Senior Data Scientist

Location: Washington, DC

Department: 57635812 - AFS Decision Analytics

You Are:

We are seeking a Senior Data Scientist to drive data-driven decision-making and operational excellence across our organization. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in building and validating analytical models using large, structured datasets, with a proven track record of improving business and operational outcomes through data-driven insights and model-based recommendations. This role requires the ability to partner effectively with data and software engineers, as well with design and product owners, to deploy and support production-ready solutions that scale in enterprise environments.

The Work:

You will work on high-volume, high-visibility products under the Department of Education, including the Student Aid Digital Experience and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs, where your contributions will directly impact millions of students and borrowers nationwide. You will be responsible for translating complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights that drive strategic decisions across both technical and non-technical stakeholder groups. Excellence in communicating technical concepts to diverse audiences—from engineering teams to executive leadership—is essential for this role.

You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where data quality, model reliability, and business impact are paramount. This position offers the opportunity to lead high-impact projects, mentor junior team members, and shape the data science strategy for critical business operations.

Here's What You Need:

• Bachelor's Degree or 10+ years of industry experience
• Experience with technical skills in statistical analysis, feature engineering, and model evaluation, with hands-on experience across modern data platforms and analytics tools including Databricks, Google Analytics, Salesforce, Splunk, and Dynatrace.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within technology-driven federal organizations and/or leading organizations leveraging AI analytic systems (e.g. machine learning, big data analysis), with demonstration of exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills
• Hands-on experience with one or more of the following: establishing, building or contributing to complex data science programs
• Federal experience with specialization in a specific agency or sector demonstrating knowledge of federal data systems, tooling, and use cases

Bonus Points If:

• Masters’ degree or higher in Data Science, Computer Science, IT Systems, or a related technical or quantitative field
• Federal experience with specialization in a specific agency or sector demonstrating knowledge of federal data systems, tooling, and use cases
• Strong communications skills with background executing writing, briefings, presentations and trainings to senior government officials or equivalent
• Commitment to delivering tangible outcomes for customers and stakeholders
• Excellent people management and relationship development skills

The Extras:

• US Citizenship Required