Junior Data Scientist
The Junior Data Scientist at Confidential Client supports NASA projects by developing and optimizing advanced machine learning and deep learning models, including vision-language and multimodal systems. The role involves managing large datasets, applying statistical and time series forecasting techniques, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and disseminating findings through publications and presentations, while also mentoring students in data analytics and computer science.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, IT Services and IT Consulting.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
Join our client’s team to provide junior-level data science and machine learning support on a NASA contract in Greenbelt, MD. In this role you will develop, evaluate, and deploy models and pipelines that support scientific research and mission-focused applications.
- Develop, implement, and optimize machine learning and deep learning models (vision, language, and multimodal architectures).
- Build and manage large-scale datasets (for example, image–text pairs) used for training and evaluation.
- Design multi-stage inference pipelines, fine-tuning strategies, and model evaluation frameworks to improve reliability and accuracy.
- Apply statistical modeling and time-series forecasting techniques (e.g., SARIMA, LSTM) to derive actionable forecasts and insights.
- Perform data preprocessing, feature engineering, and exploratory analysis to prepare and interpret complex datasets.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including NASA scientists and academic partners, to translate results into technical reports, publications, and presentations.
- Produce technical documentation, diagnostics, and visualizations for stakeholders and peer review.
- Mentor junior colleagues and contribute to knowledge-sharing and training materials as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Strong programming skills in Python; experience with R, SQL, MATLAB, or SAS is a plus.
- Hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch and TensorFlow.
- Knowledge of computer vision, natural language processing (NLP), multimodal learning, or similar ML subfields.
- Experience with data preprocessing, feature engineering, and working with large/unstructured datasets.
- Familiarity with Linux, version control (Git), and common ML tooling.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to present technical results to non-technical audiences.
- Must meet government NAC and citizenship/permanent residency requirements for access to NASA GSFC; an extensive background investigation will be required.
- Ability to travel occasionally, as required by the contract.
Preferred Experience
- Research or applied experience in academic, government, or NASA projects.
- Experience building vision–language / multimodal neural network architectures.
- Prior teaching, mentoring, or supervising experience in data analytics or computer science.
- Publications or conference presentations related to ML, computer vision, or NLP.
Work Location & Additional Details
- Location: Greenbelt, MD (on-site work for NASA GSFC access is required).
- Employment type: Full-time.
- This position requires successful completion of government background checks and eligibility verification for site access. The employer will inform candidates about required documentation and clearance steps.
- Careertakes is acting as a third-party recruiter; employment will be with our client (Confidential Client).
Benefits & Culture
Careertakes’ client offers competitive pay and a benefits package that may include:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Life insurance and disability coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Education assistance and professional development
- Paid time off (PTO), holidays, and other leave consistent with federal/state law
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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