Principal Data Scientist, Healthcare Innovations

Join AIR as a Principal Data Scientist with our Healthcare Innovations team. Our team works collaboratively to unravel the intertwined challenges of health care quality, costs, and access. Our team of experts – nurses, physicians, psychologists, economists, sociologists, data scientists, and public health experts – advance evidence and save lives by leading rigorous research and evaluation; results-driven technical assistance and training; and leading-edge data science and technology tools.

This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories. 

About AIR:

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Responsibilities:

The responsibilities for the position include:

• Lead the strategic vision and execution of AIR’s most complex and high-impact data science projects.
• Design and implement cutting-edge analytical frameworks, including AI/ML models, to extract insights from diverse and high-dimensional datasets. 
• Serve as a senior technical advisor across AIR’s research domains, including education, health, workforce, and international development. 
• Spearhead the integration of novel data sources (e.g., geospatial, unstructured, real-time) into AIR’s research and evaluation efforts. 
• Guide the development of scalable data pipelines and reproducible research environments. 
• Represent AIR in external forums, including conferences, advisory boards, and collaborative partnerships. 
• Author influential publications and thought leadership pieces that advance the field of data science for social good. 
• Mentor senior data scientists and technical staff, fostering innovation, technical excellence, and career growth. 
• Lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with economists, policy researchers, and technologists to deliver integrated solutions. Drive business development efforts, including proposal strategy, client engagement, and partnership cultivation.
• Ensure ethical and responsible use of data and algorithms in all phases of research and product development.  

Qualifications:

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Computational Social Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 11 years of experience applying advanced data science techniques to real-world problems, preferably in public policy or social impact domains. 
• Deep expertise in machine learning, natural language processing, and statistical modeling. 
• Proven track record of leading large-scale, interdisciplinary data science projects. 
• Experience with cloud computing, big data technologies, and scalable infrastructure. 
• Familiarity with ethical AI principles and data governance frameworks. 
• Strong publication record and external visibility in the data science community. 

Skills

• Visionary leadership and strategic thinking.
• Advanced proficiency in Python, R, and other relevant programming languages. 
• Expertise in data visualization, storytelling, and communicating complex find