Data Scientist Lead

ECS Federal is hiring a Data Scientist Lead to support the USCENTCOM Operations Directorate (J3). The role leads data professionals and oversees data engineering, analytics, data science, and AI/ML initiatives that translate mission needs into operational capabilities and support military decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive leadership and oversight for the data engineering, analytics, and predictive analytics team, ensuring all services align with strategic operational objectives
• Lead the development and implementation of advanced analytics, statistical model development, data governance, and the integration of innovative technologies to inform operational decisions
• Apply advanced machine learning and AI techniques, including unsupervised, supervised, reinforcement learning, and generative AI (e.g., Large Language Models, multi-modal AI), to identify patterns and generate mission-critical insights
• Oversee the development, deployment, and maintenance of high-quality, fault-tolerant data pipelines to clean, tag, and ingest structured and unstructured data into data lakes and lakehouses
• Direct the data science lifecycle, from exploration and algorithm development to statistical validation and solution operationalization, ensuring deployed capabilities meet mission requirements
• Coordinate with the USCENTCOM Chief Data Officer (CDO), the Operations Directorate Executive Data Officer (XDO), and participate in relevant forums to interpret mission needs and define operational data requirements
• Serve as the senior technical advisor for the team, guiding the use of query languages (SQL), programming languages (Python, R), and analytics platforms to enable data-driven decisions
• Translate highly technical information and findings into clear, actionable insights for a broad, non-technical operational audience and senior leadership
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment

Skills

• This role requires a demonstratable history of designing, developing, and operationalizing advanced analytical solutions within Military, Federal, or Intelligence organizations
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Active Top Secret clearance and SCI eligibility
• BA/BS or MA/MS in Data Science, Analytics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
• More than 10 years of relevant work experience, with significant experience leading data science or analytics teams
• Demonstrated experience capturing, implementing, and managing data science requirements for senior Military, Federal Government, or Intelligence Community stakeholders
• Proven expertise in applying advanced AI/ML techniques and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn) to solve complex problems
• Highly proficient in Python and/or R for data engineering, automation, and model development
• Experience with data engineering concepts, including building and maintaining data pipelines (ETL/ELT), data warehousing, and data lake/lakehouse architectures
• Familiarity with data visualization and analytics platforms such as Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, or Palantir Foundry / Maven Smart System (MSS)
• Experience with data storage and processing tools (e.g., Apache Spark, Databricks, Hadoop) and databases (e.g., TSQL, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience briefing senior leaders

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