Job Description:Parsons is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to support our cutting-edge Drone Armor counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) program. This role provides professional scientific data engineering and data science, requiring the application of data and engineering sciences, mathematics, and electronic phenomena to design, implement, and optimize data-centric capabilities. The Senior Data Scientist will focus on software coding, data interoperability, cloud technology, data mesh, and data tagging to enable advanced analytics, decision-support, and mission effectiveness.
What You'll Be DoingData Science, Analytics & Modeling- Design and implement data science workflows and analytics to support C-UAS detection, tracking, classification, and decision-support
- Develop and apply statistical, machine learning, and optimization techniques to extract insight from multi-source sensor, RF, telemetry, and operational data
- Build, evaluate, and refine models for anomaly detection, threat assessment, and system performance prediction in real-time or near-real-time environments
- Translate mission and system requirements into data-driven approaches, metrics, and analytic products consumable by operators, engineers, and leadership
Data Engineering, Interoperability & Data Mesh- Design and implement data pipelines for ingestion, transformation, enrichment, and distribution of data across a data mesh architecture
- Engineer data interoperability solutions across heterogeneous systems, sensors, and platforms, using common data models, schemas, and open standards where appropriate
- Collaborate on the design and implementation of a data mesh or data fabric for Drone Armor, enabling discoverable, shareable, and governed data products across teams and systems
- Ensure data solutions are robust, secure, maintainable, and aligned with program architecture, performance, and interoperability standards
Cloud Technology & Data Platforms- Architect and implement data pipelines, storage, and analytics capabilities in cloud or hybrid environments (e.g., commercial, tactical, or private cloud)
- Leverage cloud-native services and technologies for scalable data processing, streaming, and model deployment
- Optimize data and analytics workloads for resilience, performance, and cost within cloud-based infrastructures
- Integrate on-premise, edge, and cloud components into cohesive end-to-end data and analytics solutions for mission operations
Data Tagging, Governance & Quality- Design and implement data tagging strategies (e.g., metadata, security labels, lineage tags) to support discoverability, access control, and policy compliance
- Define and enforce data quality metrics, validation rules, and monitoring to ensure the reliability of analytics and downstream decision-making
- Work with stakeholders to establish data governance practices, including data cataloging, classification, and lifecycle management
- Support the creation of well-documented, reusable data products and datasets within the data mesh
Collaboration, Visualization & Communication- Work closely with systems engineers, RF engineers, software developers, and operators to understand mission needs and translate them into data and analytics requirements
- Develop visualizations, dashboards, and analytic reports that clearly communicate complex findings to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Mentor junior data scientists and data engineers, providing technical guidance on methods, tools, and best practices
- Contribute to technical reviews, design walkthroughs, and continuous improvement of data science and data engineering practices
What Required Skills You'll BringEducation- Master's degree in Computer Science, Electronics Engineering, or other engineering or technical discipline is required
OR - 8 years of relevant experience in data science, data engineering, or related fields may be substituted for education
Experience- Experience applying data and engineering sciences, mathematics, and electronic phenomena to real-world systems or mission problems
- Experience designing and implementing data pipelines and data interoperability solutions in complex, multi-system environments
- Experience with cloud-based or hybrid data and analytics solutions, including data storage, processing, and model deployment
- Experience working with data mesh or similar distributed data architectures, including data product design and governance
- Experience with data tagging, metadata management, and data cataloging to support discoverability, security, and compliance
- Experience reacting to and resolving data-related issues (e.g., quality, latency, integrity, model performance) in complex or mission-critical systems
Technical Competencies- Proficiency in one or more languages commonly used for data science and data engineering (e.g., Python, R, Scala, or similar), including use of relevant libraries and frameworks
- Strong understanding of data engineering concepts: ETL/ELT, streaming, batch processing, APIs, and event-driven data flows
- Familiarity with cloud data and analytics services (e.g., managed databases, data lakes, streaming services, containerized processing)
- Knowledge of data modeling, schemas, and standards used in sensor, RF, telemetry, or ISR/C2 environments is a plus
- Strong analytical and communication skills, capable of explaining complex data and model behavior, trade-offs, and limitations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Security & Citizenship- Must be a US Citizen
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance (SECRET or higher; specific level may be defined by program requirements)
What Desired Skills You'll BringAdvanced Education & Certifications- Master's or higher degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, or related discipline
- Professional certifications in cloud platforms, data engineering, or data science/ML
Specialized Experience- Experience supporting DoD, defense, ISR, C-UAS, or other mission/operations-focused data and analytics systems
- Experience working with multi-sensor or multi-int data fusion, track management, or situational awareness systems
- Experience implementing data mesh or data fabric strategies in distributed, real-time, or high-availability environments
Additional Technical Skills- Experience with data processing and orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, NiFi, Spark, Flink, or similar)
- Experience with containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes), and CI/CD workflows for data and model deployment
- Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and modern issue tracking/ALM tools
- Experience with visualization and BI tools (e.g., Grafana, Kibana, Power BI, Tableau, or similar) for operational and analytic dashboards
Security Clearance Requirement:An active Secret security clearance is required for this position.
This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.
Salary Range: $112,200.00 - $196,400.00
We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!
