Sr. Data Scientist

ecsfederal; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 175,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Everforth ECS invites a Sr. Data Scientist to join our Arlington, VA team. The role focuses on designing and optimizing intelligent search and retrieval systems, applying GenAI and RAG techniques to enterprise datasets.

You will collaborate with customers and internal teams to shape search architectures, implement embeddings and vector search, and guide best practices in LLM tooling. U.S. citizenship and an active Secret clearance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/Data Science or related field.
• Experience with Elasticsearch, vector search, and RAG.
• Strong knowledge of GenAI and large language models.
• Ability to translate business needs into AI search solutions.
• Experience with cloud data platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Willingness to travel to customer sites.
• U.S. Citizenship and active Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize intelligent search solutions.
• Apply RAG patterns to improve LLM-driven apps.
• Consult with customers to understand objectives and data.
• Build embeddings, indexing, and query workflows.
• Evaluate LLMs and GenAI capabilities for use cases.
• Collaborate with data, AI, and platform teams.
• Deliver strategic recommendations to improve search.
• Lead knowledge-sharing sessions on GenAI and RAG.
• Stay current with Elasticsearch and GenAI trends.

Skills

Elasticsearch

Vector search

RAG

GenAI

LLMs

Search relevance

Embeddings

Query optimization

Cloud platforms

Data science

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Data Science or related field

Tools

LLM tooling

ELK stack

Job description

Everforth ECS is seeking a Sr. Data Scientist to join our team in Arlington, VA. This position is contingent upon contract award.

Are you passionate about building intelligent search and retrieval systems and applying GenAI to solve real-world data challenges? Join ECS, a leading provider of cloud, AI, data, and enterprise transformation solutions. In this role, you will design and optimize next-generation search and retrieval experiences using Elasticsearch, Vector Search, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques to improve relevance, accuracy, and decision-making outcomes.

We are seeking a Data Scientist focused on Search, RAG, and GenAI to support ECS’s Professional Services. The ideal candidate enjoys working at the intersection of data science, search relevance, and large language models (LLMs), collaborating with customers and internal teams to deliver intelligent, high-impact solutions. You will play a key role in shaping search architectures, advising on best practices, and applying advanced AI techniques to enterprise-scale data sets.

This role offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge GenAI technologies while directly influencing customer success across diverse environments and use cases.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize intelligent search solutions using Elasticsearch, including lexical, semantic, and vector-based search techniques.
• Apply Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) patterns to enhance LLM-driven applications with accurate, relevant, and contextual enterprise data.
• Consult with customers to understand business objectives, data landscapes, and search challenges, translating requirements into effective AI-powered search strategies.
• Build and refine embedding strategies, indexing approaches, and query workflows to improve relevance, precision, and recall.
• Evaluate and integrate LLMs and GenAI capabilities into enterprise search and analytics use cases.
• Collaborate with data, AI, and platform teams to align GenAI solutions with existing systems and operational workflows.
• Provide strategic recommendations to improve search performance, result explainability, and overall user experience.
• Lead knowledge-sharing sessions, technical workshops, and enablement activities related to GenAI, RAG, and advanced search techniques.
• Serve as a trusted advisor for customers and internal stakeholders on emerging trends in AI-powered search and retrieval.
• Stay current with advancements in Elasticsearch, GenAI, LLM tooling, and search relevance methodologies.

Salary Range: $175,000-$205,000

General Description of Benefits

• Hands-on experience applying Elasticsearch to search, analytics, or data science use cases.
• Strong understanding of search concepts including relevance tuning, indexing strategies, and query optimization.
• Experience working with data science or AI-driven solutions in enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with large-scale data platforms and cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear guidance for customers and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel to customer sites as needed.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and have an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).