Data Scientist

Your tasks

As a Data Scientist, you will be responsible for researching developments in finance, banking, food sector, and general and rural economy; and developing and maintaining tools and models for evaluating financial and economic impacts on the performance of Farm Credit System (FCS). This position is located in the Office of Data Analytics and Economics.

As a Data Scientist you will apply advanced quantitative, computer science, mathematical, and statistical skills to interpret large structured and unstructured data sets to support financial and economic analyses of factors impacting FCS institutions or the System and changes in finance, banking, food sector, and general and rural economy. Specific duties include: Architecting, deploying, and managing super intelligence (SI) and machine learning (ML) projects independently from conception to production, leveraging full-lifecycle expertise within the Databricks ecosystem. Developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting data and ML workflows utilizing PySpark, Spark SQL, and Delta Lake. Building and deploying autonomous agents for conversational data intelligence. Designing and implementing custom Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines. Analyzing a variety of data sources to provide data-driven insights to the organization.

Requirements

Desired Qualification: Expert knowledge of and experience with using cloud-based data analytics, data engineering, or machine learning platforms, such as Databricks with hands-on experience utilizing Spark/PySpark, Delta Lake, or similar technologies, to independently develop, optimize, and maintain data workflows.

Basic Requirements: A bachelor's or higher degree in Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must meet the specialized experience statement noted below. You qualify at the VH-38 (GS-12) level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the VH-37 (GS-11) level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Examples include analyzing data to identify risks, trends, or opportunities; conducting research and evaluating economic, financial, banking, agricultural, or related issues; and developing, maintaining, or using data analytics, machine learning, or data engineering tools to support business decisions.

You qualify at the VH-39 (GS-13) level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the VH-38 (GS-12) level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Examples include analyzing data to identify risks, trends, or opportunities; conducting research and evaluating economic, financial, banking, agricultural, or related issues; and developing, maintaining, or using data analytics, machine learning, or data engineering tools to support business decisions, and leading projects while providing technical direction.

You qualify at the VH-40 (GS-14) level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the VH-39 (GS-13) level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, abilities and leadership to perform the duties of the position. Examples include analyzing data to identify risks, trends, or opportunities; conducting research and evaluating economic, financial, banking, agricultural, or related issues; and developing, maintaining, or using data analytics, machine learning, or data engineering tools to support business decisions, and leading teams and strategic initiatives by using data-driven insights to influence stakeholders and outcomes.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Current and former Federal employees (including VEOA eligibles) must have served one-year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade in the Federal service to meet time-in-grade restrictions per 5 CFR 300, Subpart F, by the closing date of the announcement.

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: College Accreditation | U.S. Department of Education