Data Scientist – Level 2

DESCRIPTION:

Ascendant Innovations Corp is looking for a Data Scientist (Level 2) to design, develop, and implement advanced machine learning, data mining, statistical, and graph-based algorithms to extract actionable insights from complex datasets. The candidate will evaluate and prototype multiple algorithmic approaches, leveraging performance metrics to select and refine optimal models. When standard training data is limited or unavailable, the data scientist will proactively build models and design experiments to generate necessary datasets. The candidate will partner closely with subject matter experts to translate manual analytical techniques into scalable, automated solutions, seamlessly integrating prototype algorithms into production frameworks to enhance analyst workflows. Additionally, the data scientist will create compelling reports and visualizations that distill dataset findings into clear, data-driven insights for our customers.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience analyzing datasets and developing analytics
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience programming with data analysis software (e.g. R, Python, SAS, or MATLAB)
• Experience with AI and machine learning models
• Experience with SQL tables, structured metadata and network logs
• Ability to evaluate and validate the performance of analytics using standard techniques and metrics (e.g. cross validation, ROC curves, confusion matrices)
• Experience with utilizing GPU-based computing resources to accelerate model training and deployment
• Experience developing and implementing statistical, machine learning, and heuristic techniques to create descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics
• Identify the most appropriate algorithm for a given dataset and tune input and model parameters
• Develop feature vectors for input into machine learning algorithms
• Develop statistical tests to make data-driven recommendations and decisions
• Ability to develop and optimize Large Language Models (LLM) for various NLP tasks and information retrieval

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Familiarity with Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Exposure to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) frameworks, agents, and agentic workflow

QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD degree in computer science or related discipline from an accredited college or university, plus six (6) years of experience as a cloud software engineer in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity.

OR

• Master’s degree in computer science or related discipline from an accredited college or university, plus eight (8) years of experience as a cloud software engineer in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related discipline from an accredited college or university, plus ten (10) years of experience as a cloud software engineer in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity.

OR

• Fifteen (15) years of experience as a cloud software engineer in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity.

Clearance Requirements:
Must be a US Citizen with an active Top Secret/SCI w/polygraph.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
AIC offers equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, gender, religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.