Data Scientist

Responsibilities & Qualifications

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Data Scientist will focus on designing, curating, and evaluating high-quality datasets and metrics that drive model performance, fairness, and reliability in secure, agentic AI systems. Core responsibilities include:

• Design, curate, and maintain large-scale datasets for model training, validation, and simulation — including overhead imagery and multi-modal intelligence data.
• Generate synthetic data to address data gaps, class imbalance, and rare-event scenarios, using data augmentation, simulation frameworks, and generative models.
• Establish data versioning, lineage, and metadata standards in alignment with NGA CORE environment requirements.
• Develop and operationalize quantitative metrics for data drift, concept drift, and model bias/fairness across demographic, spatial, and temporal dimensions.
• Build automated pipelines to monitor data/model drift over time and trigger alerts or retraining workflows.
• Design scorecards and dashboards visualizing key metrics for stakeholders, supporting model governance and development processes.
• Simulate rare, mission-critical events to evaluate model robustness under low-probability/high-impact conditions.
• Develop evaluation datasets and synthetic test suites to stress-test agentic workflows and validate reliability thresholds.
• Collaborate with AI/ML engineers to feed simulation results into model tuning, retraining, and orchestration strategies.
• Work with engineer and analyst teams to provide curated datasets, fairness/drift assessments, and data-driven insights to guide model deployment and refinement.
• Support generation of explainability artifacts (feature importance, confidence scores, model cards) to meet compliance and transparency requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility
• Hands-on experience (3+ years) in applied data science and ML workflows.
• Proficiency in Python and core data/ML libraries (pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch).
• Experience curating datasets, building automated data quality pipelines, and developing statistical/ML-based metrics.
• Solid understanding of data drift, bias/fairness evaluation, and responsible AI practices.
• Ability to design controlled experiments and analyze large, high-dimensional datasets.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with:
  • Geospatial or imagery data and NGA analytical tradecraft.
  • NGA CORE environment or similar secure government cloud platforms.
• Familiarity with agentic AI environments, simulation-based testing, and closed-loop model validation frameworks.

Overview

We are seeking a Data Scientist to support National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Artificial Intelligence (AI) efforts. This data scientist will play an important role helping to create technical solutions for multiple AI challenges.

TekSynap is a fast-growing high-tech company that understands both the pace of technology today and the need to have a comprehensive well planned information management environment. “Technology moving at the speed of thought” embodies these principles – the need to nimbly utilize the best that information technology offers to meet the business needs of our Federal Government customers.

We offer our full-time employees a competitive benefits package to include health, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability plans, vacation time and holidays.

Visit us at www.TekSynap.com. 

Apply now to explore jobs with us!  

The safety and health of our employees is of the utmost importance. Employees are required to comply with any contractually mandated Federal COVID-19 requirements. 

By applying to a role at TekSynap you are providing consent to receive text messages regarding your interview and employment status.  If at any time you would like to opt out of text messaging, respond "STOP." As part of the application process, you agree that TekSynap Corporation may retain and use your name, e-mail, and contact information for purposes related to employment consideration.

Additional Job Information

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Location: Reston, VA and/or remote. Occasional travel within the National Capital Region (NCR)
• Type of environment: Varies
• Noise level: Low
• Work schedule: “Normal work hours” constitute on average 8 hours a day, 40 hours per week (excluding breaks and meal periods) within standard operational hours occurring 0600-1800, Monday-Friday, excluding Federal holidays. May be requested to work evenings and weekends to meet program and contract needs.
• Amount of Travel: 10%

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to handle, feel, touch; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift up to 25 pounds; and up to 50 pounds. The vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK AUTHORIZATION/SECURITY CLEARANCE

U.S Citizenship

Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility

OTHER INFORMATION

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

TekSynap is a drug-free workplace. We reserve the right to conduct drug testing in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. All employees and candidates may be subject to drug screening if deemed necessary to ensure a safe and compliant working environment.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. TekSynap does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as “protected status”). This nondiscrimination policy extends to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment as well as the use of all company facilities, participation in all company-sponsored activities, and all employment actions such as promotions, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. 

TekSynap is committed to ensuring that our online application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an application, please contact [email protected] for assistance.