As a Data Scientist, you will apply advanced data science, machine learning, statistical, and analytical techniques to solve complex, mission-critical challenges supporting national security. You will work closely with technical teams, analysts, subject matter experts, and customer leadership to transform complex data into actionable insights and transition innovative algorithms and research concepts into scalable, production-ready capabilities. This role combines hands-on technical development, applied research, experimentation, and customer engagement, providing the opportunity to influence the direction of emerging analytics capabilities while delivering measurable mission impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and operationalize advanced analytics: Design, develop, test, and deploy machine learning, statistical, data mining, and graph-based algorithms to solve complex, mission-critical challenges.
- Conduct applied research and experimentation: Evaluate emerging technologies, modeling approaches, and analytical methodologies; design experiments and select solutions based on performance, scalability, data availability, and mission requirements.
- Transform data into actionable insights: Analyze complex datasets, develop models and projections, and create visualizations and technical products that communicate meaningful, data-driven insights to customers and stakeholders.
- Automate and integrate analytics: Partner with subject matter experts and analysts to translate manual processes into automated analytics and integrate prototype algorithms into production systems and operational workflows.
- Drive technical collaboration and customer engagement: Serve as a technical representative in customer meetings and reviews, collaborate across engineering and research teams, and communicate technical findings and recommendations to diverse audiences.
- Advance mission capabilities: Maintain awareness of emerging AI/ML and data science technologies, identify opportunities for innovation, and contribute to the development of scalable solutions that deliver measurable mission impact.
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QualificationsBachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a quantitative discipline (e.g., statistics, mathematics, operations research, engineering, or computer science) and five (5) years of experience analyzing datasets and developing analytics, as well as five (5) years of experience programming with data analysis software such as R, Python, SAS, or MATLAB. An additional four (4) years of experience in software development, cloud development, analyzing datasets, or developing descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics may be substituted for a bachelor's degree. A Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in a quantitative discipline may be substituted for four (4) years of experience.
- Experience with produce data visualizations that provide insight into dataset structure and meaning
- Work with subject matters experts (SMEs) to identify important information in raw data and develop scripts that extract this information from a variety of data formats (e.g., SQL tables, structured metadata, network logs)
- Incorporate SME input into feature vectors suitable for analytic development and testing
- Develop Al and machine learning models to address complex problems.
- Develop and optimize Large Language Models (LLM) for various NLP tasks and information retrieval.
- Experience with utilizing GPU-based computing resources to accelerate model training and deployment.
- Develop and implement statistical, machine learning, and heuristic techniques to create descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics
- Develop statistical tests to make data-driven recommendations and decisions
- Develop experiments to collect data or models to simulate data when required data are unavailable
- Develop feature vectors for input into machine learning algorithms
- Identify the most appropriate algorithm for a given dataset and tune input and model parameters
- Evaluate and validate the performance of analytics using standard techniques and metrics (e.g. cross validation, ROC curves, confusion matrices)
- Oversee the development of individual analytic efforts and guide team in analytic development process
- An Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph is required
Additional Desired Qualifications:
AI/AL Integration: Familiarity with Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) frameworks, agents, and agentic workflow
Benefits: Peraton offers enhanced benefits to employees supporting this critical National Security program, which include heavily subsidized employee benefits coverage for you and your dependents, 25 days of PTO accrued annually up to a generous PTO cap, and eligibility to participate in an attractive bonus plan.
Investing in Your Growth: Selected candidates may be eligible for enhanced professional development opportunities, including training, certification programs, and skill-building experiences tailored to individual strengths, career goals, and role-specific requirements.
Peraton OverviewPeraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.
Target Salary Range$176,000 - $282,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a quantitative discipline such as statistics, mathematics, operations research, engineering, or computer science
- Five years of experience analyzing datasets and developing analytics
- Five years of experience programming with data analysis software such as R, Python, SAS, or MATLAB
- Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph
- Experience producing data visualizations that provide insight into dataset structure and meaning
- Experience extracting information from varied data formats, including SQL tables, structured metadata, and network logs
- Experience developing AI and machine learning models
- Experience developing and optimizing large language models for NLP and information retrieval
- Experience using GPU-based computing resources to accelerate model training and deployment
- Experience developing statistical, machine learning, and heuristic techniques for descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics
- Experience developing statistical tests, experiments, feature vectors, and model simulations
- Experience selecting, tuning, evaluating, and validating algorithms using standard metrics
- Experience overseeing analytic efforts and guiding teams through the analytic development process
- Familiarity with LLMs, RAG frameworks, agents, and agentic workflows
- An additional four years of software development, cloud development, dataset analysis, or descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics may substitute for a bachelor's degree
- Ph.D. in a quantitative discipline may substitute for four years of experience
Peraton Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Peraton and has not been reviewed or approved by Peraton.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare offerings are described as broad, including medical, dental, vision, mental health support, and specialty programs like virtual physical therapy and surgical/cancer care navigation. Medical coverage is also characterized as a standout part of the overall package in terms of perceived quality.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support includes a 401(k) with employer matching and is repeatedly positioned as a strong component of total rewards. The 401(k) benefit is frequently singled out as one of the most valued parts of the package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits are positioned as robust, including PTO, holidays, paid sick days, and floating holidays, with some roles offering notably generous accrual. Leave breadth is reinforced by related programs such as short/long-term disability and bereavement leave.
Peraton Insights
What We Do
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.
Why Work With Us
We are fearlessly solving the world’s most complex challenges to keep people safe and secure. You can be a part of protecting and promoting that freedom around the world.
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