Job Description

Job Summary

Job Title: Data Scientist Sr

As a Senior Data Scientist supporting the VA's AI Citizen Developer Ecosystem (TOPR 0049), you will lead technical support activities that empower Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions across clinical and operational domains. Working within a cutting-edge federal healthcare environment, you will apply advanced ML techniques—spanning supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning—to develop, validate, and analyze healthcare-specific data models and synthetic data cohorts that drive meaningful outcomes for Veterans. This role sits at the intersection of data science innovation and mission-driven public service, contributing directly to the VA's strategic goal of becoming an AI-enabled enterprise.

The ideal candidate is a self-directed, collaborative problem-solver who thrives in complex, matrixed federal environments and can translate sophisticated data science concepts into actionable insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders. You bring deep intellectual curiosity about healthcare data, a commitment to responsible AI practices, and the ability to mentor and guide citizen developers as they build and scale AI solutions.

Primary Responsibilities

JOB DUTIES.

• Lead technical support and advisory services for VHA AI Citizen Developers, guiding the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models and AI-driven solutions within the Veterans Health Administration ecosystem.
• Apply supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning techniques to build and validate predictive models and analytical pipelines tailored to healthcare-specific use cases, including clinical decision support and population health management.
• Develop, maintain, and analyze synthetic data models and cohorts that protect Veteran data privacy while enabling robust model training, testing, and validation activities across VHA programs.
• Architect and execute data science workflows within cloud-based analytic environments (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Microsoft Azure Government), ensuring scalability, security compliance, and alignment with VA data governance standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including VHA program offices, data engineers, and IT stakeholders—to define requirements, interpret analytical results, and translate findings into strategic recommendations that support AI/ML project objectives.
• Contribute to the documentation, peer review, and continuous improvement of AI/ML methodologies, model performance metrics, and data quality standards, ensuring solutions meet federal regulatory requirements and VA enterprise AI policies.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS.

• Minimum 8 years of hands-on experience in data science, applied machine learning, or a closely related quantitative discipline, with demonstrated expertise in healthcare or life sciences data environments.
• Master's Degree (required) in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field from an accredited institution; PhD preferred.
• Previous experience working with federal agencies, preferably the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or other federal healthcare clients such as CMS, NIH, DoD, or HHS, with familiarity of federal data governance and compliance frameworks.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a VA Position of Public Trust (Medium Background Investigation) or equivalent federal security clearance as required by the contract; active clearance or PIV eligibility preferred.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; this position does not offer visa sponsorship.
• Demonstrated experience developing and analyzing healthcare-specific data models and patient cohorts, including familiarity with clinical data standards such as HL7 FHIR, ICD-10, CPT coding, and EHR-sourced datasets.

About Aptive

About Aptive. Aptive partners with federal agencies to achieve their missions through improved performance, streamlined operations and enhanced service delivery. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, we support more than a dozen agencies including Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. We specialize in applying technology, creativity and human-centered services to optimize mission delivery and improve experiences for millions of people who count on government services every day. Founded: 2012. Employees: 300+ nationwide.

EEO Statement

Aptive is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran status, age, disability, or any other protected class. Veterans, members of the Reserve and National Guard, and transitioning active-duty service members are highly encouraged to apply. About Aptive: Aptive partners with federal agencies to achieve their missions through improved performance, streamlined operations and enhanced service delivery. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, we support more than a dozen agencies including Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. We specialize in applying technology, creativity and human-centered services to optimize mission delivery and improve experiences for millions of people who count on government services every day. Founded: 2012. Employees: 300+ nationwide.