Senior Forward Deployed Data Scientist

Job Title: Forward Deployed Senior Data Scientist

Location: Arlington, VA; Pittsburgh, PA; or Remote (United States)

About The Company

Our client is a technology company focused on transforming defense acquisition through advanced software, data, and artificial intelligence. Their flagship platform supports supply chain, science and technology, production, sustainment, logistics, and modernization teams across the national security ecosystem. By combining proprietary data with cutting-edge AI capabilities, the organization enables government stakeholders to make faster, more informed decisions that strengthen national security outcomes.

The company is committed to delivering impactful technology solutions while fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and mission-driven work.

Job Summary

We are looking for a Forward Deployed Senior Data Scientist to join the AI and advanced analytics team. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning, combined with the ability to translate complex defense challenges into scalable technical solutions.

This role will involve designing and deploying AI systems, developing machine learning models, and working directly with government stakeholders to deliver mission-critical insights and capabilities.

The position requires strong technical expertise, the ability to rapidly prototype and deploy solutions, and the communication skills needed to translate advanced AI concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop AI/ML systems designed to solve complex defense and national security challenges while identifying meaningful insights from large-scale proprietary and commercial datasets.
• Design and implement new AI-driven technologies and platforms tailored to specific customer needs, enabling scalable and mission-critical analytical capabilities.
• Lead the end-to-end execution of AI initiatives, including system design, model development, deployment, and continuous improvement of AI-powered solutions.
• Collaborate closely with AI research, data engineering, and software development teams to deliver robust, production-ready AI systems integrated with client environments.
• Translate high-level AI and product requirements into clear technical architectures, implementation plans, and deployable solutions.
• Develop scalable AI platforms that support advanced analytics, machine learning models, and agentic AI systems across a range of defense applications.
• Stay current with advancements in artificial intelligence, including large language models (LLMs), agentic systems, and emerging AI technologies, and apply these innovations within production environments.
• Mentor and guide team members while fostering a culture of technical excellence, continuous learning, and rapid experimentation.
  
  

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related technical field.
• Experience: Several years of professional experience developing and deploying AI/ML systems, preferably within complex or mission-critical environments.
• Skills: Strong proficiency in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics; experience building and deploying production AI systems; expertise in large language models (LLMs), agentic systems, and AI evaluation methods; strong programming ability (commonly Python and ML frameworks); experience designing scalable AI architectures.
• Other: U.S. Citizenship required. Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for diverse audiences. Ability to travel up to 75% as required to support client engagements.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience publishing research in leading AI, machine learning, natural language processing, or decision science conferences.
• Deep expertise in evaluation frameworks for LLM and agentic systems.
• Experience with post-training or fine-tuning large language models.
• Experience implementing MLOps practices, including deploying, monitoring, and managing large-scale models in cloud environments such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Demonstrated track record of transitioning AI research prototypes into production-grade enterprise solutions.
• Prior experience supporting defense, government, or national security organizations.
  
  

Benefits

• Competitive Salary: Market competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications.
• Health and Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, holidays, and flexible work arrangements where applicable.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continued learning, training, and technical growth.
• Additional Perks: Mission-driven work, collaborative culture, and opportunities to build impactful AI solutions supporting national security.