Computer Scientist - Senior

Computer Scientist - Senior

Reston, VA, United States (On-site)

Job Title: Computer Scientist - Senior

Job Code: ITS952

Location: Reston, VA

Reports to: Program Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Supervisory: No supervisory/management authority

Prepared Date: 11/6/2026

A government contract requires that this position be restricted to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. You must provide documentation that you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident to qualify.

This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with a Counterintelligence polygraph. Candidates holding an active Top Secret/SCI clearance without the polygraph may be selected; the ability to obtain the required Counterintelligence polygraph is a condition of the position and will be completed as part of the hiring process.

Position Summary:

Cherokee Strategic Edge is seeking Computer Scientists that will support Defense analytical requirements with enhanced scientific research, and contribute to the Defense Industry Enterprise’s integrated all-source analysis of foreign defense capabilities for warfighters, Defense planners, and policymakers.

Compensation & Benefits:

Starting Salary Range for Computer Scientist - Senior: $170,000 – $190,000

Benefits That Set Us Apart

When considering your next opportunity, compensation is only part of the picture. We offer a benefits package designed to invest in your future and support your life outside of work.

Highlights include:

• Up to a 6% 401(k) company match to help you build long-term financial security

• Paid time off as part of our comprehensive benefits package, so you have the flexibility to rest, recharge, and enjoy what matters most

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus prescription drug coverage

• Basic life and AD&D insurance, with supplemental life options

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

• Paid holidays

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options

• Professional development, training, and certification support

• Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, and identity theft protection

Because taking care of our employees isn’t just a promise, it’s part of who we are.

Benefits are subject to change and eligibility requirements apply.

Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities:

Includes the following:

• Employs mathematics, statics, information science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, network science, probability modeling, data mining, data engineering, data warehousing, data compression, data protection, and / or other scientific techniques to correlate complex, technical findings into graphical, written, visual and verbal narrative products on trends of existing intelligence data to leverage other IC data sources.

• Develops and utilizes machine learning and data mining algorithms, including, but not limited to, Multiple Information Model Synthesis Architecture (MIMOSA) prediction algorithms based on open source capabilities.

• Integrates or codes algorithms to support Government intelligence search and discovery missions.

• Makes best-practice recommendations on managing data within hardware, software, storage, and bandwidth constraints.

• Employs data science techniques to support predictive analysis, social media and crowd-source data analytics, wargaming, and strategy development.

• Employs exploratory analysis and rapid iteration techniques of large volumes of data to quickly derive intelligence.

• Prepares products to describe and document findings and activities.

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

No supervisory/management authority

Basic Qualifications:

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the labor category activities required to meet mission requirements.

• Demonstrates ability to communicate understanding from information that may be incomplete, indirect, highly complex, seemingly unrelated, and / or technically advanced.

• Demonstrates ability to collaborate and work with other IC members on information sharing, driving collection, and addressing analytic disputes and conflict resolution.

• Demonstrates ability to develop concise, insightful, and comprehensive products for defense intelligence.

• Demonstrates ability to guide teams in researching multifaceted or critical problems.

• Must be a US Citizen.

• This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with a Counterintelligence polygraph. Candidates holding an active Top Secret/SCI clearance without the polygraph may be selected; the ability to obtain the required Counterintelligence polygraph is a condition of the position and will be completed as part of the hiring process.

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; may occasionally require standing or moving about the office for extended periods.

• Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum of 12 years of related experience with at least a portion of the experience within the last 2 years preferred

• Master’s Degree in a related field preferred

Work Environment:

Work is performed primarily in a climate-controlled environment.