Senior Data Scientist

Job Title: Senior Data Scientist Direct client Location: 100% Remote Type: Contract (C2C / W2) Experience Level: Advanced Role Overview seeking a Senior Data Scientist to support a high-impact AI/ML initiative focused on improving the child welfare intake process. This role will lead the design, development, and evaluation of NLP-driven and machine learning models, ensuring solutions are statistically sound, scalable, and aligned with state objectives. Key Responsibilities Development Framework • Define technical execution framework: • Task breakdowns • Milestones • Deliverables • Identify: • Data dependencies • Risks and mitigation strategies Current State Analysis • Participate in discussions on: • Existing intake workflows • Decision-making processes • Resource allocation • Identify and prioritize process gaps impacting outcomes AI / ML Solution Development • Lead design of next-gen intake system using NLP & ML • Define functional modules and system architecture • Evaluate: • Data sources (real, simulated, historical) • Algorithmic trade-offs (accuracy vs performance vs scalability) • Document solution for transparency Design Reviews • Establish and lead design review processes • Evaluate: • Functional effectiveness • Technical feasibility • Data security & risk • Testing strategies Proof-of-Concept Implementation • Oversee prototype development • Conduct: • Weekly status reviews • Gate reviews • Resolve technical and operational blockers Stakeholder Demo Support • Support conference room demonstrations (3–4 days) • Showcase impact on: • Child outcomes • Resource optimization • Capture stakeholder feedback Roadmap & Agile • Contribute to long-term technology integration roadmap • Actively support Agile development processes Required Qualifications (MUST HAVE) Education • Bachelor’s / Master’s / PhD in: • Computer Science • Mathematics • Engineering • Physics • Related field Core Expertise • Strong experience in: • Machine Learning & Statistical Modeling • NLP (Natural Language Processing) • Adaptive / probabilistic systems Government / Domain Experience • Experience in US Federal programs requiring TS/SCI clearance • Hands-on work with: • Geospatial analysis • Pattern of Life analysis • Social network modeling Data Engineering (CRITICAL) • Experience building high-performance data pipelines • Proven ability: • Process 700M+ records in <30 minutes • Handle large-scale, recurring data workloads Child Welfare Data (VERY IMPORTANT) • Experience with CCWIS data • Expertise in: • Data cleaning • Feature selection • Statistical tuning • Predictive modeling for child welfare outcomes Advanced Skills • Build ML algorithms from scratch • Evaluate trade-offs: • Accuracy vs compute vs scalability • Design: • Non-rule-based decision systems • Stochastic input models • Convert human/social decision-making into computational models Preferred Skills • Experience in: • AI solutions in public sector • Risk & fraud analytics • Behavioral modeling • Exposure to: • End-to-end ML lifecycle • Explainable AI / model transparency