Data Scientist

Summary

You will serve as a Data Scientist within the Department of the Interior, Us Geological Survey, Core Science Systems, Sci Data Mgmt, LAKEWOOD,COLORADO. This is a term position with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of 10 years, based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition at management's discretion.

Duties

• Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Create and refine systems that transfer scientific data, metadata, and related artifacts from internal sources to public repositories and long-term storage; preserve the integrity of and manage access to artifacts. Deliver data artifacts through user-friendly interfaces and AI-powered apps. Develop and implement AI and machine learning tools to streamline the release of USGS-approved publications, data, models, and metadata for USGS and public users accessing scientific resources - examples include workflows, forms, editors in backend systems, and chatbots, search interfaces, and other discovery aids in public-facing systems and interfaces. Use data science and management methods to efficiently maintain scientific data, publications, metadata, and files in SDM-managed repositories and systems, including batch updates, file transfers, storage and access efficiencies, and address changes in federal data and information policies. Use established and innovative techniques to detect patterns and anomalies in scientific data and metadata, ensuring compliance with Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (FAIR), and future Federal, Departmental, or Bureau requirements. Work collaboratively with team members, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to ensure shared understanding of project goals and analytical needs, and employs open communication and coordination skills to help the team align on methods, validate assumptions, and integrate diverse perspectives.

Qualifications

Requirements Continued: Upon completion of your probation your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/19/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: At all grade levels, applicants must meet the following education requirement to satisfy the basic education requirement for the Data Scientist occupational series. Possess a Bachelor's or higher degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position. OR A combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.? GS-11: In addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirements, you must have specialized experience, graduate education, or a combination of specialized experience and graduate education as outlined below. One year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of such experience may include: Building, integrating, deploying, and optimizing tools, applications, and capabilities that leverage AI, machine learning, and models. Applying research computing techniques, including Python and R, and development of Jupyter Notebooks and Pydantic models, for data-intensive analysis, validation, and batch processes. Applying machine learning and natural language processing techniques, including large language models and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), to develop tools and automated workflows for chatbot interactions, data validation, content summarization, information extraction, metadata enhancement, and related processes that support data and information management and discovery. Experience working with Cloud hosting solutions, including AWS or Azure, and file transfer solutions, such as Globus. Experience using SQL and NoSQL databases, writing queries to extract data and perform update operations. **OR Graduate education: Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree directly related field of study. **OR Combination: a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, and professional experience, as described above.(CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE). Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 09/19/2026--unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13061576 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.