Early Career Associate Data Scientist

About the Role

FTI is seeking an early career Data Scientist to support the Naval Safety Command in Norfolk, VA. This is an on-site position.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design, calibration, and testing of predictive risk models used to evaluate mishap risk across Navy communities.
• Analyze complex data to identify relationships, patterns, anomalies, and potential predictors using techniques such as time series analysis, forecasting, statistical modeling, causal inference, and anomaly detection.
• Perform feature engineering, cross validation, and model performance evaluation using measures such as precision and recall.
• Apply Python, R, or similar programming languages to real-world data science challenges.
• Work with tools and libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, Scikit learn, SciPy, or comparable technologies.
• Partner with experienced Data Scientists and Software Engineers to transition analytical models from development into operational environments.
• Participate in technical exchange meetings and gain exposure to the deployment, maintenance, and interpretation of operational AI and predictive analytics solutions.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Active Department of Defense (DoD) Secret Clearance
• Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Operations Research, or a related field.
• 1-2 years of practical data science/analytics experience (or a Master’s degree with substantive applied research/project experience).
• Proficiency in Python or R, or a similar language.
• Practical experience with analytical and machine learning toolkits, such as Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, SciPy, or related packages.
• Foundational understanding of regression analysis, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and simulation or Bayesian modeling techniques.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree completed or in progress in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Operations Research, or a related technical field. Current PhD students are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Hands-on data science or analytics experience gained through graduate research, a capstone project, thesis, internship, research assistantship, or other substantive academic project.
• Experience using Python, R, or a similar programming language.
• Exposure to machine learning and analytical libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, Scikit learn, SciPy, or related tools.
• Foundational knowledge of areas such as regression analysis, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, simulation, Bayesian modeling, machine learning, or predictive analytics.

Additional Experience That Would Be Valuable

• Experience does not need to come from a traditional job. Academic projects, research, internships, and capstone work all count.
• Exposure to data visualization or dashboard development using Qlik, Tableau, Python-based visualization tools, or similar technologies is a plus.
• Experience with Databricks or Apache Spark is also beneficial.

This is a hybrid position with onsite work at the Naval Safety Command Center in Norfolk, VA. You must be in the Norfolk, VA commutable area. All final interviews are in person.