Data Scientist (TS/SCI)

Vantor Inc.; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Mental health resources

Student loan repayment

Adoption reimbursement

Pet insurance

Job summary

Vantor is seeking a Data Scientist to join a cross-functional team supporting national defense missions in Herndon, VA. You will transform complex data into actionable intelligence, build predictive models, and contribute to end-to-end data science workflows on a mission-focused project.

Applicants must have an active TS/SCI clearance with CI poly and be a U.S. citizen. On-site work in Herndon is required; remote work is not offered at this time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 4+ years of equivalent experience in a data-related field.
• Proficient in Python and SQL with hands-on ML libraries.
• Experience with full-cycle data projects and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Data preparation and feature engineering
• Statistical modeling and predictive analytics
• Deep learning and time-series analysis
• Model validation and explainable AI
• Automate data workflows with Python, SQL, and ETL tools
• Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, and mission partners

Skills

Python

SQL

Data manipulation

Feature engineering

scikit-learn

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Automation tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, engineering, statistics, GIS, or related discipline

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Cloud services

ETL tools

Job description

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what's happening now and shape what's coming next. Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters-where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can: Shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world.

To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Citizen. This position requires an active U.S. Government security clearance, applicants who do not currently hold the required clearance will not be eligible for consideration. Employment for cleared roles is contingent upon verification of clearance status.

Export Control/ITAR: Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Please review the job details below.

This position requires an active U.S. Government Security Clearance at the TS/SCI level with CI polygraph.

Project: The team will design, develop, validate, and demonstrate an integrated analytical capability supporting pattern recognition, anomaly detection, predictive analytics, agent-based modeling (ABM) or equivalent, and decision support in a Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance (UTS) environment. The effort will enhance Joint Force survivability by enhancing the characterization of the UTS threat and providing a mission-agnostic risk-management tool for commanders and operators to utilize across the spectrum of conflict. The enterprise will leverage this analysis and these tools to increase isolated personnel (IP) survivability by enhancing evasion training, planning, and execution, while bolstering force protection for PR task forces.

The Data Scientist will be part of a cross-functional, highly technical team addressing difficult analytical problems supporting a high-value, national defense mission. Success depends on the development of accurate, scalable, and mission-tailored data solutions that enable timely and informed decision-making. The work directly impacts national security objectives by transforming complex data into actionable intelligence in a highly specialized and sensitive domain. A strong mission focus is essential, and experience with the Personnel Recovery mission is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Data preparation
• Feature engineering
• Statistical modeling
• Predictive analytics
• Deep learning
• Time-series analysis
• Model validation
• Explainable AI
• Performance benchmarking
• Technical documentation
• Automate and maintain data extraction, cleaning, processing, and analysis workflows using Python, SQL, and ETL tools under established best practices.
• Process and analyze structured and unstructured datasets using big data or cloud-native frameworks (e.g., Spark, Hadoop, or managed cloud services).
• Develop, test, and evaluate predictive models and statistical analyses to support mission-focused use cases.
• Contribute to end-to-end data science and data engineering workflows, from data preparation and feature engineering through model development and results delivery, with guidance from senior team members as needed.
• Write clear, well-structured documentation of methods, assumptions, and results; assist with briefings or presentations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Support the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) within existing systems and workflows.
• Collaborate closely with data scientists, engineers, analysts, and mission partners to refine requirements and iterate on solutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• US Citizen and must have an active TS/SCI clearance, with ability to obtain CI Poly.
• 6 years of professional experience in data science, analytics, or data engineering roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, engineering, statistics, GIS, or related discipline. Degree may be substituted with an additional 4 years of experience.
• Strong coding proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Hands‑on experience with data manipulation, feature engineering, machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit‑learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow), and automation tools.
• Experience contributing to full-cycle data projects, including data preparation, modeling, validation, and reporting.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts and analytical results in writing and verbally.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment, taking direction and feedback while owning assigned technical tasks.
• Must be able to work on-site in Herndon, Va, as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in data science, computer science, statistics, engineering, or a related technical field.
• A strong background in statistics and graph analytics.

Pay Transparency: To support pay transparency, Vantor includes salary ranges in all U.S. job postings. Starting pay for this role will fall within the listed range and will be based on factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, location, and market conditions. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role should not expect to receive compensation at the top of the range. The listed range reflects the expected pay for this position, and final offers will be determined based on each candidate's experience, expertise, and alignment with the role.

* The base pay for this position within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $116,000.00 - $154,000.00 - $169,400.00 annually.

The date of posting can be found on Vantor's Career page at the top of each job posting.

Benefits

Vantor offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond the standard, including:

• robust 401(k) with company match
• mental health resources
• student loan repayment assistance
• adoption reimbursement
• pet insurance
• Learn more about benefits at https://www.Vantor.com/careers

EEO Policy: Vantor is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. We believe in fostering an environment where all team members feel respected, valued, and encouraged to share their ideas. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.