Data Scientist Lead

ECS Federal is seeking a Data Scientist Lead to support the USCENTCOM Operations Directorate (J3).

The successful candidate will be a senior subject matter expert in data science, leading a team of data professionals to enhance the command's data-driven decision-making capabilities. This role requires a demonstratable history of designing, developing, and operationalizing advanced analytical solutions within Military, Federal, or Intelligence organizations.

The Data Scientist Lead will provide oversight for the Data Management team and drive the implementation of strategic initiatives in data engineering, data science, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML). You will be responsible for translating mission needs into high-impact technical solutions, from data ingestion and model development to the deployment of full-stack AI-driven capabilities that directly support military operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive leadership and oversight for the data engineering, analytics, and predictive analytics team, ensuring all services align with strategic operational objectives.
• Lead the development and implementation of advanced analytics, statistical model development, data governance, and the integration of innovative technologies to inform operational decisions.
• Apply advanced machine learning and AI techniques, including unsupervised, supervised, reinforcement learning, and generative AI (e.g., Large Language Models, multi-modal AI), to identify patterns and generate mission-critical insights.
• Oversee the development, deployment, and maintenance of high-quality, fault-tolerant data pipelines to clean, tag, and ingest structured and unstructured data into data lakes and lakehouses.
• Direct the data science lifecycle, from exploration and algorithm development to statistical validation and solution operationalization, ensuring deployed capabilities meet mission requirements.
• Coordinate with the USCENTCOM Chief Data Officer (CDO), the Operations Directorate Executive Data Officer (XDO), and participate in relevant forums to interpret mission needs and define operational data requirements.
• Serve as the senior technical advisor for the team, guiding the use of query languages (SQL), programming languages (Python, R), and analytics platforms to enable data-driven decisions.
• Translate highly technical information and findings into clear, actionable insights for a broad, non-technical operational audience and senior leadership.
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment.

Required Skills and Experience

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Active Top Secret clearance and SCI eligibility.
• BA/BS or MA/MS in Data Science, Analytics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• More than 10 years of relevant work experience, with significant experience leading data science or analytics teams.
• Demonstrated experience capturing, implementing, and managing data science requirements for senior Military, Federal Government, or Intelligence Community stakeholders.
• Proven expertise in applying advanced AI/ML techniques and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn) to solve complex problems.
• Highly proficient in Python and/or R for data engineering, automation, and model development.
• Experience with data engineering concepts, including building and maintaining data pipelines (ETL/ELT), data warehousing, and data lake/lakehouse architectures.
• Familiarity with data visualization and analytics platforms such as Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, or Palantir Foundry / Maven Smart System (MSS).
• Experience with data storage and processing tools (e.g., Apache Spark, Databricks, Hadoop) and databases (e.g., TSQL, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience briefing senior leaders.
• Must be available for occasional travel to domestic and international locations.