Senior Business Analyst (QA)

We are seeking a Senior Business Analyst to support an AI Lab focused on generative AI and machine learning solutions that improve productivity, analytical capabilities, and mission impact. This onsite role in Washington, D.C. partners closely with technical and business stakeholders to define requirements, coordinate delivery, support governance activities, and help ensure AI/ML solutions are aligned with federal compliance and operational needs.
Responsibilities

• Gather, analyze, and document business needs for AI/ML solutions from stakeholders across technical and non-technical teams
• Translate business objectives into functional requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, and other delivery-ready documentation
• Work with subject matter experts, including economists, analysts, and attorneys, to refine requirements and validate solution direction
• Identify risks, dependencies, tradeoffs, and process improvement opportunities tied to AI/ML initiatives
• Create process flows, use cases, mockups, workflow documentation, and related materials to support solution design
• Facilitate agile ceremonies and support Scrum and/or Kanban practices, including planning, standups, retrospectives, and backlog refinement
• Help manage project timelines, deliverables, roadmaps, and status reporting across multiple initiatives
• Break down complex work into epics, features, and stories while helping prioritize based on value and feasibility
• Coordinate collaboration among data scientists, engineers, stakeholders, and leadership
• Support compliance activities such as FISMA documentation, privacy assessments, ATO-related processes, and security documentation
• Partner with security, privacy, and compliance teams to help maintain readiness for reviews and audits
• Prepare executive summaries, presentations, talking points, user guides, test plans, and other supporting documentation
• Assist with testing activities, including UAT coordination, test case development, defect tracking, and deployment readiness support
• Contribute to strategic planning, service improvements, and reporting on project progress and team metrics

Skills

• 10+ years of experience in business analysis, project management, or a related technology-focused role
• Strong background in requirements gathering and translating business needs into technical deliverables
• Hands-on experience with Agile methods such as Scrum and Kanban
• Experience coordinating complex technical projects and cross-functional teams
• Knowledge of federal IT governance and compliance processes, including FISMA, privacy requirements, and ATO documentation
• Ability to create clear, detailed documentation for technical, compliance, and operational audiences
• Strong communication skills with the ability to bridge technical and non-technical discussions
• Experience with SDLC, release management, and quality assurance practices
• Analytical problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently with minimal oversight
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field
• U.S. citizenship required
• Ability to work onsite five days per week in the Washington, D.C. area, within commuting distance of the office

Preferred Skills

• Background in U.S. federal government, especially in regulatory, supervisory, or policy environments
• Experience supporting AI/ML initiatives or data science teams
• Familiarity with responsible AI practices, including bias testing, model documentation, and fairness considerations
• Experience supporting testing for analytics or data-driven applications
• Working knowledge of Jira, Azure DevOps, Confluence, or similar collaboration tools
• Exposure to cloud platforms and deployment processes, especially AWS
• Experience with process modeling tools such as Visio, Lucidchart, or Miro
• Understanding of data governance, privacy, and data management best practices
• Experience in financial services, banking supervision, consumer finance, or related regulated environments
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PMI-ACP, CBAP, CIPP, or CISSP
• Experience preparing materials for senior leadership and executive audiences

Horizontal Talent is committed to building an inclusive workplace where all people are welcomed, respected, and supported. We value diverse perspectives and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, as equity and belonging are core to how we work.

By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that Horizontal Talent may contact you regarding your application using automated technology, including phone calls, SMS/text messages, or email, which may be delivered by our virtual AI recruiter, Alex.

Please apply through this online posting or by visiting our Job Board at Applications will be accepted for 4 weeks. For those that join the team, we offer competitive compensation and benefits including medical, dental, vision, and retirement. Check out all we have to offer and how you can become part of the Horizontal Talent Team. The pay range for this role is $33 - $67 per hour based on qualifications and experience.