Interested in this Data Scientist role at Analytica?
Apply Now →Skills & Technologies
About This Role
We are seeking an experienced Data Scientist to join our team supporting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services operations. In this role, you will lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced predictive and time series forecasting models to inform operational decision\-making. You will work with large\-scale structured and unstructured datasets in SQL, Python, and Databricks, and deliver impactful insights through advanced analytics and compelling visualizations in Tableau or Power BI.
The ideal candidate is proactive, innovative, and thrives in complex analytical environments. You bring deep expertise in forecasting, applied statistics, and machine learning, with the ability to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations for leadership.
This role is remote for candidates outside the DMV area and hybrid for candidates located in the DMV region (1x a week in Bethesda, MD).
Analytica has been recognized by Inc. Magazine for 3 consecutive years as one of the 250 fastest growing businesses. We offer competitive compensation with opportunities for bonuses, employer\-paid health care, training and development funds, and a 401k match.
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead the development, validation, and deployment of predictive models, including time series forecasting, anomaly detection, and simulation models, to address USCIS mission and operational challenges.
- Prepare, transform, and analyze large and complex datasets using SQL and Python in a Databricks environment.
- Perform exploratory data analysis, feature engineering, and model optimization to ensure high\-quality, repeatable, and interpretable results.
- Design and deliver advanced dashboards and visualizations to communicate insights, forecasts, and scenarios to technical and non\-technical stakeholders.
- Apply advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to identify patterns, measure operational performance, and anticipate future trends.
- Partner with program managers, analysts, and client stakeholders to frame research questions, design analytic studies, and present findings in a clear, actionable manner.
- Document methodologies, ensure reproducibility of analyses, and contribute to analytic best practices across the team.
- Mentor junior analysts and data scientists in best practices for data science, forecasting, and statistical modeling.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, or a related field (Master’s degree strongly preferred).
- 5\+ years of professional experience in data science or advanced analytics, with proven expertise in statistical modeling and forecasting.
- Advanced proficiency in SQL and Python, with hands\-on experience building and deploying time series and forecasting models (e.g., ARIMA, SARIMAX, Prophet, machine learning\-based forecasting methods).
- Experience with cloud\-based platforms such as Databricks, Spark, or similar distributed data environments.
- Strong data visualization skills with Tableau, Power BI, or equivalent.
- Demonstrated ability to clean, manage, and optimize large, complex datasets.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present technical findings to non\-technical stakeholders.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen and able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate degree in Data Science, Statistics, or related field.
- Experience applying forecasting and predictive analytics in federal government or immigration\-related domains.
- Familiarity with operational research methods, simulation modeling, or optimization.
- Prior experience supporting USCIS or other DHS agencies.
About ANALYTICA: Analytica is a leading consulting and information technology solutions provider to public sector organizations supporting health, civilian, and national security missions. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Bethesda, MD, the company is an established SBA small business that has been recognized by Inc. Magazine each of the past three years as one of the 250 fastest\-growing companies in the U.S. Analytica specializes in providing software and systems engineering, information management, analytics \& visualization, agile project management, and management consulting services. The company is appraised by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at CMMI® Maturity Level 3 and is an ISO 9001:2008 certified provider.
Analytica LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. As a federal contractor, we comply with the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans. We ensure that all employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. Analytica LLC also provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.
To enhance efficiency, fairness, and accuracy, Analytica may use AI\-assisted tools to support certain aspects of our hiring process.
- Application Review: AI tools may help identify skills and experiences relevant to the role.
- Interview Support: AI\-powered notetaking tools may be used during interviews to document discussions and summarize key points.
These tools are used to assist our team. All hiring decisions are made by Analytica recruiters and hiring managers.
By submitting an application, you acknowledge that AI\-assisted tools may be used to support parts of the application and interview process.
When receiving email communication from Analytica, please ensure that the email domain is analytica.net to verify its authenticity.
5YcQK1bJ45
Role Details
About This Role
Data Scientists extract insights and build predictive models from data. In the AI era, many roles now include LLM-powered analytics, automated reporting, and integration with generative AI tools. The role has evolved from 'the person who runs SQL queries' to 'the person who builds AI-powered data products.'
Modern data science roles fall into two camps: analytics-focused (insights, dashboards, experimentation) and ML-focused (building predictive models, recommendation systems, NLP features). The best data scientists can operate in both modes. The AI shift means that even analytics-focused roles now involve building automated insight pipelines using LLMs, going well beyond one-off reports.
Across the 3,823 AI roles we're tracking, Data Scientist positions make up 8% of the market. At Analytica, this role fits into their broader AI and engineering organization.
Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.
What the Work Looks Like
A typical week includes: analyzing experiment results for a product feature launch, building a predictive model for customer churn, creating an automated reporting pipeline using LLM-powered summarization, presenting insights to stakeholders, and cleaning data (always cleaning data). The ratio of analysis to engineering varies by company, but expect both.
Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.
Skills Required
Python, SQL, and statistical modeling are the foundation. Increasingly, roles want experience with LLMs for data analysis, automated insight generation, and building AI-powered data products. Familiarity with cloud data platforms (Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks) and ML frameworks (scikit-learn, PyTorch) covers most job requirements.
Experimentation design and causal inference are underrated skills that separate strong candidates. Companies care about whether their product changes cause improvements, and can distinguish causation from correlation. A/B testing methodology, Bayesian statistics, and the ability to communicate uncertainty to non-technical stakeholders are high-value skills.
Good postings specify the data stack, the types of problems you'll work on, and the team structure. Look for companies that differentiate between analytics and ML data science. Vague 'data scientist' postings that list every skill under the sun usually mean the company doesn't know what they need.
Compensation Benchmarks
Data Scientist roles pay a median of $198,000 based on 808 positions with disclosed compensation. Mid-level AI roles across all categories have a median of $165,000.
Across all AI roles, the market median is $200,100. Top-quartile compensation starts at $253,500. The 90th percentile reaches $307,500. For comparison, the highest-paying categories include AI Engineering Manager ($275,000) and AI Safety ($274,200). By seniority level: Entry: $97,880; Mid: $165,000; Senior: $227,400; Director: $247,800; VP: $250,000.
Analytica AI Hiring
Analytica has 1 open AI role right now. They're hiring across Data Scientist. Based in Remote, US.
Remote Work Context
Remote AI roles pay a median of $170,000 across 1,926 positions. About 15% of all AI roles offer remote work.
Career Path
Common paths into Data Scientist roles include Data Analyst, Statistician, Quantitative Researcher.
From here, career progression typically leads toward Senior Data Scientist, ML Engineer, AI Product Manager.
Start with statistics and SQL. Build a real analysis project on public data that demonstrates insight generation alongside model building. The market values data scientists who can communicate findings clearly to business stakeholders. If you want to move toward ML engineering, invest in software engineering fundamentals and production deployment skills.
What to Expect in Interviews
Interviews combine statistics, coding, and business acumen. SQL is almost always tested, often with complex joins and window functions. Expect a case study round where you're given a business problem and asked to design an analysis plan. Coding rounds focus on pandas, statistical modeling, and visualization. The strongest differentiator is how well you communicate insights to non-technical stakeholders during presentation rounds.
When evaluating opportunities: Good postings specify the data stack, the types of problems you'll work on, and the team structure. Look for companies that differentiate between analytics and ML data science. Vague 'data scientist' postings that list every skill under the sun usually mean the company doesn't know what they need.
AI Hiring Overview
The AI job market has 3,823 open positions tracked in our dataset. By seniority: 112 entry-level, 1,798 mid-level, 1,516 senior, and 397 leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level). Remote roles make up 15% of the market (590 positions). The remaining 3,217 roles require on-site or hybrid attendance.
The market median for AI roles is $200,100. Top-quartile compensation starts at $253,500. The 90th percentile reaches $307,500. Highest-paying categories: AI Engineering Manager ($275,000 median, 41 roles); AI Safety ($274,200 median, 55 roles); Research Engineer ($260,000 median, 434 roles).
Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.
The AI Job Market Today
The AI job market spans 3,823 open positions across 15 role categories. The largest categories by volume: AI/ML Engineer (2,629), Data Scientist (322), AI Software Engineer (279). These three account for the majority of open positions, though smaller categories often have higher per-role compensation because of specialized skill requirements.
The seniority mix tells a story about where AI teams are in their maturity. Entry-level roles (112) are outnumbered by mid-level (1,798) and senior (1,516) positions, reflecting that most companies are past the 'build a team from scratch' phase and need experienced engineers who can ship production systems. Leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level) total 397 positions, representing the bottleneck between technical execution and organizational strategy.
Remote work availability sits at 15% of all AI roles (590 positions), with 3,217 requiring on-site or hybrid attendance. The remote share has stabilized after the post-pandemic correction. Senior and specialized roles (Research Scientist, ML Architect) are more likely to be remote-eligible than entry-level positions, partly because experienced hires have more negotiating power and partly because these roles require less hands-on mentorship.
AI compensation is structured in clear tiers. The market median sits at $200,100. Top-quartile roles start at $253,500, and the 90th percentile reaches $307,500. These figures include base salary with disclosed compensation. Total compensation (including equity, bonuses, and sign-on) runs 20-40% higher at companies that offer those components.
Category matters for compensation. AI Engineering Manager roles lead at $275,000 median, while Prompt Engineer roles sit at $140,000. The spread between highest and lowest-paying categories reflects the premium on specialized technical skills versus broader analytical roles.
The most in-demand skills across all AI postings: Python (1,979 postings), Aws (1,190 postings), Azure (899 postings), Rag (839 postings), Gcp (726 postings), Pytorch (595 postings), Prompt Engineering (595 postings), Claude (540 postings). Python dominates, appearing in the vast majority of role descriptions regardless of category. Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, Azure) is the second most common requirement. The newer entrants to the top skills list (RAG, vector databases, LLM APIs) reflect the shift from traditional ML toward generative AI applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Weekly AI Career Intelligence
Salary data, skills demand, and market signals from 16,000+ AI job postings. Every Monday.