Data Scientist (Hiring Event)

National Geospatial-Intelligence AgencySaint Louis, Missouri, Springfield, Virginiausajobspublished 10/19/2026
Must-have:PythonSAPDataAISecurity

Your tasks

Data Scientists translate complex national defense and intelligence questions and business problems into actionable insights using advanced mathematical, statistical, and scientific techniques. They develop and apply methods (e.g., probabilistic modeling, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), computer vision (CV)) to identify, collect, process, and analyze large volumes of data to info

Requirements

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement: Demonstrated experience utilizing structured or unstructured data for exploratory data analysis, classification, regression and/or other types of statistical analysis. Experience analyzing, interpreting, and reporting on big data sets. Demonstrated experience cleaning, filtering, transforming, and/or enriching data. Demonstrated experience manipulating data using a programing language such as: Python, R, SQL or similar. EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Mathematics, Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Geographic Information Science, Information Science, Informatics and Computing, or a related field that provided at least 6 semester hours in statistics and 9 additional semester hours in scientific or technical coursework such as engineering, medicine, physical, biological, or social sciences. Statistics semester hours should be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of courses equivalent to a major field of study in any area listed in Option A plus experience that included programming for data science (e.g., Python, R) and a full range of professional statistical work such as: (a) intermediate and/or advanced statistics, (b) linear, semi-linear, and/or non-linear models, (c) working with a range of data types and statistical methods, or (d) data visualization capabilities. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired: Ability to communicate technical methods and solutions to non-technical audiences verbally or in writing. Experience collaborating with experts in other fields to analyze and respond to customer requirements. Experience in applying analytic techniques (classification, regression, clustering, data reduction, or causal modeling) to solve data problems. Demonstrated expertise with one or more visualization techniques and/or software tools (i.e., Tableau, matplotlib, etc.)

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Security Clearance
  • Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
  • Polygraph & Drug Test
  • Direct Deposit
  • Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs. Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs. NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.

Other

Major duties ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This Open Continuous Job Announcement is used in building a pool of qualified applicants. There is no immediate job opening. Applications will be reviewed only when staffing needs arise. There will be multiple selections and placements for agency allocation as positions open. The jobs range from analytic operations teams working with GEOINT mission partners to analyze data ranging from imagery holdings, machine learning data outputs, computer vision results and other GEOINT mission datasets. Data Scientists work on teams, integrated with analysts and other data professionals. Office missions range from business analytics, model development offices and GEOINT mission and data. Specific duties range from data analysis across different systems to modeling GEOINT mission data. Other responsibilities include working with mission partners on their data needs, comping up with complex solutions across deployed systems along with integrating new data into already developed workflows. This position may be eligible for a RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: selected candidates may be offered an incentive as part of the offer of employment. To receive the incentive, selected candidates must be eligible under 5 CFR Part 575, Subpart A, upon issuance of the Final Offer Letter. Changes in federal employment status prior to issuance of the Final Offer Letter may affect eligibility. To receive the incentive, selected candidates will be required to sign a service agreement to stay within the position at NGA for the agreed upon time. If the service agreement is terminated before its completion, the employee may be required to repay a pro rata share amount of the incentive to the government. Additional information regarding recruitment incentives for current federal employees can be found in DoDI 1400.25, Volume 2006.

Requirements SPECIAL INFO: As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.