Data Scientist

Are you an experienced data scientist interested in discovering new ways to improve complex engineering and manufacturing work? The Data Systems unit in Naval Nuclear Laboratory’s Core Manufacturing department is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to establish a cross-cutting data science capability and deliver new value across the department through advanced analytics and machine learning.

As a department-wide data science resource, you will collaborate with engineers, statisticians, other data scientists, data engineers, software developers, and stakeholders across Core Manufacturing to understand diverse technical and operational needs and identify high-value analytical opportunities. You will independently evaluate opportunities and work with department leadership, technical organizations, and stakeholders to define and prioritize a portfolio of cross-cutting data science initiatives based on mission impact, feasibility, and organizational value. You will translate technical and operational challenges into data-driven solutions that improve manufacturing processes, engineering workflows, and decision-making across Core Manufacturing and the core vendor.

As Core Manufacturing’s data infrastructure continues to mature, you will work closely with data engineers and software developers to leverage and help expand existing data capabilities. Where necessary, you will work hands-on with data from fragmented or evolving sources, performing the extraction, preparation, integration, and quality checks needed to develop early analytical solutions. Your understanding of high-value analytical opportunities will also help the team prioritize future data sources, pipelines, and infrastructure improvements.

This role offers the opportunity to shape how data science is applied across a broad range of Core Manufacturing challenges while collaborating with specialists in individual technical domains. You will work across the analytical lifecycle-from identifying and prioritizing opportunities through data preparation, modeling, validation, implementation, and adoption-while helping the department use its growing data resources to make better decisions.

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in a related engineering or science field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience; or Masters degree from an accredited college or university in a related engineering or science field and a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience; or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a related engineering or science field and a minimum of 1 year of relevant experience.

Preferred Skills

• Experience applying data science, statistical analysis, machine learning, optimization, or similar methods to engineering, manufacturing, scientific, or operational problems.
• Proficiency with Python, R, SQL, or comparable data-analysis tools and programming languages, including experience acquiring, cleaning, integrating, and analyzing data from multiple sources.
• Ability to work hands-on with data from fragmented or evolving sources and develop practical early solutions while shared data infrastructure continues to mature.
• Experience validating analytical methods, characterizing uncertainty and limitations, and translating models or analyses into interpretable, sustainable decision-support tools or repeatable workflows.
• Ability to independently learn unfamiliar technical domains and identify valuable analytical opportunities from ambiguous or cross-cutting needs.
• Ability to evaluate and prioritize potential work based on mission impact, organizational value, feasibility, and required effort.
• Ability to communicate technical findings, limitations, completed work, and potential data science applications clearly to non-data-science audiences and collaborate effectively with domain experts and analytical professionals across a variety of stakeholder groups.
• Commitment to transparent methods, shared tools, clear documentation, and sustainable solutions that can be understood and maintained by others.

• Health, Dental, Vision & Voluntary Benefits
• Disability, Life & Accident Insurance
• 401(k) Savings program & Capital Accumulation Plan
• Personal & Medical Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Tuition Assistance for Eligible Employees
• Student Debt Benefit Personal Time Off Sell Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Wellness Program
• Visit us online to view all NNL benefits!

Pay Range

$106,200.00 - $166,000.00 annually Salary information provided is a general guideline only. Annual salary is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

The Naval Nuclear Laboratory is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC (FMP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fluor Corporation. Naval Nuclear Laboratory personnel are FMP employees who work at four DOE facilities: Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Kenneth A. Kesselring Site, and Naval Reactors Facility, and at the U.S. Department of Defense-owned Nuclear Power Training Unit-Charleston. FMP employees also have an established presence at numerous shipyards, satellite, and vendor locations.

For more than 75 years, the Naval Nuclear Laboratory has developed advanced nuclear propulsion technology, provided technical support, and trained world-class nuclear operators to ensure the safe and reliable operation of our nation’s submarine and aircraft carrier fleets. The Naval Nuclear Laboratory is a national asset solely dedicated to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. We rely on the dedication and innovation of our nearly 8000 engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. FMP is a government contractor and maintains a drug free workplace and workforce. All candidates must be able to pass a drug test in compliance with FMP company policy and 10 CFR 707. Marijuana is a Federal Schedule I controlled substance and illegal under Federal Law. Therefore, FMP is required to test for marijuana.

Working at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory we foster pride in belonging to an organization whose culture is made up of these core values: Trust, Empowerment, and Collaboration. Our company promotes a positive culture while ensuring the safety and reliability of our nation’s naval nuclear reactors, and training the Sailors who operate those reactors in the U.S. Navy’s submarines and aircraft carrier Fleets. Looking for a lifetime career? Apply today!