Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) is seeking a Data Scientist to lead advanced analytics initiatives supporting mission-critical objectives, particularly for the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC).
Requirements
- Python expertise (primary language) with demonstrated use of data science and machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, pandas, NumPy, SciPy, PyTorch or TensorFlow)
- Strong skills in data visualization and BI tools: Power BI, Tableau, Grafana, or equivalent
- Proficiency in SQL and experience with NoSQL databases
- Solid foundation in probability, statistics, and applied machine learning techniques
- Experience with data pipelines, APIs, and distributed systems in a production environment
- Familiarity with cloud-native and containerized environments (e.g., Kubernetes) and associated observability stacks
- Hands-on experience with configuration management and version control tools (e.g., Git, GitLab/GitHub, Atlassian suite)
Responsibilities
- Design and conduct exploratory data analysis and hypothesis testing to support analytic objectives
- Develop interactive dashboards and visualizations using tools such as Power BI, Tableau, and Grafana, translating complex findings into actionable insights for senior decision-makers
- Build and optimize Python-based data pipelines leveraging libraries such as pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, matplotlib, seaborn, and Plotly.
- Work with diverse data formats (CSV, JSON, XML, Excel, etc.) and integrate across relational (Postgres, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, Accumulo) databases
- Apply advanced data mining, statistical modeling, graph algorithms, and machine learning to extract insights from large structured and unstructured datasets
- Mentor junior data scientists and analysts, fostering best practices in statistical rigor, code quality, and reproducibility
Other
- Active Top Secret DoD Clearance
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills—able to brief senior leadership and mission partners
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects
- Collaborative mindset with demonstrated ability to lead technical discussions and mentor peers
- Customer-focused, adaptable, and effective in interfacing with both corporate and government stakeholders
