Associate Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Associate Scientist jobs in Virginia are in strong and steady demand, concentrated in the life sciences, defense research, and federal contracting sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level lab technician to senior research associate. The busiest hiring markets are Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads area, where employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Pfizer maintain significant research operations. Analytical chemistry, molecular biology, and environmental testing are among the most consistently recruited specialties across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Data is at the center of everything we do. As a startup, we disrupted the credit card industry by individually personalizing every credit card offer using statistical modeling and the relational database, cutting edge technology in 1988! Fast-forward a few years, and this little innovation and our passion for data has skyrocketed us to a Fortune 200 company and a leader in the world of data-driven decision-making.
As a Data Scientist at Capital One, you’ll be part of a team that’s leading the next wave of disruption at a whole new scale, using the latest in computing and machine learning technologies and operating across billions of customer records to unlock the big opportunities that help everyday people save money, time and agony in their financial lives.
Team Description
The US Card Intelligence Segments organization builds industry-leading machine learning models that empower core underwriting decisions. We partner closely with a wide range of job families - machine learning engineers, product managers, credit analysts and data engineers - to deliver solutions from ideation to implementation.
The AI in Credit team is developing the next generation of predictive models to forecast how customers use their Capital One cards. We are a cross-functional collaboration that spans across the entire company, with scientists and engineers specializing in applied credit, deep learning, and high performance computing. Join us as we push the boundary of data-driven credit decisioning.
Role Description
In this role, you will:
Develop modeling approaches to forecast credit outcomes in a rapidly changing economic environment
Apply cutting-edge explainability techniques to identify insights from complex models
Develop frameworks for AI-model-based decisioning in a highly regulated industry
Collaborate on a cross-functional team with a wide range of specializations and experience
The Ideal Candidate is:
A data guru. “Big data” doesn’t faze you. You have the skills to retrieve, combine, and analyze data from a variety of sources and structures. You know understanding the data is often the key to great data science.
Creative. You thrive on bringing definition to big, undefined problems. You love asking questions and pushing hard to find answers. You’re not afraid to share a new idea.
Statistically-minded. You’ve built models, validated them, and backtested them. You know how to interpret a confusion matrix or a ROC curve. You have experience with clustering, classification, sentiment analysis, time series, and deep learning.
Innovative. You continually research and evaluate emerging technologies. You stay current on published state-of-the-art methods, technologies, and applications and seek out opportunities to apply them.
Basic Qualifications:
Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining one of the following with an expectation that the required degree will be obtained on or before the scheduled start date:
A Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 5 years of experience performing data analytics
A Master's Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) or an MBA with a quantitative concentration plus 3 years of experience performing data analytics
A PhD in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field)
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s Degree in an applied research field (physics/astronomy, chemistry, biology, engineering, operations research, sociology, etc.) plus 3 years of experience in data science, or PhD in an applied research field
Experience in explainability a big plus
Experience with distributed computing a plus
At least 3 years’ experience in Python, Scala, or R
At least 3 years’ experience with machine learning
Capital One will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
McLean, VA: $161,800 - $184,600 for Princ Associate, Data ScienceNew York, NY: $176,500 - $201,400 for Princ Associate, Data Science
Richmond, VA: $147,100 - $167,900 for Princ Associate, Data Science
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.
Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.
This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days. No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.
For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com
Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.
Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).
See All 26 Associate Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Associate Scientist JobsAssociate Scientist Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Associate Scientist Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Capital One14

- Information Technology Senior Management Forum6
- The MIL Corporation2

- Signature Science1

- Thermo Fisher Scientific1

Top Industries Hiring
- Banking & Financial Services
- Fintech
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in associate scientist jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related scientific discipline
- Hands-on laboratory experience with standard analytical or molecular techniques
- Proficiency with data analysis software and scientific documentation practices
- Familiarity with Good Laboratory Practice standards and quality control procedures
- Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance for defense or government contractor roles
- Strong written communication skills for research reporting and cross-functional collaboration
Associate Scientist Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a associate scientist in Virginia?
Most associate scientist positions in Virginia require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a natural or applied science such as biology, chemistry, or environmental science, with many employers preferring candidates who have laboratory coursework or research experience. Virginia does not issue a state license for the associate scientist title, but roles in clinical or environmental testing labs may require the lab to hold CLIA certification or Virginia Department of Health accreditation, indirectly shaping what credentials hiring managers value. Completing a thesis-based research project or a co-op program strengthens applications considerably.
Which companies hire associate scientists in Virginia?
Employers hiring associate scientists in Virginia right now include Capital One, Information Technology Senior Management Forum, and The MIL Corporation, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's heavy concentration of federal agencies, defense contractors, and life sciences firms means hiring is spread across both established government support organizations and privately held research companies with long-term contracts in the state.
Which Virginia cities have the most associate scientist jobs?
McLean, Reston, and Richmond lead associate scientist openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia's proximity to federal agencies and defense contractors drives the largest share of postings, while Richmond's pharmaceutical and biotech cluster and Hampton Roads' naval research and environmental science operations account for a meaningful portion of listings outside the D.C. suburbs.
Are there remote associate scientist jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're rare. Most associate scientist roles involve hands-on laboratory, fieldwork, or secure facility requirements that cannot be performed remotely. About 0% of associate scientist openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those that do offer flexibility tend to be data analysis, regulatory writing, or scientific project coordination positions rather than bench or field roles.
How can I get hired as a associate scientist in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for research assistant or laboratory technician roles at Virginia universities, hospital systems, or federal contractor sites, which frequently serve as the direct stepping stone to associate scientist titles. Large employers like Leidos and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality hire new graduates into structured associate programs and rotational research roles. Completing a capstone research project, earning an EPA-recognized environmental certification, or gaining CLIA-adjacent laboratory exposure through a community college program gives candidates a measurable edge over other entry-level applicants.
Where can I find and apply to associate scientist jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to associate scientist jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across industries and experience levels. Search the listings to see roles that match your background and location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 26 Associate Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Associate Scientist Jobs