques to prepare, clean, normalize, and validate data for varied projects.
• Research, extract, evaluate, interpret, and visualize data to produce actionable intelligence for auditors and investigators focused on detecting, preventing, and responding to fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Advise on potential uses of automation to improve the efficiency of program operations.
• Design experiments, test hypotheses, and build scalable models using data science and artificial intelligence methods (including machine learning).
• Design, develop, and adapt mathematical, statistical, econometric, and other analytical solutions for audit, investigation, and research support functions.
• Lead AI activities including natural language processing, predictive analytics, and machine learning model development, training, evaluation, testing, refinement, deployment, and maintenance.
• Translate complex technical findings into clear narratives for non-technical audiences.
• Prepare comprehensive documentation, including requirements, test plans, user manuals, technical diagrams, and training materials.
• Develop project communications and maintain effective working relationships among project teams, stakeholders, and management.
• Provide advice on project issues affecting data access, quality, and storage.
• Contribute to and present training and conference materials to large audiences.
• Collect and analyze data from multiple sources to identify trends, descriptive statistics, and other insights.
• Use expert knowledge to identify and develop information sources across structured and unstructured data, criminal intelligence databases, public sources, internal Postal Service databases, reference manuals, and audit and law enforcement reports.
• Use relational databases, data lakes, data lake houses, and other data environments to produce analytic outputs such as business intelligence tools, summary tables, comparison graphs, and temporal, association, and link analysis charts.
• Interact with other agencies and build peer relationships to share information and learn new analytical tools and techniques.
• Develop substantial knowledge of database applications and environments and share expertise to support agency goals and objectives.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to pass a drug screening
• Must be able to pass a background investigation
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Moderate Background Investigation security clearance
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a government-issued credit card
• May be required to successfully complete a 12-month probationary period
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2 years of specialized experience with query language (e.g., SQL), programming languages (e.g., Python), business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI), and analytics platforms (e.g., Databricks)
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13, including organizing and analyzing large structured and unstructured data sets with data analytics tools; developing and implementing data collection and analysis tools using programming languages and environments (e.g., Python, Databricks); and using Python and analytics software to develop complex analytics, predictive modeling, and AI solutions

Technologies

• SQL, Python, Power BI, Databricks
• Machine learning, natural language processing, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence
• Relational databases, data lakes, data lake houses
• Cloud computing platforms (Azure)

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Mastery and application of advanced data mining and AI principles, concepts, methods, standards, and practices to develop related products and interpret and implement related policies, procedures, and governance strategies
• Advanced experience using Python and analytics software to develop complex analytics and AI solutions
• Experience planning, conducting, and leading complex analytical projects
• Experience defining problems, assessing alternatives, and recommending solutions for complex data and analysis issues
• Extensive experience ingesting, transforming, analyzing, and visualizing large, disparate data sets
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex business and technical information

Required Documents

• Resume (must not exceed two (2) pages)
• Complete Occupational Questionnaire (use the “Submit My Answers” button)
• Supporting documents (may include certificates or licenses, Veterans Preference documentation, and SF-50 if applicable)

Application deadline: 11/12/2026 by 11:59 PM EST (Vacancy Announcement EX-27-13B-13097577-PC).

Additional Information

• This agency provides Reasonable Accommodations to applicants with disabilities. For accommodations during the application and/or hiring process, email [e-mail].
• In interviews, applicants may not use any AI tool or virtual assistant to help answer questions, except for accessibility tools used as part of a reasonable accommodation.

Agency contact: [e-mail]
AIG Research Insight Solution Center, 1735 North Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209