Principal Data Scientist (W2-Only)

Job Title – Principal Data Scientist Location – St. Petersburg, FL 33716 Or Denver, CO 80246 (Hybrid) - Local candidates only Duration – 12+ Months contract (Possibility of Extension and FTE conversion) ✅ Must be local to St. Petersburg or Tampa, FL ✅ Open to W2 employment only (no C2C or third-party) ✅ Visa-independent candidates only (no sponsorship available at this time) Job Description: • The Lead Data Scientist supports development of advanced decision support systems by employing advanced techniques from data analytics (including statistical analysis) and machine learning, particularly including NLP. • The successful candidate will join an innovative and energetic team that develops capabilities that improve the performance of our business units and make them more efficient. • This is a hands-on role in which the Data Scientist is expected to carry out a project from start to finish. Skills: • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to a non-technical audience • Strong knowledge of Machine Learning techniques, including NLP • Knowledge of statistics, including hypothesis testing • Strong Python skills • Proficient in SQL • Comfortable with Unix scripting • Experience building models that actually delivered value to a business • Experience deploying systems to a production environment • Experience working in an Agile environment • Working knowledge of “big data” technology • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of relevant experience or combination of education, training and experience. Notes from the Hiring Manager: • Role needs to work onsite hybrid workstyle 2-3 days per week at one of the Client’s physical locations with St Pete and Denver preferred, no fully remote candidates. • Need a senior Data Scientists. • Focused on GenAI, validations, Improving accuracy, less on ML • Strong with GenAI and Data Science. • Design the process and evaluate how accurate it is over time. • Python • Automated evaluations, fine tuning of parameters. Will own the research and would accomplish the whole project. • 3 years real exp doing Data Science Work. • Will convert to FTE • Big Data- not a requirement. • Financial exp- Nice to have