Data Scientist

Summary

Department of Homeland Security – U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Enterprise Services, Workforce Care Directorate. Negotiable location; must report to a CBP Facility. Position: GS‑14, Step 1 ($125,776) to Step 10 ($163,514). Locality pay tables are available on the DoD system; if your geographic area is not listed, select the “Rest of United States” pay table. Some positions may have a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level, and location.

• Serve as an expert analyst and advisor to senior management, applying computer theory, algorithms, data structures, programming concepts, languages, and computer architecture to support business lines.
• Design, develop, and oversee advanced data classification, coding, storage, and retrieval systems, ensuring data integrity, security, accessibility, and interoperability across the agency.
• Design, execute, and interpret complex simulations, optimization models, and predictive analytics to provide critical insights that directly inform high‑level agency decision‑making and policy formulation.
• Advise and develop innovative strategies on measurement, development, deployment, maintenance, and enhancement of large‑scale projects, analyze programmatic data, and forecast the effects of alternative courses of action and gaps.
• Provide expert guidance, advanced mentorship, and comprehensive on‑the‑job training to junior data scientists, analysts, and other professionals, significantly contributing to the agency’s analytical capabilities.

• U.S. citizenship required. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• All pre‑employment processes will be conducted in English. Background investigation required.
• CBP follows the DHS Drug‑Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• Compliance with Executive Branch ethics rules and CBP rules regarding outside employment and conflicts of interest.
• Participation in E‑Verify to confirm eligibility to work in the United States.

Basic Requirements. A bachelor’s degree (or higher) in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science, or a directly related field.

Or a combination of education and experience: 30 semester hours in a major field of study plus relevant work experience.

Specialized Experience. At least one year of experience at the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Extracting, processing, and integrating large‑scale structured and unstructured datasets from multiple sources; performing data cleaning, validation, transformation, and applying data governance and data quality assurance techniques.
• Analyzing organization‑wide or multi‑program data to identify trends, assess program impacts, and develop data‑driven recommendations that support administrative, programmatic, or financial decision‑making.
• Collaborating with program offices or leadership to identify data‑driven solutions to complex problems, providing technical guidance or advice on the use of data and models, and mentoring junior analysts.

Resume must explicitly indicate how each requirement is met. All experience, including paid, unpaid, volunteer, or professional, may be applicable; qualifying volunteer experience will receive credit.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements, including education verification, and satisfy time‑in‑grade requirements for current federal employees.

• All applicants must submit a copy of their college transcript (unofficial is acceptable at the time of application; official copies required before entrance on duty) or a list of coursework with hours completed.
• Transcripts must come from an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education‑recognized agency. Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by a recognized credentials evaluation organization.
• Application of education may be waived for current CBP employees within the discussed series; otherwise, education will be verified at the time of selection.

Multiple hiring authorities are available, including Veterans, military spouses, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with…