Data Scientist

Overview

i3 is seeking a Data Scientist to support the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Agency Information Management and Software Services (AIMSS) program. The AIMSS mission is to deliver accurate, timely, and secure test data products supporting missile defense analysis and decision-making.

 

The Data Scientist serves as a technical lead and subject matter expert in mission data workflows, bridging current data management practices with emerging analytics and automation capabilities. This role focuses on enhancing data quality, accessibility, and standardization across the AIMSS environment, while contributing to the roadmap for future analytical and AI-enabled solutions.

Responsibilities

• Leverage experience in test data operations, AIMSS systems, and metadata standards to support data quality, standardization, and lifecycle management.
• Identify, validate, and integrate structured and unstructured data from multiple mission sources; clean, transform, and prepare datasets for analysis and reporting.
• Develop and apply methods to assess data completeness, accuracy, and compliance with metadata and retention standards.
• Collaborate closely with Data Managers, Analysts, and Software Engineers to streamline data pipelines, improve metadata compliance, and reduce manual duplication.
• Evaluate emerging technologies (e.g., GenAI assistants, automated parsing, metadata validation) and provide recommendations for phased integration into AIMSS operations.
• Contribute to the development of Agency-wide test data standards, metadata dictionaries, delivery protocols, and integration roadmaps.
• Perform descriptive and diagnostic analytics to uncover trends, assess data quality, and support mission readiness reporting.
• Design dashboards and reports to communicate key metrics and operational insights using tools such as Power BI or custom reporting modules.
• Serve as a bridge between technical and operational teams, translating mission needs into data-driven solutions and advising leadership on feasible analytics enhancements.
• Document processes, maintain reproducibility of analysis, and mentor Data Managers and Analysts on analytical best practices.
• Serve as a data science SME for AIMSS leadership, MDA program elements, and Mission Data Owners to support enterprise data governance and standardization initiatives.

Qualifications

Education/Experience

• Master’s degree in a STEM field (e.g., Data Science, Statistics, Engineering, Computer Science, Operations Research) is required and 14+ years of relevant IT experience. This may be substituted with a doctorate degree and 10 years of experience. 
• Experience supporting DoD test data operations or mission data management programs preferred.
• Prior experience with MDA or defense test environments highly valued.
• Active Secret clearance required. Must be able to maintain the security clearance required for this position. 
• Must reside within a 50-mile radius of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville AL or be willing to relocate prior to start date.
• Ability to reliably commute to the office as business needs dictate.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Knowledge/Skills

• Strong understanding of data lifecycle management and mission data workflows, including ingestion, parsing, cataloging, archival, and retention.
• Working knowledge of SQL and scripting languages (e.g., Python, R) for data preparation, analysis, and quality assessment.
• Familiarity with commercial or custom data management systems and deep knowledge of metadata structures, dictionaries, and validation requirements.
• Understanding of data governance, metadata management, and data standardization principles.
• Ability to identify and roadmap emerging analytics and AI capabilities (e.g., automation, machine learning, GenAI assistants) aligned with program objectives.
• Proficiency with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, R Shiny) to present operational insights.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to engage with test data producers, Mission Data Owners, and MDA stakeholders as a technical SME.
• Detail-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable operating in mission-critical, classified environments.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit; c