Senior Data Scientist

maxar; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Vantor is seeking a Senior Data Scientist who thrives on big data and delivering data-centric solutions that drive customer impact. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who can independently identify analytical needs, develop scalable solutions, and clearly communicate insights to stakeholders.

This role requires both technical depth and the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with CI polygraph is required.
• 10+ years of experience in data science or analytics.
• Strong communication and ability to present complex findings.

Responsibilities

• Automate and optimize data extraction, cleaning, processing, and analysis tasks.
• Analyze large-scale structured and unstructured data using big data frameworks.
• End-to-end data science workflows from hypothesis to insights.
• Mentor junior data scientists and collaborate with engineering to productionize models.
• Incorporate LLMs and graph technologies to enable knowledge management and decision support.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data analysis

Data science

Education

Master's degree in data science, computer science, engineering, statistics, GIS, or related discipline

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Cloud platforms

LLMs

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.

Vantor is seeking a Senior Data Scientist who thrives on working with big data and delivering data-centric solutions that drive customer impact. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who can independently identify analytical needs, develop scalable solutions, and clearly communicate insights to stakeholders. This role requires both technical depth and the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

This project supports a hard and deeply buried target mission set, providing critical analytic insights to government stakeholders. 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.

Responsibilities:

• This position is fulltime on- site in Reston, VA.
• Automate and optimize data extraction, cleaning, processing, and analysis tasks using scripting languages and ETL pipelines.
• Process and analyze large-scale, structured and unstructured datasets using big data frameworks (e.g., Spark, Hadoop, or cloud-native equivalents).
• Independently conduct end-to-end data science/engineering workflows with minimal supervision, from hypothesis generation to delivery of actionable insights.
• Explore opportunities to combine graph technologies, machine learning, generative AI, and large language models to create new analytical capabilities.
• Clearly document methodologies and findings in formal written reports and present outcomes to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Design, fine-tune, and implement Large Language Models (LLMs) into workflows to support knowledge management systems, including:
  • Development of LLM-driven tools to automate summarization, tagging, and retrieval of internal data, reports, and documentation.
  • Integration of LLMs into workflows to streamline knowledge capture, institutional memory, and information sharing.
  • Deployment of LLM-based internal assistants to support decision-making and reduce redundant effort.
• Translate ambiguous business or customer problems into well-defined analytical approaches, experiments, and measurable outcomes.
• Present findings and recommendations through clear visualizations, reports, and presentations.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to best practices in data science and analytics.
• Partner with engineering teams to operationalize machine learning models in production.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current/active TS/SCI security clearance and be willing and able to obtain CI polygraph.
• 10 years of experience in data science, analytics, or a related technical field.
• Master 's degree in data science, computer science, engineering, statistics, GIS, or related discipline. Degree can be substituted with an additional 2 years of experience.
• Proficient in Python, SQL, and tools/libraries for data analysis, machine learning, and automation.
• Demonstrated ability to independently conduct full-cycle data projects, from processing to reporting.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to explain complex findings clearly.
• Familiarity with foundational LLM/NLP concepts and experience applying pre-trained models (e.g., GPT) for internal automation or data summarization.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and produce logically structured, actionable insights.
• Ability to c ollaborate with business stakeholders to define analytical requirements and deliver data-driven solutions.
• Demonstrated experience deploying graph databases or graph-based applications into production environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in advanced statistical and machine learning techniques, including NLP and unsupervised learning.
• Experience developing or fine-tuning LLMs and integrating them into knowledge sys