Data Science and AI Engineer

Paid holidays, sick time, 401(k), relocation assistance.

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space—delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators.

Join us and take your place in space.

We are seeking a highly skilled Data Science & AI Engineer (IT Casual - Specialist IV) to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of AI products, from conducting exploratory data analysis and developing machine learning models to implementing, testing, and deploying these solutions into production environments. The selected candidate will be required to work part‑time on-site at our facility in Chantilly, VA.

This is a casual part‑time role.

• Design, build, and train advanced machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and Generative AI (GenAI) models (including LLMs) to address complex business challenges.
• Convert data science prototypes into production‑ready services, managing model versioning, monitoring, and continuous training (CI/CD).
• Build and maintain scalable data pipelines for ingestion and processing of structured and unstructured data, ensuring high‑quality data for training.
• Transform machine learning models into robust APIs for integration with software products, such as recommendation engines, chatbots, or automated assistants.
• Perform rigorous statistical analysis, A/B testing, and model tuning to ensure high performance, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams (App‑Dev roduct, Engineering, Enterprise Services Business Units) to define AI strategies, translate requirements into technical specifications, and communicate findings to non‑technical stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements:

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Engineering or related field is required.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience, working across multiple industries, and thrives on translating complex data challenges into actionable insights and building self‑learning applications that drive business impact is required.
• Expert‑level proficiency in Python and familiarity with languages like Scala or Java for production systems.
• Strong hands‑on experience with Tensor Flow, PyTorch, or Scikit‑learn.
• Proficient in SQL and No
  
  SQL databases, as well as data manipulation libraries (Pandas, Num Py).
• Experience deploying models on cloud platforms (AWS Sage Maker, Azure ML, or GCP) and nice to have experience with containerization tools (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Milvus), Lang Chain, and RAG (Retrieval‑Augmented Generation) techniques.
• Strong analytical thinking, problem‑solving, and the ability to explain technical concepts to a diverse audience.

Casual employment is normally for fewer than 20 hours a week, usually non‑continuous, irregular, and infrequent.

• Experience with Agentic AI frameworks (e.g., Lang Graph, Auto Gen) is preferred.
• Proven experience in Natural Language Processing (NLP) or Computer Vision (CV).
• Experience with Data tools (Apache Spark, Kafka) is preferred.

We offer a competitive compensation package where you'll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade‑based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.

(Min - Max) $0.00 - $480.00 Pay Basis:
Hourly

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard…