Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Scientist jobs in Virginia are in strong and consistent demand, concentrated in defense research, life sciences, environmental consulting, and federal contracting, with openings at every level from entry-level research associate through principal scientist and research director. Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads corridor are the dominant hiring areas, anchored by employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The most sought-after specialties include environmental science, biological research, and data-driven physical sciences tied to government program support. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 180+ Scientist jobs
Senior or Principal Data Scientist (Generative AI)About the role
We are looking for a hands-on data scientist to build and lead the quality of generative AI workflows that review large document sets and draft structured findings for expert reviewers in a regulated environment. You will write and tune the prompts, retrieval and output logic, and own how the program proves the outputs are accurate and well-evidenced enough for experts to rely on.
What you'll do
- Design and build generative AI workflows that review large document sets against defined criteria, identify potential issues, and draft structured findings and documents.
- Build the evaluation framework: gold sets from historical reviews, and metrics for accuracy, evidence linkage, unsupported statements and consistency, run as a regression check before every prompt or model change.
- Set prompt engineering and retrieval standards: chunking, retrieval over source documents and reference standards, and structured outputs that match application contracts.
- Build document chunking and retrieval over large, mixed-format document sets.
- Define provenance and confidence: prompt and model versioning in MLflow, a confidence score reviewers can act on, and links to the evidence behind each statement.
- Measure improvement from reviewer edits by comparing AI drafts with the final human versions, and feed the results back into prompts.
- Build monitoring of output quality and usage, and document each version and its results.
- Set guardrails for confidential data, and explain results to business leaders in plain language.
- At the Principal level, set standards across workflows and mentor other data scientists.
What you bring
- Senior: 8+ years in data science or machine learning. Principal: 12+ years. Both include 2+ years building production applications on large language models.
- Python and PySpark; Databricks notebooks and MLflow.
- Proven evaluation design for generated text: gold sets, automated scoring and human review loops.
- Databricks Mosaic AI: Model Serving, Vector Search and Agent Framework.
- Document understanding: extracting content from PDF, Excel and scanned files.
- Ability to explain model behavior and limits to non-technical domain experts.
- Experience with Azure OpenAI models.
Nice to have
- Audit, accounting or regulatory domain knowledge.
- Model-graded evaluation and human-in-the-loop review systems.
Working with us
- You will work inside a secure, private cloud environment with highly confidential data.
- You must be authorized to work in the United States and able to pass a background check.
- We are looking for people who can start within a few weeks.
Pay: $125,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have Python and PySpark;Databricks notebooks and MLflow experience?
- Do you have experience with Azure OpenAI models?
Experience:
- Data Science or Machine learning : 8 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- McLean, VA 22102 (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in McLean, VA 22102
Senior or Principal Data Scientist (Generative AI)About the role
We are looking for a hands-on data scientist to build and lead the quality of generative AI workflows that review large document sets and draft structured findings for expert reviewers in a regulated environment. You will write and tune the prompts, retrieval and output logic, and own how the program proves the outputs are accurate and well-evidenced enough for experts to rely on.
What you'll do
- Design and build generative AI workflows that review large document sets against defined criteria, identify potential issues, and draft structured findings and documents.
- Build the evaluation framework: gold sets from historical reviews, and metrics for accuracy, evidence linkage, unsupported statements and consistency, run as a regression check before every prompt or model change.
- Set prompt engineering and retrieval standards: chunking, retrieval over source documents and reference standards, and structured outputs that match application contracts.
- Build document chunking and retrieval over large, mixed-format document sets.
- Define provenance and confidence: prompt and model versioning in MLflow, a confidence score reviewers can act on, and links to the evidence behind each statement.
- Measure improvement from reviewer edits by comparing AI drafts with the final human versions, and feed the results back into prompts.
- Build monitoring of output quality and usage, and document each version and its results.
- Set guardrails for confidential data, and explain results to business leaders in plain language.
- At the Principal level, set standards across workflows and mentor other data scientists.
What you bring
- Senior: 8+ years in data science or machine learning. Principal: 12+ years. Both include 2+ years building production applications on large language models.
- Python and PySpark; Databricks notebooks and MLflow.
- Proven evaluation design for generated text: gold sets, automated scoring and human review loops.
- Databricks Mosaic AI: Model Serving, Vector Search and Agent Framework.
- Document understanding: extracting content from PDF, Excel and scanned files.
- Ability to explain model behavior and limits to non-technical domain experts.
- Experience with Azure OpenAI models.
Nice to have
- Audit, accounting or regulatory domain knowledge.
- Model-graded evaluation and human-in-the-loop review systems.
Working with us
- You will work inside a secure, private cloud environment with highly confidential data.
- You must be authorized to work in the United States and able to pass a background check.
- We are looking for people who can start within a few weeks.
Pay: $125,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have Python and PySpark;Databricks notebooks and MLflow experience?
- Do you have experience with Azure OpenAI models?
Experience:
- Data Science or Machine learning : 8 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- McLean, VA 22102 (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in McLean, VA 22102
See All 180+ Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Scientist JobsScientist Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Scientist Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Technology & Software
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in scientist jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree or higher in biology, chemistry, environmental science, or a related field
- Experience with laboratory instrumentation, field data collection, or research study design
- Familiarity with federal or Virginia state environmental regulations and compliance standards
- Ability to obtain or maintain a U.S. government security clearance as required by the position
- Proficiency with data analysis tools and scientific software such as R, Python, or ArcGIS
- Strong technical writing skills for reports, proposals, and peer-reviewed documentation
Scientist Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a scientist in Virginia?
Most scientist roles in Virginia require at least a bachelor's degree in a natural or physical science, with many positions in defense and federal contracting favoring a master's degree or higher. Environmental scientists working on regulated projects may need to meet Virginia Department of Environmental Quality standards or hold certifications such as Professional Wetland Scientist or Certified Environmental Professional. For research roles with state or federal agencies, relevant field or laboratory experience carries significant weight alongside formal education.
Which companies hire scientists in Virginia?
Employers hiring scientists in Virginia right now include Capital One, Information Technology Senior Management Forum, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's concentration of federal agencies and defense contractors means many scientist roles are tied to government-funded research programs, making established contractors and consulting firms among the most consistent sources of openings.
Which Virginia cities have the most scientist jobs?
McLean, Richmond, and Arlington have the most scientist openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia's proximity to federal agencies and defense contractors drives the largest share of postings, while Richmond's life sciences sector and Hampton Roads' Navy and environmental research presence account for strong hiring in those areas as well.
Are there remote scientist jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're rare. About 56% of scientist openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work requires lab access, field sampling, or classified facility presence. The subset most likely to allow remote or hybrid arrangements includes data analysis, scientific writing, and modeling roles where no physical sample work is involved.
How can I get hired as a scientist in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a research associate or lab technician role, which large Virginia employers like Leidos, SAIC, and ICF regularly post for candidates with a bachelor's degree and no professional experience. Federal agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey and EPA regional offices in Northern Virginia also run student volunteer and pathways programs. Building a portfolio of field or lab work through university research, state agency internships with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, or AmeriCorps environmental programs strengthens a first application meaningfully.
Where can I find and apply to scientist jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to scientist jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across defense, environmental, life sciences, and federal research sectors. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 180+ Scientist Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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