Senior Data Scientist/Engineer

Agile Defense, Inc.; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Referral bonus $2,000

Job summary

Agile Defense, Inc. seeks a Senior Data Scientist/Engineer to design, develop, and deploy advanced data-science models within a secure on-site program in Chantilly, VA.

You will work with cyber SMEs, data engineers, and analysts to deliver a next-generation analytics tool leveraging NLP, entity extraction, and generative AI to accelerate decision making in a highly classified environment. You will translate complex requirements into scalable algorithms, drive data-ingestion tasks, and refine

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field.
• 4–8 years of hands-on data-science experience including algorithm development and model deployment.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end NLP and entity-extraction model development for cyber data.
• Prototype and integrate generative AI to automate insight generation.
• Assist with data-engineering tasks including parsing raw logs and feature preparation.
• Collaborate with cyber SMEs to define data-quality standards and validation criteria.
• Translate user stories into technical specs and test plans.
• Implement, document, and maintain Python code for reproducible workflows.
• Conduct model evaluations and iterate for accuracy and scalability.
• Present findings and demos to stakeholders and incorporate feedback.

Skills

Python data-science stack

NLP techniques

Entity extraction

Generative AI frameworks

Machine learning

Data engineering fundamentals

Technical communication

Cyber/security datasets

Education

Bachelor's degree in Data Science/CS/Math

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka

Plotly/D3.js

Job description

At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That’s why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.

Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation's most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility—leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation’s vital interests.

Requisition #: 1355

Job Title: Senior Data Scientist/Engineer

Location: Chantilly, VA

Clearance Level: Active DoD -TS/SCI FSP

Non-Employee Referral Bonus Eligible: $2,000

SUMMARY

You will join a secure, on-site intelligence data-analysis initiative focused on empowering end users to rapidly sift through vast cyber datasets and surface actionable insights. Working alongside cyber subject-matter experts, data engineers, and analysts, the program delivers a next-generation analytics tool that combines natural language processing, entity extraction, and generative AI to accelerate decision making in a highly classified environment.

As a Senior Data Scientist, you will design, develop, and deploy advanced data-science models and workflows within a cross-functional team. You will translate complex requirements into scalable algorithms, collaborate on data-ingestion and parsing tasks, and iteratively refine prototypes to meet end-user needs. Your work will directly inform the core analytics capabilities of the program’s user interface.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the end-to-end development of NLP and entity-extraction models tailored for cyber data.
• Prototype and integrate generative AI solutions to automate insight generation.
• Assist with data-engineering tasks, including parsing raw logs and preparing feature sets.
• Collaborate with cyber SMEs to define data-quality standards and validation criteria.
• Translate user stories and requirements into technical specifications and test plans.
• Implement, document, and maintain Python code for reproducible data-science workflows.
• Conduct model performance evaluations and iterate to improve accuracy and scalability.
• Present findings and demos to stakeholders, incorporating feedback into subsequent sprints.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Clearance

• Active U.S. security clearance at TS/SCI with Full Scope Poly

Education, Background, and Years of Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field.
• 4–8 years of hands-on data-science experience, including algorithm development and model deployment in production environments.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Required Skills

• Strong proficiency in Python and its data-science ecosystem (pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch/TensorFlow).
• Expertise in NLP techniques (e.g., tokenization, named-entity recognition, embedding models).
• Proven ability to implement entity-extraction pipelines.
• Familiarity with generative AI frameworks and experience with machine learning.
• Experience with data-engineering fundamentals (ETL, data cleansing, feature engineering).
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to distill complex concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience working with cyber or security-related datasets.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with big-data platforms (Spark, Hadoop) and stream processing (Kafka).
• Familiarity with cloud-based intelligence-community environments (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government).
• Knowledge of containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Hands-on experience with data-visualization tools (e.g., Plotly, D3.js ).

WORKING CONDITIONS

Environmental Conditions

• Full-time, on-site at a secure government facility.
• Standard business hours with occasional requirements for extended support during demos or deployments.
• Strict adherence to all security protocols, policies, and data-handling procedures.

. On-site parking.

Strength Demands

• Sedentary – 10 lbs. Maximum lifting, occasional lift/carry of small articles. Some occasional walking or standing may be required. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Physical Requirements

• Stand or Sit; Walk; Repetitive Motion; Use Hands / Fingers to Handle or Feel; See; Push or Pull; Climb (stairs, ladders) or Balance (ascend / descend, work atop, traverse).

Our Core Values

• Happy - Be Infectious.
• Helpful - Be Supportive.
• Honest - Be Trustworthy.
• Humble - Be Grounded.
• Hungry - Be Eager.
• Hustle - Be Driven.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.