Data Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Data Scientist jobs in Virginia are among the most active in the country, concentrated in defense intelligence, federal contracting, financial services, and health informatics, with openings at every level from entry-level analyst to principal scientist. The heaviest hiring is in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads corridor, where employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and Capital One have deep, sustained data science operations. The most in-demand specialties in the state are machine learning engineering, natural language processing, and geospatial analytics tied to government and defense programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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- Work across the office enhance workflows in addition to create efficiencies that result in greater productivity.
- Lead projects using advanced mathematical, statistical, and scientific techniques and principles to examine complex missions and operational problems and create insights from data.
- Support data analytics, data cleansing, analyst workflow efficiencies, and transformation supporting Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) capabilities.
- Apply statistical and analytic methods to support answering intelligence questions and mission requirements.
- Build lightweight analytic tools to visualize analytic outputs for intelligence consumers.
- Design methods and mechanisms to track, report, and monitor a set of mission specific objects in order to maintain custody of those objects for various orders of battle.
- Active TS/SCI clearance with the willingness to take a CI polygraph exam
- Proficient with Python and SQL
- Able to work on client site in Springfield, Virginia 40 hours a week (no telework)
- Knowledge of GEOINT collection and associated NGA/NRO
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in Data Science, Data management, and database knowledge.
- Bachelor's Degree in a STEM field
- Leading, integrating, defining tasks, validating. These positions demonstrate advanced application of their knowledge and skills in their fields and have demonstrated this knowledge and skill in previous work.
- Knowledge of geospatial data, formats, and standards. This includes both international and national geospatial standards. Knowledge of DoD and IC standards.
- A senior should be fully capable of meeting all services required without direction.
- Seniors will be capable of providing direction to lower-level employees and of performing quality control and quality assurance checks on other employees' work.
- Seniors may provide oversight of fellow Contractor employees from their own company.
- Seniors are expected to provide advice to Government leadership on processes, procedures, technology, and items of interest.
- Seniors are also expected to lead collaboration across NGA and IC analysts in the performance of services. Such collaboration efforts should lead to better synergized analysis than the sum of the individual parts.
- Seniors should provide senior level support to NGA office level leadership.
Nice to have
- Experience with JEMA or low side equivalents (ESRI Model Builder, Alteryx, Tableau Prep)
- Experience applying machine learning algorithms to intelligence data
- Experience with multi-INT data
- Ability to learn new technologies, adapt to dynamic mission needs, and develop/test new analytic methodologies
- Proficiency with common programming languages including JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
- Work across the office enhance workflows in addition to create efficiencies that result in greater productivity.
- Lead projects using advanced mathematical, statistical, and scientific techniques and principles to examine complex missions and operational problems and create insights from data.
- Support data analytics, data cleansing, analyst workflow efficiencies, and transformation supporting Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) capabilities.
- Apply statistical and analytic methods to support answering intelligence questions and mission requirements.
- Build lightweight analytic tools to visualize analytic outputs for intelligence consumers.
- Design methods and mechanisms to track, report, and monitor a set of mission specific objects in order to maintain custody of those objects for various orders of battle.
- Active TS/SCI clearance with the willingness to take a CI polygraph exam
- Proficient with Python and SQL
- Able to work on client site in Springfield, Virginia 40 hours a week (no telework)
- Knowledge of GEOINT collection and associated NGA/NRO
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in Data Science, Data management, and database knowledge.
- Bachelor's Degree in a STEM field
- Leading, integrating, defining tasks, validating. These positions demonstrate advanced application of their knowledge and skills in their fields and have demonstrated this knowledge and skill in previous work.
- Knowledge of geospatial data, formats, and standards. This includes both international and national geospatial standards. Knowledge of DoD and IC standards.
- A senior should be fully capable of meeting all services required without direction.
- Seniors will be capable of providing direction to lower-level employees and of performing quality control and quality assurance checks on other employees' work.
- Seniors may provide oversight of fellow Contractor employees from their own company.
- Seniors are expected to provide advice to Government leadership on processes, procedures, technology, and items of interest.
- Seniors are also expected to lead collaboration across NGA and IC analysts in the performance of services. Such collaboration efforts should lead to better synergized analysis than the sum of the individual parts.
- Seniors should provide senior level support to NGA office level leadership.
Nice to have
- Experience with JEMA or low side equivalents (ESRI Model Builder, Alteryx, Tableau Prep)
- Experience applying machine learning algorithms to intelligence data
- Experience with multi-INT data
- Ability to learn new technologies, adapt to dynamic mission needs, and develop/test new analytic methodologies
- Proficiency with common programming languages including JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
See All 275+ Data Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Data Scientist JobsData Scientist Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Data Scientist Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Capital One24
- Booz Allen Hamilton21
- Information Technology Senior Management Forum16
- Guidehouse12
- GRVTY8G
Top Industries Hiring
- Banking & Financial Services14
- Fintech5
- Technology & Software3
- Consulting & Professional Services2
- Staffing & Recruiting1
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in data scientist jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in statistics, computer science, or a quantitative field
- Proficiency in Python or R for data analysis, modeling, and automation tasks
- Experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn
- Ability to obtain or hold a U.S. government security clearance for Virginia defense roles
- Hands-on experience with SQL and cloud data platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Strong communication skills for presenting findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Data Scientist Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a data scientist in Virginia?
Virginia does not require a state-issued license to work as a data scientist. The typical path starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, mathematics, or a related quantitative field, often followed by a master's for senior roles. Many Virginia employers, especially in the defense and federal contracting sector, expect candidates to be clearance-eligible from day one, so understanding that process early gives applicants a concrete edge.
How much do data scientists make in Virginia?
Data scientists in Virginia earn a median of about $126,430 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $76,420 for the lowest 10% to over $207,890 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire data scientists in Virginia?
Employers hiring data scientists in Virginia right now include Capital One, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Information Technology Senior Management Forum, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Virginia's concentration of federal agencies and prime contractors means many of the largest hiring organizations operate cleared programs alongside their commercial data science work.
Which Virginia cities have the most data scientist jobs?
McLean, Arlington, and Springfield have the most data scientist openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because of its density of federal agencies, intelligence community contractors, and technology firms clustered around the Dulles corridor, while Richmond draws demand from financial services companies and state government analytics teams, and Hampton Roads hiring is tied to Navy and defense research operations.
Are there remote data scientist jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than most fields, since data science work is largely computer-based and output-driven. About 32% of data scientist openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, making it one of the more flexible roles in the state. Modeling, analysis, and visualization work tends to be fully remote, while roles requiring access to classified systems or sensitive government data typically require on-site presence in Northern Virginia facilities.
How can I get hired as a data scientist in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is targeting junior data analyst or business intelligence analyst roles at Virginia's large federal contractors and financial institutions, where those titles regularly transition into data scientist tracks. Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos both run structured new-graduate programs that place candidates with analytical degrees into data-focused project teams. Building a public portfolio on GitHub with projects using real datasets, earning a cloud certification from AWS or Google, and applying for internships through Virginia university partnerships with government contractors all give candidates without full professional experience a concrete foothold.
Where can I find and apply to data scientist jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to data scientist jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.
See All 275+ Data Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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