Interested in this Data Scientist role at US Federal Transit Administration?
Apply Now →Skills & Technologies
About This Role
Summary
-----------
This position is located in the Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of the Chief Data Officer (OCDO). OCDO develops strategic approaches to leveraging FTA’s data assets, manages FTA’s data governance, builds a strong data culture, manages data as a strategic asset, and uses data to improve mission delivery, operational efficiency, and actionable decision\-making data, including via advanced analytic techniques and AI.
Learn more about this agency
This job is open to
-----------------------
### The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
### Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
### Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Many', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.
Duties
----------
As a Data Scientist, you will:
- Interact with analysts and internal customers to understand business processes, gather requirements, develop analysis methodologies, and coordinate development of data products.
- Perform analysis of a variety of data sources to provide data\-driven insights and recommendations to the organization to streamline processes and improve program operations. Communicate analytical findings to technical and non\-technical audiences, including senior leadership.
- Develop, document, and implement statistically reliable methods, strategies, and approaches to ensure valid and reliable information is provided to support management decision\-making.
- Conduct tests to measure data quality and compliance with internal policy. Performs data wrangling and develop broadly applicable recommendations to deal with imperfections in data.
- Assist in building the foundation of scientific and technical capabilities within FTA to support ongoing and future data analytics projects. Educate others on technology, tools, and best practices.
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience leveraging data to inform business process improvements and operational decision\-making. The ideal candidate will contribute to project teams using outstanding analytical and problem\-solving skills, performing sophisticated data analysis, and developing data visualizations.
Requirements
----------------
### Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen \& meet specialized experience to qualify.
- Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
- Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
- Direct Hire Authority/SME will be used to fill this position.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
*As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1\-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:*
- *your performance and conduct;*
- *the needs and interests of the agency;*
- *whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and*
- *whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.*
*Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.*
- SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
- BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
- PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one\-year probationary period (unless already completed).
### Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1\) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2\) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3\) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.
To qualify for the GS\-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS\-09 it must include:
- Experience interpreting data sets and applying statistical and analytic methods to discover patterns for guiding decision\-making, streamlining operations, or improving programs.
- Experience with Python, R, SQL or other analytical tools to develop analyses, reports, or data products.
- Experience refining business problems into objective, measurable problem statements and translating analysis into clear communications and visualizations to stakeholders in an organization.
To qualify for the GS\-11 on Education alone, you must have:
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.
To qualify for the GS\-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS\-11 it must include:
- Experience assisting efforts to enhance data governance, management, and data use across an organization, including collaborating and coordinating with other stakeholders in or outside of an organization.
*You cannot qualify on education at the GS\-12 level; you must have experience.*
To qualify for the GS\-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS\-12 it must include:
- Experience directing advanced data science and artificial intelligence initiatives from conception to deployment, including advising on appropriate classification or predictive models, developing machine learning algorithms, and evaluating models that resulted in an implementation in a production environment.
*You cannot qualify on education at the GS\-12 level; you must have experience.*
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
- Data Analysis \& Analytics \- Manipulates and exploits internal and external, structured, and unstructured data sources to accomplish organizational goals.
- Data Management \- Knowledge of the principles, procedures, and tools of data management, such as modeling techniques, data backup, data recovery, data dictionaries, data warehousing, data mining, data archiving, data disposal, and data standardization processes.
- Data Visualization and Communications \- Utilizes tools, techniques, and software to generate reports or visualizations that convey data analyses, findings, and limitations and translates technical concepts, data findings, uncertainty, or limitations (including potential bias) from data sets into concise, plain language and supporting diagrams and media.
- Service Delivery \- Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Seeks to obtain customer feedback through various channels to improve products and services. Delivers high\-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
For all types of consideration, 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.
For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy\-data\-oversight/classification\-qualifications/general\-schedule\-qualification\-policies/\#url\=e4
All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
### Education
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
- Degree: 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.
### Additional information
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920\.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, [email protected]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act \| US Department of Transportation
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
========
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full\-time, part\-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
-----------------------------
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
For this announcement, applications will be reviewed to determine if the applicant meets the basic qualifications for this position. The applications of individuals who meet the basic qualifications will be assessed to validate that the applicant possesses the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) at the level of proficiency needed to perform the job successfully. Applicants who are found to possess the necessary KSAs to perform the job may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
----------------------
*RESUME:**In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2\) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2\) pages.*
*Your resume* *MUST* *contain specific information* *that can be* *used to make a qualification determination**, including* *employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full\-time or Part\-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.* For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how\-to
TRANSCRIPTS are REQUIRED if there is a stated education requirement for the series OR if you are substituting education for experience. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements.
DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the standards for this vacancy and provide all of the following documents:
- your most recent performance appraisal,
- the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
- your most current SF\-50, displaying current series and grade.
Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.
For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USA Jobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.
### If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
----------------
You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
- To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting.
- Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
- You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/
If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: [email protected]
### Agency contact information
Automated Staffing Office
Phone
000\-000\-0000
Address
*DOT, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION*
*Submit Application and Documents Online*
*1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR \- 50*
*Washington, District of Columbia 20590*
*United States*### Next steps
You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications". Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist may evaluate your application. If evaluated, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.
Overview
------------
Accepting applications
Posted this week · Apply by 07/21/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 21, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Denver, CO
Washington, DC
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Cambridge, MA
Kansas City, MO
New York, NY
Fort Worth, TX
Seattle, WA
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$85,447 \- $158,322 per year
Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy\-data\-oversight/pay\-leave/salaries\-wages/2026/general\-schedule.
Pay scale \& grade
GS 11 \- 13
Promotion potential
13
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full\-time \- Full Time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
- 1560 Data Science Series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes \- This is a Bargaining unit position represented by (AFGE/3313\)
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
- Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
FTA.TOA\-2026\-0001
Control number
875648800
Salary Context
This $85K-$158K range is in the lower quartile for Data Scientist roles in our dataset (median: $155K across 226 roles with salary data).
View full Data Scientist salary data →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 3,708 AI roles we're tracking, Data Scientist positions make up 8% of the market. At US Federal Transit Administration, 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 $192,890 based on 463 positions with disclosed compensation. Mid-level AI roles across all categories have a median of $200,000. This role's midpoint ($121K) sits 37% below the category median. Disclosed range: $85K to $158K.
Across all AI roles, the market median is $217,500. Top-quartile compensation starts at $272,100. The 90th percentile reaches $325,000. For comparison, the highest-paying categories include AI Safety ($300,000) and Research Engineer ($280,000). By seniority level: Entry: $120,000; Mid: $200,000; Senior: $230,000; Director: $272,150; VP: $250,000.
US Federal Transit Administration AI Hiring
US Federal Transit Administration has 1 open AI role right now. They're hiring across Data Scientist. Based in Denver, CO, US. Compensation range: $158K - $158K.
Location Context
AI roles in Denver pay a median of $201,050 across 48 tracked positions. That's 8% below the national median.
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 3,708 open positions tracked in our dataset. By seniority: 102 entry-level, 1,705 mid-level, 1,469 senior, and 432 leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level). Remote roles make up 14% of the market (508 positions). The remaining 3,180 roles require on-site or hybrid attendance.
The market median for AI roles is $217,500. Top-quartile compensation starts at $272,100. The 90th percentile reaches $325,000. Highest-paying categories: AI Safety ($300,000 median, 21 roles); Research Engineer ($280,000 median, 147 roles); AI Architect ($254,798 median, 67 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 3,708 open positions across 16 role categories. The largest categories by volume: AI/ML Engineer (2,605), Data Scientist (310), AI Software Engineer (259). 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 (102) are outnumbered by mid-level (1,705) and senior (1,469) 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 432 positions, representing the bottleneck between technical execution and organizational strategy.
Remote work availability sits at 14% of all AI roles (508 positions), with 3,180 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 $217,500. Top-quartile roles start at $272,100, and the 90th percentile reaches $325,000. 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 Safety roles lead at $300,000 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 (1,890 postings), Aws (1,103 postings), Azure (877 postings), Rag (855 postings), Gcp (631 postings), Prompt Engineering (560 postings), Pytorch (545 postings), Claude (498 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.