Senior Data Scientist with Security Clearance

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next! At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible. 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 Doing
Data 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 Bring
Education * 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 educationExperience * 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 Bring
Advanced 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/MLSpecialized 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 environmentsAdditional 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. The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what's next to deliver the solutions our customers need now. 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! Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status. We truly invest and care about our employee's wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-APPLY TODAY! Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/ .