Principal Data Scientist New Washington DC

Rackner, Inc.; Virginia (MN); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative consultancy is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead a talented team in delivering cutting-edge solutions in Big Data Analytics and AI. This pivotal role involves collaborating with clients to define their needs and ensuring the team has the expertise and resources to tackle complex challenges. With a focus on driving growth in AI and ML services, you'll mentor talent and oversee enterprise-level initiatives from ideation to deployment. Join a forward-thinking organization where your contributions will shape the future of data-driven services and make a significant impact across diverse industries.

Benefits

401(k) with 100% company match

Highly competitive Paid Time Off

Life Insurance

Short- & Long-Term Disability coverage

Weekly pay schedule

Home office reimbursement

Fitness/Gym membership eligibility

Employee swag and snacks

Company events

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in data science or related field.
• Expertise in statistical modeling and machine learning.
• Strong programming skills in Python and R.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing team of data scientists and engineers.
• Develop and oversee enterprise-scale data science initiatives.
• Collaborate with clients to translate requirements into solutions.

Skills

Statistical Modeling

Machine Learning Algorithms

AI Techniques

Python Programming

R Programming

Data Analysis

Data Science

Project Management

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in Statistics

Master’s or Ph.D. in Mathematics

Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science

Master’s or Ph.D. in Data Science

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Hadoop

Spark

AWS Services

MLOps Tools

Job description

Title: Principal Data Scientist
Location: Remote
Clearance: Public Trust Eligibility

Who We Are

Rackner is a fast-growing software consultancy specializing in cloud-native solutions for startups, enterprises, and the public sector. We are passionate about solving complex problems through cutting-edge technologies, focusing on application development, DevSecOps, AI/ML, and systems architecture. Our innovation-first, cloud-first approach empowers organizations across a diverse range of industries.

Position Overview

Rackner is seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Data Scientistto lead our talented and dynamic team.
In this senior leadership role, you will combine technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership capabilities to collaborate with senior stakeholders. Your focus will be to understand and define client needs in Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML).
You will ensure our Data Science team has the skills, tools, and resources to solve complex challenges, while playing a pivotal role in Rackner’s growth in AI, ML, and data-driven services.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a high-performing team of data scientists, ML engineers, solution architects, and data engineers
• Collaborate directly with clients to gather requirements and translate them into innovative solutions
• Develop and oversee enterprise-scale data science initiatives from ideation to deployment
• Drive adoption of best practices in statistical modeling, ML, AI development, and MLOps
• Act as a thought leader, guiding Rackner’s strategic growth in AI/ML service areas
• Mentor and develop talent across the organization, fostering innovation and continuous learning
• Manage development, testing, and production environments for the CDRH Analytics Platform
• Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines for software and ML model deployment
• Ensure scalability, reliability, and performance of large-scale regulatory document processing systems
• Implement monitoring and alerting systems for platform performance and model drift
• Collaborate with FDA IT teams to ensure security and regulatory compliance
• Support management and planning initiatives for data science and AI projects

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field
• 12+ years of experience in data science or a closely related field
• 8+ years designing and delivering enterprise-level data science solutions
• 5+ years managing technical teams of 10+ members

Technical Proficiency

• Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and AI techniques
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or R; experience with pandas, NumPy, etc.
• Hands-on experience with TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn
• Deep knowledge of big data technologies (Hadoop, Spark) and data warehousing solutions
• Strong experience working with AWS services (Athena, S3, Glue, SageMaker, Comprehend)
• Familiarity with MLOps tools (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow) and cloud-native deployment

Project Management Expertise

• Proven ability to manage large, complex projects in dynamic environments
• Practical experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies and project management tools

Leadership and Soft Skills

• Strong ability to mentor, motivate, and lead high-performing teams
• Exceptional communication skills with technical and executive audiences
• Strategic thinker with excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting health-related organizations (e.g., FDA, CMS, NIH, CDC, VA, Defense Health Agency)
• Familiarity with workflow management tools (Kanban, Scrum)
• Understanding of data challenges and regulations in the federal healthcare sector

Additional Information / Benefits

Rackner invests in employee development and success. Our benefits include:

• 401(k) with 100% company match up to 6%
• Highly competitive Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Life Insurance and Short- & Long-Term Disability coverage
• Industry-leading weekly pay schedule
• Home office and equipment reimbursement plan
• Fitness/Gym membership eligibility
• Employee swag, snacks, and company events

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

First Name *

Last Name *

Preferred First Name

Email *

Phone *

Resume/CV *

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

School * Select...

Degree * Select...

Select...

Select...

Start date year *

End date month * Select...

End date year *

LinkedIn Profile

What is your work authorization status or Visa Status? *

Will you now or in the future require any sponsorship such as H1B, etc? * Select...

Will you be able to obtain a Public Trust? * Select...

What is your desired salary range? *

Do you have a Master’s or Ph.D. in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field? *

Do you have 12+ years of experience in data science or a closely related field? *

Do you have experience supporting health-related organizations (e.g., FDA, CMS, NIH, CDC, VA, Defense Health Agency)? *

Do you have 8+ years of experience designing and delivering enterprise-level data science solutions? *

Do you have 5+ years of experience managing technical teams of 10+ members? *

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Rackner’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 04/30/2026

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

Disability Status Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.