Data Scientist

About the role

The Data Scientist will support the Department of Veterans Affairs AI Strategy, Governance and Operations, designing and evaluating AI/ML solutions for healthcare operations, assessing model performance, bias, fairness and explainability, and helping develop AI governance frameworks and policies. The role involves translating operational challenges into AI problem statements, collaborating with VA stakeholders, documenting findings for technical and executive audiences, and staying current on emerging AI trends and federal regulations.

About the company

Aptive partners with federal agencies to achieve their missions through improved performance, streamlined operations and enhanced service delivery. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, the firm supports more than a dozen agencies—including Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation—by applying technology, creativity and human‑centered services. Founded in 2012, Aptive employs over 300 people nationwide.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience designing and evaluating AI/ML solutions in production or enterprise environments with a strong portfolio across the full model lifecycle
• No specific education requirement; equivalent technical training, certifications or hands‑on experience considered
• Prior experience supporting federal agency clients or healthcare organizations preferred
• Familiarity with VA systems, federal AI policy (e.g., EO 13960, OMB AI guidance) or HHS/CMS data environments a plus
• Ability to obtain and maintain VA network access and a Position of Public Trust; must pass VA background investigation
• Authorized to work in the United States; no visa sponsorship offered
• Proficiency with AI/ML frameworks and tools such as Python, scikit‑learn, TensorFlow and PyTorch
• Experience working with structured and unstructured healthcare datasets, including EHR or claims data
• Experience with AI/ML governance, responsible AI frameworks or model risk management in regulated industries
• Knowledge of federal health data standards (HL7 FHIR, ICD‑10) and NIST AI Risk Management Framework
• Ability to communicate AI/ML findings and recommendations to non‑technical senior leadership or federal program offices
• Background in NLP, computer vision or predictive analytics applied to clinical workflows, population health or healthcare operations