Data Scientist

Job Description

We have an opening for an entry level Data Scientist to work on projects that cover a range of systems, applications, technologies, and research in areas with critical national security interest, specifically nuclear facility operations. You will work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary team of independent/entrepreneurial computer scientists, engineers, and scientific staff who research, develop, and integrate state-of-the-art algorithms, software, hardware, and computer systems solutions to challenging research and development problems. This position is in the Global Security Computing Applications Division (GS-CAD) within the Computing Directorate, matrixed to the Global Security Directorate.

These positions will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

You will

• Collaborate with subject matter experts (SMEs) in nuclear facility operations, safety basis, authorization basis, and criticality safety to develop and optimize RAG pipelines that provide relevant context to LLMs.
• Participate in the analysis and process for nuclear operations security governing documents (e.g., documented safety analyses, technical safety requirements, specific administrative controls) to ensure machine-ingestible formats for LLM workflows.
• Contribute to the design and implementation for data pipelines to retrieve, process, and contextualize operational and regulatory data for use in GenAI models.
• Provide solutions to problems of limited complexity for software development tools and frameworks to enhance LLM performance and usability in nuclear operations and security contexts.
• Contribute to the validation and verification of LLM outputs to ensure regulatory compliance and operational reliability.
• Under general direction assess requirements and develop limited complexity data analysis algorithms to address program and sponsor needs, particularly in the context of nuclear safety and regulatory frameworks (e.g., 10 C.F.R. Part 830, DOE-STD-3009-2014).
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to integrate RAG pipelines and LLM tooling into operational workflows, supporting innovation in regulatory compliance and operational security.
• Engage with other developers and stakeholders to share knowledge, ensure deliverables, and align technical solutions with project goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.2 level

• Contribute to the design and implementation for advanced RAG pipelines for LLMs, including retrieval mechanisms, contextual data processing, and integration into nuclear operations workflows.
• Provide solutions to moderate complex to complex problems related to data retrieval, contextualization, and integration with LLMs, creating dynamic algorithms/software modules to address specific nuclear operations challenges.
• Utilize established methods to provide solutions for regulatory frameworks and operational requirements to optimize LLM performance and ensure compliance.
• Drive innovation in the use of LLMs for regulatory compliance, operational security, and decision-making support in nuclear facility operations.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, mathematics, statistics, or related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Fundamental knowledge of scientific data analysis, statistical analysis, knowledge discovery, supervised/unsupervised learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and/or big data technologies.
• Experience developing data science algorithms with C++, Python, or R in Linux, UNIX, or Windows environments, sufficient to integrate solutions into larger applications.
• Experience with machine learning frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow) for developing data science solutions.
• Experience or familiarity with tools and technologies for RAG pipelines, LLM optimization, or prompt engineering.
• Familiar with the nuclear regulatory requirements (e.g., 10 C.F.R. Part 830, DOE-STD-3009-2014) or willingness to learn.
• Ability to effectively handle concurrent technical tasks with conflicting priorities, to approach difficult problems with enthusiasm and creativity and to change focus when necessary.
• Sufficient interpersonal skills necessary to interact with all levels of personnel.
• Sufficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explain technical information.

Additional qualifications at the SES.2 level

• Effective analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills to develop creative solutions to moderately complex to complex problems.
• Broad experience with Python, scientific data analysis, knowledge discovery, supervised/unsupervised learning, deep learning, and natural language processing.
• Comprehensive experience with ML concepts such as transfer learning, distributed ML, ML operations, generative models, transformers, graph neural networks, or uncertainty quantification.
• Comprehensive experience in nuclear safety, regulation, or risk assessment.
• Work independently on research concepts in a multi-disciplinary team environment, where commitments and deadlines are important to project success.