Data Scientist Jobs in District of Columbia
Data Scientist jobs in District of Columbia concentrate heavily in federal government agencies, defense and intelligence contracting, policy research, and public health organizations, making D.C. one of the most distinctive and active markets for the role in the country. The bulk of hiring sits in Washington D.C. itself, with additional activity in nearby Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland, where major employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, and MITRE have deep, lasting footprints. The most in-demand specialties are machine learning engineering, natural language processing applied to policy and intelligence data, and health analytics. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Data Scientist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 75+ Data Scientist jobs
AI Data Scientist - TEVVAbout Bright Star
Bright Star is a forward-thinking technology consultancy that specializes in harnessing the power of data and AI to solve complex business challenges. Our team of experts combines deep technical expertise with strategic insight to deliver innovative solutions that drive meaningful impact for our clients.
Role Description
We are seeking a highly skilled AI Test, Evaluation, Verification & Validation (TEVV) Scientist to support a federal civilian agency's artificial intelligence governance and assurance initiatives. This role will be responsible for independently evaluating AI capabilities developed by government organizations, contractors, and commercial vendors to ensure they meet performance, reliability, security, and responsible AI standards.
The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in artificial intelligence with hands-on experience evaluating generative and agentic AI systems. This individual will assess AI performance, identify risks and failure modes, and provide actionable recommendations to support informed deployment decisions.
Key Responsibilities
· Plan and conduct independent tests, evaluation, verification, and validation (TEVV) activities for AI systems and solutions.
· Develop evaluation methods, test criteria, and acceptance thresholds
· Assess AI systems for accuracy, robustness, reliability, and operational effectiveness.
· Evaluate and document AI failure modes, hallucinations, bias, privacy leakage, prompt injection vulnerabilities, and model drift.
· Conduct assessments of generative AI, large language models (LLMs), agentic AI systems, and traditional machine learning solutions.
· Evaluate the effectiveness of human oversight mechanisms, governance controls, and safeguard implementations.
· Develop findings, risk assessments, severity ratings, and remediation recommendations for stakeholders.
· Prepare technical reports, executive summaries, and briefing materials that clearly communicate evaluation results and associated risks.
· Collaborate with technical, operational, and program stakeholders to improve AI system performance and trustworthiness.
Required Qualifications
· PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related technical field with 8+ years of experience evaluating, testing, validating, or assessing AI/ML systems, including generative AI technologies
· Experience testing, evaluating, validating, or assessing AI and machine learning systems.
· Experience evaluating generative AI and agentic AI technologies, not solely traditional machine learning models.
· Experience in AI performance metrics, model validation techniques, and risk assessment methodologies.
· Experience identifying and analyzing AI vulnerabilities, failure modes, bias, privacy concerns, and security risks.
· Ability to communicate complex technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
· Ability to obtain and maintain a Federal Public Trust clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
· Knowledge of NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) and related AI assurance standards.
· Experience developing AI testing frameworks, red-teaming methodologies, or adversarial testing approaches
· Active Public Trust or other federal clearance.
Job Details
Job Type: Full-time
· Onsite in Washington DC
· Pay: $120k-$190k
Benefits:
· 401(k)
· 401(k) matching
· Dental insurance
· Health insurance
· Paid time off
· Vision insurance
Pay: $120,000.00 - $190,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Due to the nature of our work as a government contractor, all employees are required to have full U.S Citizenship at the time of hire. Are you a U.S Citizen?
- Do you have an active security clearance or public trust?
- Do you have a PhD in computer science, data science, statistics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or a related technical field?
- Do you have 8 or more years of experience evaluating, testing, validating, or assessing AI/ML systems?
- Have you evaluated generative AI or agentic AI systems (for example, LLMs, chatbots, or AI agents), not only traditional machine learning models?
- Have you identified and documented AI failure modes such as hallucinations, bias, privacy leakage, prompt injection, or model drift?
- Are you able to work onsite in Washington, DC, full-time?
Work Location: In person
AI Data Scientist - TEVVAbout Bright Star
Bright Star is a forward-thinking technology consultancy that specializes in harnessing the power of data and AI to solve complex business challenges. Our team of experts combines deep technical expertise with strategic insight to deliver innovative solutions that drive meaningful impact for our clients.
Role Description
We are seeking a highly skilled AI Test, Evaluation, Verification & Validation (TEVV) Scientist to support a federal civilian agency's artificial intelligence governance and assurance initiatives. This role will be responsible for independently evaluating AI capabilities developed by government organizations, contractors, and commercial vendors to ensure they meet performance, reliability, security, and responsible AI standards.
The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in artificial intelligence with hands-on experience evaluating generative and agentic AI systems. This individual will assess AI performance, identify risks and failure modes, and provide actionable recommendations to support informed deployment decisions.
Key Responsibilities
· Plan and conduct independent tests, evaluation, verification, and validation (TEVV) activities for AI systems and solutions.
· Develop evaluation methods, test criteria, and acceptance thresholds
· Assess AI systems for accuracy, robustness, reliability, and operational effectiveness.
· Evaluate and document AI failure modes, hallucinations, bias, privacy leakage, prompt injection vulnerabilities, and model drift.
· Conduct assessments of generative AI, large language models (LLMs), agentic AI systems, and traditional machine learning solutions.
· Evaluate the effectiveness of human oversight mechanisms, governance controls, and safeguard implementations.
· Develop findings, risk assessments, severity ratings, and remediation recommendations for stakeholders.
· Prepare technical reports, executive summaries, and briefing materials that clearly communicate evaluation results and associated risks.
· Collaborate with technical, operational, and program stakeholders to improve AI system performance and trustworthiness.
Required Qualifications
· PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related technical field with 8+ years of experience evaluating, testing, validating, or assessing AI/ML systems, including generative AI technologies
· Experience testing, evaluating, validating, or assessing AI and machine learning systems.
· Experience evaluating generative AI and agentic AI technologies, not solely traditional machine learning models.
· Experience in AI performance metrics, model validation techniques, and risk assessment methodologies.
· Experience identifying and analyzing AI vulnerabilities, failure modes, bias, privacy concerns, and security risks.
· Ability to communicate complex technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
· Ability to obtain and maintain a Federal Public Trust clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
· Knowledge of NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) and related AI assurance standards.
· Experience developing AI testing frameworks, red-teaming methodologies, or adversarial testing approaches
· Active Public Trust or other federal clearance.
Job Details
Job Type: Full-time
· Onsite in Washington DC
· Pay: $120k-$190k
Benefits:
· 401(k)
· 401(k) matching
· Dental insurance
· Health insurance
· Paid time off
· Vision insurance
Pay: $120,000.00 - $190,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Due to the nature of our work as a government contractor, all employees are required to have full U.S Citizenship at the time of hire. Are you a U.S Citizen?
- Do you have an active security clearance or public trust?
- Do you have a PhD in computer science, data science, statistics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or a related technical field?
- Do you have 8 or more years of experience evaluating, testing, validating, or assessing AI/ML systems?
- Have you evaluated generative AI or agentic AI systems (for example, LLMs, chatbots, or AI agents), not only traditional machine learning models?
- Have you identified and documented AI failure modes such as hallucinations, bias, privacy leakage, prompt injection, or model drift?
- Are you able to work onsite in Washington, DC, full-time?
Work Location: In person
See All 75 Data Scientist Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Data Scientist JobsData Scientist Jobs by City in District of Columbia
Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Data Scientist Job Market in District of Columbia
A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
What District of Columbia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in data scientist jobs across District of Columbia.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in statistics, computer science, mathematics, or a related quantitative field
- Proficiency in Python or R for data analysis, modeling, and pipeline development
- Experience with machine learning frameworks such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch
- Ability to obtain or hold an active U.S. government security clearance for federal and contractor roles
- Familiarity with SQL and working with large structured and unstructured datasets
- Strong communication skills for presenting findings to non-technical policy or leadership audiences
Data Scientist Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a data scientist in District of Columbia?
There is no District of Columbia-issued license or state registration required to work as a data scientist. The standard path is a bachelor's degree in a quantitative field followed by a master's degree or demonstrated project experience, then entry through federal agency programs, contractor internships, or research fellowship pipelines. Many D.C.-area roles, especially in federal contracting and intelligence, require candidates to be eligible for or already hold a security clearance, which becomes a practical credential in this market.
How much do data scientists make in District of Columbia?
Data scientists in District of Columbia earn a median of about $126,490 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $89,750 for the lowest 10% to over $209,730 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire data scientists in District of Columbia?
Companies currently hiring data scientists in District of Columbia include Guidehouse, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Clear Resolution Consulting, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The D.C. market is particularly deep in federal systems integrators and management consulting firms that embed data scientists directly within government agency teams.
Which District of Columbia cities have the most data scientist jobs?
The cities with the most data scientist openings in District of Columbia are Washington and Anacostia. Washington D.C. itself drives the largest share through federal agencies and their contractors, while Northern Virginia cities like Arlington and McLean attract demand from defense and intelligence firms, and Maryland suburbs such as Bethesda draw roles tied to NIH, FDA, and other health-focused federal institutions.
Are there remote data scientist jobs in District of Columbia?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 70% of data scientist openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based and analytical nature of the work. Modeling, research, and business intelligence roles tend to be the most remote-flexible, while positions that involve classified systems or secure government networks typically require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a data scientist in District of Columbia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a federal agency internship or a contractor analyst program that accepts recent graduates. Agencies such as the Census Bureau, NIH, and the Department of Defense run structured programs for early-career candidates, and large contractors like Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos recruit from these pipelines. Moving into a data scientist role from an adjacent position such as a research analyst, statistician, or business intelligence analyst is common here. Building a portfolio of policy-relevant or public-data projects and pursuing clearance eligibility both give candidates a concrete edge over applicants with equivalent academic credentials.
Where can I find and apply to data scientist jobs in District of Columbia?
You can find and apply to data scientist jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings in the D.C. area. Search the listings, find the roles that match your background and interests, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 75 Data Scientist Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Data Scientist Jobs