BigBear.ai, Inc.

Data Scientist, Lead

BigBear.ai, Inc.$125K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Active Top Secret security clearance required
  • Bachelor's Degree with 8-10 years experience; Master's with 6-8 years; or PhD with 3-5 years
  • 3-5 years delivering scoring or decision-support models
  • Experience with interpretable scoring methods
  • Strong Python skills including scikit-learn
  • Hands-on SQL experience for data analysis
  • Ability to communicate complex scoring logic to diverse stakeholders

Responsibilities

  • Build and tune rule-weighted composite scoring logic
  • Define scoring framework components and handle data complexities
  • Create interpretable explanations suitable for adjudicator review
  • Design architecture to support transition to ML models while ensuring auditability
  • Prototype and evaluate interpretable model classes and methods
  • Work with data engineers to make scoring logic production-ready
  • Establish validation and monitoring protocols
  • Document methodology and compliance artifacts for stakeholders

Benefits

  • Fully remote position with required travel in the DMV area
  • Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development
  • Collaborative work environment with data engineers and application teams
  • Potential to influence scoring and decision-support methodologies
  • Access to cutting-edge data science tools and technologies
Full Job Description
Residency

All applicants must currently reside in the United States.

Overview

The Data Scientist designs and builds the v1 rule-weighted composite scoring logic that turns normalized risk signals into a transparent, defensible score. This role also prepares the scoring approach and model architecture for future interpretable ML-based scoring-ensuring explainability is preserved for adjudicator-facing workflows and audit needs. The ideal candidate blends practical applied data science with strong judgment around interpretability, traceability, and operational usability.

This position is fully remote, however travel in the DMV area will be expected.

What you will do

  • Build and tune v1 rule-weighted composite scoring logic using normalized inputs from the common risk-signal schema.
  • Define scoring framework components (feature groupings, weights, thresholds, guardrails, and handling of missing/partial data).
  • Create interpretable explanations for scores and drivers suitable for adjudicator review (reason codes, key contributing signals, and traceable logic).
  • Design the scoring architecture to support evolution from rules/weights to interpretable ML models while maintaining auditability.
  • Prototype and evaluate interpretable model classes and explanation methods (e.g., SHAP-based explanations, constrained/monotonic models where appropriate, and rule-based hybrids).
  • Partner with data engineering and application teams to productionize scoring logic (data inputs, contracts, output formats, and performance expectations).
  • Establish validation and monitoring approaches (basic model/score QA, drift indicators, and score distribution checks).
  • Document scoring methodology, assumptions, and limitations for stakeholder understanding and accreditation/compliance artifacts as needed.

What you need to have

  • Clearance: Must maintain an active Top Secret security clearance
  • Bachelor's Degree and 8 to 10 years of experience; Master's Degree and 6 to 8 years of experience; PhD and 3 to 5 years of experience (in lieu of Bachelor's degree, 6 additional years of relevant experience)
  • 3-5 years of applied data science experience delivering scoring, ranking, or decision-support models.
  • Experience implementing interpretable approaches (rule-based systems, transparent composite scores, and/or explainability methods such as SHAP).
  • Strong Python skills, including scikit-learn and common data science workflows.
  • Hands-on experience with SQL for data analysis, feature development, and validation.
  • Ability to communicate scoring logic clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders (including explaining tradeoffs between accuracy and interpretability).
  • Familiarity with adjudicative, compliance, fraud/risk, or other risk-scoring domains (preferred/bonus).
  • IC/DoD experience

Tools & Technical Environment

  • Python (scikit-learn, SHAP)
  • Neptune
  • Jupyter
  • SQL
  • AWS SageMaker
  • Lambda
  • Glue

What we'd like you to have

  • Explainability-first mindset: prioritizes transparency, traceability, and defensibility.
  • Analytical rigor: validates assumptions, tests edge cases, and avoids "black-box" shortcuts.
  • Collaboration: works effectively with data engineers and application teams to ensure scoring is usable and production-ready.
  • Documentation discipline: produces clear, auditable artifacts that describe logic, drivers, and limitations.

Pay transparency

Please note the targeted compensation range is provided as an estimate, and any actual compensation offer may vary depending on the needs of the company, or an applicant's skillset, competencies, experience, education, certifications, location, or other factors. The estimated range does not include thalue of any benefits offered.

About BigBear.ai, Inc.

BigBear.ai is a leading provider of artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions that enable businesses to make better decisions by automating and augmenting their data analysis capabilities. The company's platform leverages advanced algorithms and data analytics tools to help organizations extract insights from large and complex data sets, and to develop predictive models that can be used to optimize business processes and improve operational efficiency. BigBear.ai's solutions are used by a wide range of industries, including defense, intelligence, finance, healthcare, and energy.
Learn more about BigBear.ai, Inc.
Size
200 employees
Market Cap
$90.6 million
Industry

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