Principal / Sr. Principal Data Scientist – Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 108,200 - 162,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Discretionary bonuses

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is looking for an experienced Principal or Senior Principal Data Scientist to join our team in Melbourne, FL. This full-time position requires strong skills in Machine Learning and software development, with a focus on delivering robust data science solutions. The role demands collaboration with software engineers and analysts, and a thorough understanding of Python and SQL.

Applicants must be eligible for Top Secret clearance and be able to optimize complex algorithms in a fast-paced environment. Benefits include health insurance, paid time off, and competitive salary ranging from $108,200 to $202,600 annually.

Qualifications

• 5+ years for Principal, 8+ years for Senior Principal experience required.
• Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
• Strong programming skills in Python and SQL.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineers and analysts to meet data requirements.
• Develop custom data science solutions.
• Maintain tests and documentation for data architecture.

Skills

Machine Learning

Deep Learning

Python

SQL

CI/CD pipelines

Git

Docker

Education

Bachelor of Science in Data Science or related field

Master of Science in Data Science or related field

PhD/Doctorate in Data Science or related field

Tools

Numpy

Pandas

SKLearn

PyTorch

Job description

Relocation assistance may be available.

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes, CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret, TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time.

Northrop Grumman is seeking an experienced Principal or Senior Principal Data Scientist to join our team in Melbourne, FL. This position is required full-time, in-office, with no option for remote or hybrid work arrangements.

Essential Functions

• Collaborate closely with software engineers, analysts, and other data scientists to understand data requirements and deliver robust, integrated solutions.
• Architect and develop custom, maintainable data science solutions from the ground up.
• Write and maintain tests and documentation for data architecture, workflows, and processes.
• Champion software engineering best practices within the data domain—including comprehensive unit and integration testing, CI/CD automation (Git, Docker), and robust documentation.
• Tune and optimize complex algorithms within our on‑premise infrastructure.

Qualifications

Principal Data Scientist

• Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related field, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, OR Master of Science degree with 3 years of relevant experience.
• Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
• Recent professional experience in software development and/or data engineering.
• Strong programming skills in Python and SQL.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (e.g., Git, Docker).
• Your ability to transfer and maintain the final adjudicated government Top Secret clearance, and any program access (es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company.
• Active In Scope Top Secret Clearance required to start.

Senior Principal Data Scientist

• Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related field, with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, OR Master of Science degree with 6 years of relevant experience, OR PhD/Doctorate degree with 4 years of relevant experience.
• Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
• Recent professional experience in software development and/or data engineering.
• Strong programming skills in Python and SQL.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (e.g., Git, Docker).
• Your ability to transfer and maintain the final adjudicated government Top Secret clearance, and any program access (es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company.
• Active In Scope Top Secret Clearance required to start.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Data Science or related discipline.
• 7 years of experience in software development.
• Experience with C/C++.
• Experience with machine learning pipelines and data science workflows.
• Familiarity with SQL Alchemy, Numpy, Pandas, SKLearn, PyTorch.
• Ability to troubleshoot and optimize complex data queries and workflows.
• Familiarity with big data concepts, machine learning pipelines, and MLOps.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize across the entire data stack.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.

Benefits and Compensation

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,200.00 – $162,400.00.
Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,000.00 – $202,600.00.

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a range of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate’s experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonuses in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses reward individual contributions and allow employees to share in company results. Executive positions may be eligible for long‑term incentives. Additional benefits include health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and paid time off for vacation or personal business.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.