Data Scientist

Position Specifics

We are seeking a Data Scientist located in Honolulu, HI to join the 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 Skill Bridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

Application instructions: Current Penn State employees or students must apply via Workday. External applicants should click "Apply" and complete the application process. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.

• 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, Num Py, scikit‑learn, matplotlib, seaborn, and Plotly
  .
• Work with diverse data formats (CSV, JSON, XML, Excel, etc.) and integrate across relational (Postgres, MySQL) and No
  
  SQL (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.

• Python expertise with demonstrated use of data science and machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit‑learn, pandas, Num Py, Sci Py, PyTorch or Tensor Flow).
• Strong skills in data visualization and BI tools
  :
  Power BI, Tableau, Grafana, or equivalent.
• Proficiency in SQL and experience with No
  
  SQL 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, Git Lab/Git Hub, Atlassian suite).
• 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.

• 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.

Master's Degree and an additional 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted. No specific certifications required.

Employment requires successful completion of background check(s) per University policies. All positions at ARL require the ability to obtain a government security clearance; notification will occur during the interview process. Candidates must be U.S. citizens. Employment also requires successful completion of a pre‑employment drug screen.

Salary range: $86,300.00 – $ (may be affected by geographic differential). Penn State provides a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plans; paid time off; and a generous 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible family members.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814‑865‑1473.