Data Scientist – GEOINT Data Architecture & Operational Pipelines (NGA)

Data Scientist – GEOINT Data Architecture & Operational Pipelines (NGA)

"Engineer the data backbone powering next-generation geospatial intelligence."

Client: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

Locations:

• Springfield, VA
• St. Louis, MO
• Denver, CO

Work Location: Onsite – Field Contractor Office

Salary: $210,000 – $220,000 (Based on experience and technical interview)

Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Required

Clearance: Active TS/SCI Required

Why This Role Matters

We are seeking a highly skilled Data Scientist to support advanced GEOINT and emerging sensor initiatives for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

This role is focused on:

• Operational data architecture
• ETL and API-driven workflows
• Cross-domain data movement
• Cloud-based data engineering
• Geospatial and sensor data standardization

You will help build and maintain the data infrastructure that enables secure, scalable, and mission-critical intelligence operations.

Position Overview

The Data Scientist will support the maintenance and implementation of enterprise data architecture supporting:

• Emerging sensors and platforms
• Multi-source GEOINT data operations
• Secure data movement across systems and security domains

This role requires hands-on expertise with:

• Databases and cloud architectures
• API integrations
• ETL/data pipelines
• Operational workflow automation
• Data transformation and standardization

The ideal candidate is both:

• Technically strong
• Operationally minded

...with the ability to support mission-critical intelligence workflows in highly secure environments.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 4+ years experience working with:
• • SQL or NoSQL databases
  • Cloud architectures
  • Operational data workflows

Technical Skills

• Experience leveraging:
• • APIs
  • ETL pipelines
  • Data integration workflows
• Strong experience with:
• • Python
  • JavaScript
  • Java

Data Engineering & Operations

• Experience developing and sustaining:
• • Operational data pipelines
  • Multi-format data workflows
  • Backend processing systems

Communication

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts to:
• • Engineers
  • Analysts
  • Government stakeholders

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with:
• • NGA CORE
  • NGA MLOps
  • Government ATO processes
  • NPE certificates
• Familiarity with:
• • Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
  • Enterprise DevSecOps environments
• Experience creating:
• • Dynamic visualizations
  • Pipeline monitoring dashboards
  • Operational metrics reporting

Core Competencies

• Data engineering and architecture mindset
• Strong analytical problem solving
• Secure systems thinking
• Operational workflow optimization
• Collaboration across technical disciplines

What You'll Be Doing

Operational Data Pipeline Engineering

• Design, develop, and sustain operational data pipelines supporting:
• • Multiple data formats
  • Sensor ingestion workflows
  • Cross-platform integrations
• Support ETL workflows for emergent sensor data

Data Architecture & Cloud Integration

• Build and maintain:
• • Database schemas
  • Cloud-based architectures
  • Data movement workflows
• Support secure movement of data across:
• • Systems
  • Security domains
  • APIs

API & Workflow Development

• Develop API-based workflows for:
• • Data ingestion
  • Data transfer
  • Operational integration
• Integrate sensor data into existing enterprise data pipelines

Data Standardization & Transformation

• Assess metadata, schema, and format differences across datasets
• Pre-process and standardize sensor data for:
• • Labeling
  • Analytics
  • Model testing
  • Operational exploitation

This may include:

• Data transformation
• File conversion
• Orthorectification
• Geospatial tiling/chipping

Data Monitoring & Governance

• Implement:
• • Data health alerts
  • Pipeline monitoring
  • Governance controls
• Ensure compliance with:
• • Government data standards
  • Schema requirements
  • Security policies

Collaboration & Technical Communication

• Collaborate with:
• • Engineers
  • Analysts
  • Government stakeholders
• Communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

What Will NOT Be a Fit

• Pure academic data scientists without operational experience
• BI/reporting-only candidates
• Software engineers without data pipeline expertise
• Candidates lacking cloud or ETL experience

What Success Looks Like

• Reliable and scalable operational data pipelines
• Successful integration of emergent sensor data
• Secure movement of data across domains
• Standardized, high-quality datasets supporting analytics and exploitation
• Strong collaboration across NGA technical teams

Summary

This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of:

• GEOINT data engineering
• Emerging sensor integration
• Operational data architecture
• Secure intelligence data workflows

We are seeking a mission-driven Data Scientist who can combine:

• Data engineering expertise
• Cloud and API integration knowledge
• ETL and operational workflow experience
• Strong technical communication skills

...to help enable next-generation intelligence capabilities at NGA.

Benefits Overview (W-2 Employees)

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development and training
• Employee wellness programs
• Commuter benefits

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

Fathom Management, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to any protected characteristic under applicable law.