Principal Data Scientist AI Engineer

Job Details

Job
Location: REMOTE WORK, VA, United States
Date Posted: Dec 16, 2025
Category: Information Technology
Subcategory: Data Scientist
Schedule: Full‑time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: No
Minimum

Clearance Required:

None
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Public Trust
Potential for Remote Work: Remote
Benefits:

SAIC is seeking an innovative, hands‑on development oriented AI Engineer / Data Scientist with eight years’ experience in AI/ML/NLP and data modeling to develop prototypes of emerging technologies that solve business problems. The candidate must have cloud engineering experience to ensure integration of the AI/ML/NLP solutions in cloud native environments. This resource will join an energetic and versatile team responsible for addressing the customer challenges through the use of advancing technologies.

This is a remote job that can be worked from any location in the continental U.S.

• Operate and maintain an innovation lab for the ideation, design, and engineering of cloud native product modernization and innovation using emerging technologies.
• Develop end‑to‑end plans for cloud native AI/ML/NLP innovations that are compliant with cybersecurity policies.
• Develop and engineer pilots, prototypes, and proof of concept solutions to validate emerging technology, modernization, and innovation opportunities.
• Understand modern AI Large Language Models (LLMs) and their inner workings / architectures / backbone and head.
• Have experience in prompt engineering and Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG).
• Implement transparency, traceability, and appropriate security handling in line with best practices and applicable compliance standards including Authorization To Operate (ATO) certifications.
• Implement predictive models, machine learning algorithms, and statistical analyses to solve complex business problems.
• Develop low risk implementation plans and present business briefings, recommendations, and demonstrations to executives and technical stakeholders in a clear manner based on data architecture best practices.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including data engineering, product, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into data‑driven solutions.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis and generate actionable insights from large and complex datasets.
• Support total experience initiatives including customer experience, user experience and human‑centered design through focus groups, metrics, wireframes, mockups, and information architecture development.
• Develop reusable code libraries and best practices for modernization and innovation development and deployment.
• Mentor more junior data scientists and guide the team in adopting the new technologies and techniques.
• Stay current with advancements in data science, machine learning, AI research and cloud architectures.
• Support Agile product teams in integrating and operationalizing emerging technologies and data strategies.
• Analyze data and usage to find patterns and solutions to business challenges.

• MA/MS degree and 8 years or more of experience in data analytics, data modeling, machine learning, natural language processing, security, and artificial intelligence technologies in cloud native environments (AWS, Azure, Google). Additional experience may be substituted for educational requirements where appropriate.
• US Citizenship not required, but must have lived in the US for at least two consecutive years.
• Must be able to obtain a Public Trust.

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline.

SAIC® is a premier Fortune 500® mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets includes secure high‑end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission‑critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.

We are approximately 24,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.5 billion. For more information, visit  For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.