Senior Data Scientist

Ignite Digital is seeking an experienced Senior Data Scientist to support a U.S. Navy customer in the Norfolk, VA area. This role is ideal for a highly analytical, detail-oriented professional who thrives in data-driven environments and can translate complex analytical insights into actionable outcomes for both technical and non-technical stakeholders. The Senior Data Scientist will leverage advanced statistical methods, machine learning techniques, and data engineering practices to solve complex mission and business challenges within a Naval program environment. Key Responsibilities: Leadership & Strategy - Lead complex, multi-disciplinary data science projects from conception to deployment. - Mentor and guide data scientists and analysts; provide technical leadership and oversight. - Conduct research into emerging methodologies, tools, and approaches to advance Ignite Digital's data science practice. - Work independently and provide strategic guidance to internal and external stakeholders. Data Engineering & Preparation - Gather and integrate data from diverse sources (databases, APIs, web scraping, etc.). - Clean, transform, and structure data for analysis and modeling. - Build, optimize, and maintain automated data pipelines. - Implement robust data quality checks and validation procedures. Analytics, Modeling & Experimentation - Perform exploratory data analysis (EDA) to uncover patterns, trends, and anomalies. - Develop, test, and refine statistical and machine learning models (regression, classification, clustering, supervised/unsupervised learning, deep learning). - Evaluate model performance and implement improvements. - Design and execute A/B tests and other experimental frameworks. Communication & Visualization - Clearly communicate findings to both technical and non-technical audiences through presentations, reports, and dashboards. - Develop visualization products using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib, and Seaborn. - Build dashboards and monitoring tools to highlight key metrics and trends. - Document methodologies, workflows, and results thoroughly and clearly. Collaboration & Problem-Solving - Work effectively with data scientists, engineers, operational analysts, and Navy mission stakeholders. - Identify mission and business challenges that can be solved using data-driven approaches. - Design and deploy innovative, practical data solutions. - Troubleshoot and resolve data-quality or data-pipeline issues. Continuous Improvement & Innovation - Stay current with state-of-the-art data science techniques, automation approaches, and cloud technologies. - Contribute to internal knowledge-sharing, code reviews, and capability development. Required Skills & Experience: - 7+ years of professional experience in data analysis, data science, or closely related fields. - Demonstrated expert-level proficiency in core data science concepts, methodologies, and tools. - Recognized subject-matter expertise and ability to develop innovative solutions to complex mission challenges. - Expert programming proficiency in Python or R. - Strong experience with key data science libraries (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn). - Proficiency with database technologies (SQL, NoSQL). - Expert-level experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib, Seaborn). - Deep knowledge of statistical modeling methods and machine learning algorithms. - Significant experience with cloud ML platforms (AWS SageMaker, Google Cloud AI Platform, Azure Machine Learning). - Experience with big data platforms (Hadoop, Spark). - Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities. - Outstanding communication and presentation skills. - Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a dynamic team environment. - Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Education & Certifications: - Master's or Doctorate in a quantitative discipline (Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, or similar). - Additional technical certifications in data science, cloud technologies, or machine learning are highly desirable. Security Clearance - Active DoW SECRET clearance required. Salary: $150k+ to align with education and experience. Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.