Data Scientist

Data Scientist Position

We are seeking a Data Scientist to be located in Honolulu, HI to join our Information Advantage Office of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. You should possess deep expertise in Python, data science libraries, and visualization/BI tools to lead advanced analytics initiatives supporting mission-critical objectives. The ideal candidate brings both strong technical acumen and domain experience working with Department of Defense (DoD) and/or Intelligence Community (IC) data sources such as SIGINT, GEOINT, or other multi-INT data. This position may be filled as a Senior Data Scientist.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will:

• 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

Required skills/experience areas include:

• 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)
• 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
• Exceptional technical writing skills for producing plans, reports, and documentation

Preferred skills/experience areas include:

• Direct experience with DoD or Intelligence Community data, including but not limited to SIGINT, GEOINT, MASINT, or Multi-INT fusion
• Understanding of mission needs in defense, national security, or intelligence analysis
• Active TS/SCI DoD clearance highly preferred

Your working location will be in Oahu, HI. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Master's Degree; 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted; Required Certifications: None

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $86,300.00 - $129,500.00. THE PROPOSED SALARY RANGE MAY BE IMPACTED BY GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENTIAL

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.