Senior Data Scientist

Job Title: Senior Data Scientist

Location: Remote

Duration: 6 Months Contract with possibility of extensions

IRG clients are seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist to lead a proof-of-concept initiative focused on transforming the child welfare intake process. This role will leverage Natural Language Processing (NLP) and advanced machine learning techniques to improve decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and enhance outcomes for at-risk children.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in data science, statistical modeling, and large-scale data processing, along with the ability to translate complex social processes into effective computational models. This is a high-impact role requiring collaboration with state stakeholders and technical teams to deliver transparent, scalable, and data-driven solutions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Development Framework

• Establish and manage a structured framework for proof-of-concept execution, including tasks, milestones, and deliverables
• Identify key dependencies, risks, and mitigation strategies
• Track progress related to data availability, testing, and delivery timelines

2. Current State Analysis

• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand existing intake workflows and decision-making processes
• Evaluate current system limitations and identify areas for improvement
• Prioritize gaps based on impact to children and state resources

3. Solution Design & Innovation

• Lead the design of an enhanced intake process using NLP and machine learning models
• Define functional components and evaluate their contributions to solving identified challenges
• Analyze trade-offs across architecture, computation, scalability, and security
• Assess and select appropriate data sources (existing, simulated, or alternative)
• Ensure full documentation for transparency and reproducibility

4. Design Reviews

• Develop and lead formal design review processes
• Evaluate functional and technical designs against project goals
• Assess risks related to data security, timelines, and system performance
• Define testing and demonstration strategies
• Document all design decisions and outcomes

5. Proof-of-Concept Implementation

• Oversee prototype development and implementation
• Conduct weekly status updates and milestone (gate) reviews
• Provide technical leadership to resolve risks and remove roadblocks

6. Stakeholder Demonstration

• Lead a 3–4 day conference room demonstration showcasing the solution’s impact
• Present how the prototype improves outcomes and reduces resource usage
• Capture stakeholder feedback and incorporate insights

7. Roadmap Development

• Contribute to a strategic roadmap for integrating the solution into the State’s technology ecosystem

8. Agile Collaboration

• Actively participate in Agile processes to ensure timely and successful delivery

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, or related field
• Experience working on U.S. Federal Government data science programs, preferably requiring TS/SCI clearance
• Strong expertise in data engineering, including processing extremely large datasets (700M+ records in under 30 minutes)
• Proven experience with CCWIS data and predicting child welfare outcomes
• Deep knowledge of machine learning, statistical modeling, and adaptive systems
• Demonstrated ability to build scalable, high-performance data pipelines and models

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and building machine learning algorithms from scratch
• Strong understanding of algorithmic trade-offs (accuracy, scalability, compute time, error rates)
• Experience developing non-rule-based decision systems using stochastic inputs
• Proven success in translating human decision-making and social processes into computational models
• Background in geospatial analysis, pattern-of-life modeling, or social network analysis