Jobs Private USA → Technology → Data, analytics and AI → Data Scientist SME

Data Scientist SME

Leidos · Tucson, AZ · posted 3 days ago

In short: Data Scientist SME at Leidos in Tucson, AZ, posted 3 days ago.

By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 09/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.

Leidosemployer

Tucson, AZlocation

Data, analytics and AIsub-niche

3 days agoposted

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The job

LIVE Live feed (private-sector employer) Source: The Muse public API · Data: listed 2026-11-06

Employer	Leidos
Location	Tucson, Arizona
Field	Technology › Data, analytics and AI
Level	Senior Level
Source category	Data and Analytics
Posted	2026-11-06 (3 days ago)
Work arrangement	On-site at the location listed
Pay	Not published in the source listing

Job description

Description

Turn Mission Data into Mission Advantage.

Are you ready to turn complex data into insights that drive mission-critical decisions? We are looking for an exceptional Data Scientist Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join the Chinook Program and help shape the future of an advanced application supporting an Intelligence Community (IC) customer.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly accomplished data science leader who thrives on solving difficult problems, discovering patterns hidden within complex datasets, and transforming analytical insights into operational capabilities. You will work at the intersection of data science, software engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics, and mission operations to develop innovative solutions that make a measurable difference.

As a Data Scientist SME, you will lead the design, development, evaluation, and operationalization of sophisticated data science capabilities. The role requires a combination of deep technical expertise, analytical rigor, software engineering understanding, and the ability to translate complex mission requirements into actionable data-driven solutions.

The successful candidate will work closely with software engineers, data engineers, system engineers, DevSecOps engineers, UI/UX professionals, product owners, test engineers, program leadership, and intel customer stakeholders.

The position requires an individual who can operate at both the strategic and hands-on levels establishing data science strategy while remaining technically engaged in solving complex analytical and engineering challenges.

Position may be performed in the following locations below.

Tucson, AZ
Gaithersburg
Alexandria, VA
Chantilly, VA
Englewood, CO
St. Louis, MO

Clearance Level Required:

Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with the ability to successfully pass a Polygraph examination.

Primary Responsibilities:

Serve as the senior technical authority for data science, advanced analytics, and AI/ML, translating mission needs into actionable analytical solutions.
Lead the design, development, validation, and optimization of statistical, predictive, prescriptive, and machine learning models.
Analyze complex, heterogeneous datasets to identify patterns, anomalies, trends, and insights that support mission objectives.
Drive the development and operationalization of AI/ML capabilities, including classification, regression, clustering, anomaly detection, NLP, and predictive modeling.
Establish standards and best practices for model performance, validation, explainability, bias, uncertainty, reproducibility, and operational effectiveness.
Partner with data, software, and systems engineers to define data requirements, feature engineering, data quality, governance, and scalable integration approaches.
Collaborate with engineering and DevSecOps teams to transition analytical solutions into secure, maintainable, scalable production capabilities and CI/CD pipelines.
Support Agile and SAFe planning and execution by translating data science initiatives into capabilities, stories, technical enablers, dependencies, and risks.
Lead technical reviews, trade studies, and working sessions, and establish methodologies, patterns, and practices across the program.
Engage with customers, stakeholders, and leadership to communicate findings, recommendations, risks, and mission impact.
Mentor data scientists, engineers, and other technical team members, and review analytical approaches, code, models, and documentation.
Evaluate and recommend emerging data science and AI/ML technologies to improve application capabilities and mission outcomes.

Basic Qualifications:

US citizenship is required per contract
Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Geospatial Science or related field and 12-15 years of prior relevant experience or Master's with 10-13 years of prior relevant experience. May possess a Doctorate in technical domain.
12+ years demonstrated experience working as a Data Scientist, Senior/Principal Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, or equivalent senior technical role.
Extensive experience applying statistical analysis, machine learning, and advanced analytics to complex problems.
Proven expertise in developing and implementing machine learning and AI models, particularly in context of geospatial or remote sensing.
Deep knowledge of geospatial analytics tools (e.g., GIS, ArcGIS), remote sensing techniques, and the application of data science in the IC.
Expert proficiency in Python and/or R (or similar languages) and experience with data science libraries (Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or equivalent tecchnologies).
Strong experience with big data processing tools (e.g., Spark, PySpark, Kafka, Hadoop, AWS or Azure cloud platforms).
Expertise in working with geospatial data formats (e.g., GeoTIFF, Shapefiles, WMS, WFS) and spatial libraries (e.g., GeoPandas, Rasterio, GDAL).
Advance experience in developing and operationalizing AI/ML models and algorithms for geospatial data (e.g., object detection from satellite imagery, spatial clustering, predictive analytics).
Strong background in data visualization and reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI).
Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work directly with senior government officials, analysts, and technical teams.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to translate technical challenges into actionable insights.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced certifications in data science or machine learning.
Familiarity with the customer's mission and specific geospatial intelligence challenges.
Expertise in advanced deep learning techniques, particularly in computer vision and image analysis for geospatial applications.
Experience with cloud-native applications and distributed computing in a geospatial context.
Experience deploying models into production environments.
Experience with Kubernetes and containerized applications.
Experience developing REST APIs or other services for analytic capabilities.
Experience with NLP and/or LLM.
Experience with geospatial analytics and spatial data.
Experience with streaming or near-real time analytics.
Experience with developing analytical capabilities within secure or air-gapped environments.
Published research or technical papers in geospatial intelligence, machine learning, or data science.

#Chinook

#NSBA

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:
October 15, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:
Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos' name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system - never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

Explore around this job

Field: Technology Sub-niche: Data, analytics and AI All jobs at Leidos Jobs in Arizona Jobs in Tucson, AZ Tucson city guide Arizona state guide Pima County economy Pay for this occupation (BLS) All 244 open jobs for this occupation

View this job and apply on The Muse →

You apply on The Muse or on the employer's page; AtiveSite does not receive or process applications and is not affiliated with The Muse. The description above is shown as the source published it.

About the role

This is a Senior Level role in the Technology field (Data, analytics and AI) at Leidos. Senior roles usually expect substantial experience, ownership of results and often the ability to guide others.

The closest occupation in the official wage statistics is Data scientists (a match by name, so treat it as an estimate). Nationally its median pay is $120,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), employment is projected to change by +34.6% between 2025 and 2035, and the typical entry route is: Bachelor's degree.

In the Tucson, AZ area the median for this occupation is $83,650 a year with 360 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This is a statistic for the occupation, not an offer from this employer.

Pay by state and metro area for this occupation →

Does the pay work here? (estimate)

Gross salary a year Filing State income tax rate %

Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; set your own state tax rate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.

How to prepare and behave

This is editorial guidance, not information from the employer.

Read the whole description and match your examples to its requirements; use the same words the posting uses where they are true for you.
Research the employer before the interview: what it does, who its customers are and recent news; prepare two or three questions about the work.
Arrive early (or log in early for a video call), dress one step above the daily dress code, and test your camera and audio beforehand.
Answer with short stories: the situation, what you did and the result. Give numbers when you have them and never invent them.
Be honest about gaps; say what you did to learn and how fast you can close them.
Ask about the team, the first 90 days, how success is measured and the schedule; do not open with salary and time off.
When pay comes up, know the market range for the occupation and your lowest acceptable offer before you answer; ask for the full package in writing.
Send a short thank-you message within a day, mentioning one thing you discussed.
Have code, data work or projects you can show, and be ready to think aloud: many technical interviews test how you reason, not only the answer.

Know your rights as a candidate and an employee:

The city

The job is in Tucson, AZ. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Tucson compares. Among the 80 largest places in Arizona, Tucson is #2 by population, #76 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #71 for household income (#1 = highest), #14 for long commutes (#1 = fewest). Its county, Pima County, is #3 of 15 counties for average pay ($61,936).

The place in numbers

Tucson has 547,073 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 7.4% of the population of Arizona. It covers 242 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,259 people per square mile. The median age is 34.6, 11% younger than the state median (34.6 against 39.0).

Housing

The median gross rent is $1,145 a month (rent plus utilities), 26% below the state median ($1,145 against $1,543). Over a year that is 24.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $266,200, which is 4.7 times the median household income ($57,073). 51.9% of households own their home, 23% below the state average (51.9% against 67.4%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.

Work and pay

The Tucson, AZ metropolitan area has 389,630 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,760 a year, 6% below the national median ($47,760 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (46,550 jobs, median $44,920); food preparation and serving related (36,210 jobs, median $34,990); sales and related (33,700 jobs, median $36,070). The area is most specialised in architecture and engineering (1.5 times) and protective service (1.3 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($100,780) and computer and mathematical ($97,560). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Pima County was 4.8%. 60.7% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Pima County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 68.0% drive alone, 2.3% use public transit, 2.6% walk, 13.8% work from home. 7.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 45% below the state average (7.9% against 14.2%).

People and education

31.1% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 7% below the state share (31.1% against 33.3%). 13.4% of residents were born outside the United States, 4% above the state share (13.4% against 13.0%). The poverty rate is 18.9%, 51% above the state rate (18.9% against 12.5%).

Climate

The warmest month is Jun, averaging 82°F (27.5°C), and the coolest is Dec at 45°F (7.4°C). About 323 mm (13 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jul is the wettest month (82 mm) and May the driest (4 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: Catalina Foothills (10 miles, rent 23% higher); Drexel Heights (10 miles, rent 17% higher); Tanque Verde (11 miles, rent 18% higher); Flowing Wells (13 miles, rent 10% lower). Rent differences are against Tucson; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

Full guide to Tucson →Arizona guide All jobs in Tucson

Official links for Tucson

These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.

Where to live

The job city has no coordinates we can place on the map, so no housing comparison is shown. Use the 250 largest cities table to compare rent and income.

Career paths

Occupations close to Data scientists in the official classification, with pay, outlook and whether there are open jobs for them on this site right now.

Sort:

Occupation ⇅	National median pay ⇅	Growth 2025–35 ⇅	Openings a year (US) ⇅	Open jobs here ⇅
Operations research analysts	$88,940	+11.9%	7,500	none right now
Statisticians	$105,650	+11.0%	1,900	none right now
Actuaries	$130,000	+9.2%	1,500	none right now

Distances

This job has no single city we can place on the map (remote, flexible or unmatched location), so no distance table is shown. Browse all Technology jobs with distances from any of the 20 largest cities.

The employer

Leidos is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

Company description (from The Muse): Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health.

size: Large Size; industries: Information Technology; locations on The Muse: Reston, VA.

It is among the 200 largest US-headquartered employers in our list, with about 47,000 employees worldwide (year not stated). Company page with headquarters, state economy and official links →

Official links for Leidos

The employer's profile on The Muse →

What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

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FAQ

What is the Data Scientist SME job at Leidos?

A senior level role in technology (data, analytics and ai) listed 3 days ago. The full description is on this page and on The Muse.

Where is this job?

Tucson, AZ.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on The Muse" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay. For the closest occupation (Data scientists) the national median is $120,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Tucson is $1,145 a month and median household income $57,073 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-11-06 (3 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse data, analytics and ai jobs in Arizona.

Sources and terms

Job data: The Muse public API (listing dated 2026-11-06). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Muse, the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

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