Senior Data Scientist

Applied Research Associates, Inc; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) seeks a Senior Data Scientist in its CAD division to support DHS mission space through data analysis, modeling, and visualization for national security projects.

You will work on a multidisciplinary team delivering analytics and software solutions in an agile environment. The position requires a US citizen with 8+ years (or 6+ with Master’s) in data science, Python/R/SQL, and experience with Tableau/Power BI; security clearance is required.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of data science experience or 6+ with a Master’s.
• “US citizen” and able to obtain DHS suitability clearance.
• Experience in Agile development practices and Jira/GitLab.
• Experience performing analysis on large datasets and ML/statistical techniques.
• Proficiency with Python, R, SQL, SAS and data visualization tools.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate teams as they process, clean, and transform structured and unstructured data.
• Support development of analytics, machine learning and statistical models, and exploratory data analysis.
• Create visualizations to identify patterns, trends, and performance indicators.
• Translate user needs into analytic tasks for the team.
• Lead the design, testing, and deployment of data and analytic workflows.
• Build and deploy scripts and tools to automate routine data tasks.
• Help prepare documentation, user guides, and training materials.
• Stay current on emerging technologies, analytic methods, and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with and potentially lead an agile team, contributing to sprint activities.

Skills

Data analysis

Visualization

Agile teamwork

Python

R

SQL

Education

Bachelor'sdegree in data science / related field

Master's degree in data science / related field

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Jira

GitLab

Job description

The Capabilities, Analysis and Development (CAD) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Data Scientist to support a multi‑disciplinary team providing data analysis and visualization support across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mission space. You will support data-driven decision making by analyzing data, developing basic models, creating visualizations, and generating actionable insights as part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering analytical and software solutions for national security missions. This role is ideal for early-career data scientists passionate about solving real operational problems and building prototypes in an agile environment.

This position is contingent upon award of a contract expected in July 2026.

Essential Functions:

• Coordinate teams as they process, clean, and transform structured and unstructured data.
• Support development of analytics, machine learning and statistical models, and exploratory data analysis.
• Create visualizations to identify patterns, trends, and performance indicators.
• Work with customers to translate user needs into analytic tasks.
• Lead the design, testing, and deployment of data and analytic workflows.
• Build and deploy scripts and tools to automate routine data tasks.
• Help prepare documentation, user guides, and training materials.
• Stay current on emerging technologies, analytic methods, and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with and potentially lead an agile team, and contribute to sprint activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, computer science, mathematics, or a related field with 8+ years’ experience, or a Master’s degree with 6+ years’ experience.
• Must be a US citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DHS Suitability clearance.
• Experience in Agile development practices and collaborative tools such as Jira and Gitlab.
• Experience in project management, coordinating with customers, and establishing scope, budget, and timelines for milestones and product releases.
• Experience performing analysis on large datasets and knowledge of machine learning tools and statistical techniques to produce solutions.
• Proficiency with common data science scripting tools and software (Python, R, SQL, SAS) and data visualization (Tableau, Qlik, Power BI) tools.
• Experience with common data packages such as pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, pytorch, and data visualization frameworks such as matplotlib, seaborn, and Plotly.
• Experience with APIs, CSV/JSON datasets, relational databases.
• Ability to write clearly and produce documentation, user guides, and training materials.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience conducting data analyses in cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, Data Bricks, Google Cloud.
• Strong experience with geospatial analyses, as well as ESRI products such as ArcGIS
• Experience in project management, coordinating with customers, and establishing scope, budget, and timelines for milestones and product releases.
• DHS Suitability

Compensation & Benefits:

Pay Ranges: From $130,00.00 - $160,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that they may bring to the position. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/

Company Information:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 1200 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, "Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit" sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.