Data Scientist

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU, and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting

Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is NATO's leading agent for change: driving, facilitating, and advocating the continuous improvement of Alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance the military relevance and effectiveness of the Alliance. The main objectives of ACT are: providing appropriate support to NATO missions and operations; leading NATO military transformation; improving relationships, interaction, and practical cooperation with partners, nations, and international organisations. ACT therefore leads Alliance concept development, capability development, training, and lessons-learned initiatives and provides unfettered military support to policy development within NATO.

The program

Capability Development & Management Support (CDMS)

DCOS Capability Development (CAPDEV) acts as the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation's Director for guidance, direction and co-ordination of the activities and resources of the Capability Development Directorate.

The Requirements Division will execute all tasks and activities needed to support requirements management for NATO capabilities

The Capability Requirements (CR) Branch will develop the Capability Requirements Brief and recommended courses of action to resolve issues associated with through the life cycle management of requirements using matrixed, cross-functional project- specific Requirements Management teams.

The Requirements Forward Branch (Mons) is responsible for conducting requirements development and management representation and engagement related functions in Europe.

The Capability Division coordinates the development of capabilities from capability planning through acceptance and then disposal with management entities, NATO Headquarters staff and the NATO Governance Structure

The Capability Forward Branch (Mons) coordinates with ACO, NCIA, NSPA, NATO HQ, territorial Host Nations, and NATO Centres of Excellence (COEs) in support of the development of capabilities.

Strategic Plans and Policy (SPP) supports Allied Command Transformation in formalizing military advice to shape future military strategy, political guidance, and other policy documents in support of NATO's strategic objectives.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

The DS & AI Section requires contractor support to attain and keep the workforce level required to deliver on its responsibilities, and contribute on multiple technical projects while expanding its strategy, policy, and crosscutting outreach roles according to its growing function and role. The scope of work covers but is not limited to:

• Engaging and collaborating with all branches of HQ SACT and identifying, executing and implementing analytic opportunities for data analytics, data science and AI to include business intelligence and robotic process automation (RPA);
• Be the major data science and AI hub for HQ SACT collaborate and guide other related activities to avoid redundancies and duplications, and use the increasing capacity to satisfy the increasing demand effectively;
• Conduct rapid prototyping and data product development (to include data pipelines, machine learning/AI algorithms and visualization of outputs);
• Develop and supervise proof of concepts, and experiments to de-risk future programmes and support requirements capture and refinement both for ACT and ACO;
• Provision of technical subject matter expertise (SME) to HQ SACT staff (for example by providing Data Science and AI expertise for the ACT Innovation Branch), and peer review of ongoing projects;
• Supporting the development of operational requirement statements (ORS) and Capability Programme Plan (CPP);
• Provide training and training development to increase staff data and AI literacy as contributing steps to evolve HQ SACT (and NATO) into a data-driven organisation;
• Maintain and expand regular outreach with industry, academia, the think tank community, and nations on topics related to data science, analytics, and AI.
• Grow and invigorate internal communities that bring together DS & AI practitioners and consumers.
• Lead and further develop the multi-year NATO Data Exploitation Programme in the WDA and its implementation, and support the development of a NATO Enterprise framework that allows for Data Science and AI projects to be conducted (this includes Data, Information and Knowledge Management; Communication and Information Security; Architecture and Infrastructure; Analytics & Technology Integration; Policy, Guidance and Legal; Awareness, Training and Education; Manpower Development and Staffing; Funding and Contracting);
• Support the NATO HQ-led policy and strategy development in the context of the Data Exploitation framework;
• Represent HQ SACT at the staff level in different governance and policy committees;
• Continued development of proofs of concept to better understand the impact of technological advances and evolving analytical methods on data science, analytics and AI in
• an environment with increasing interoperability;
• Leading and maturing the NATO Data Science, Analytics and AI community of interest, that brings together stakeholders from the NATO Enterprise and Allies, to establish coherence in the approach, and foster collaboration and cooperation;
• Support and develop NATO HQ and Enterprise initiatives such as the development and maturation of the Data Exploitation Ecosystem;
• Collaborate and coordinate with NCIA to further develop and implement (cloud) analytics infrastructure and tools for data exploitation and AI for the NATO Enterprise.
• Develop and support proof of concepts, experiments and technology demonstrations to better understand and demonstrate the benefits that data science and AI can provide for the NATO Enterprise and its stakeholders;
• Collaborate, coordinate with and directly support other NATO entities in their efforts to digitally transform and become more data-driven.
• As a member of the Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Section, responsible to the Section Head/COTR, the contractor will contribute to the development and implementation of an enabling data science and AI capability at HQ SACT and for the NATO Enterprise in particular in the context of the ongoing implementation of the Data Exploitation Framework and Programme.
• Identifies, contributes to and implements ML/AI initiatives across HQ SACT and the NATO Enterprise with suggestions for ML approaches and implementation, including the processing of training data and performance assessment of machine learning techniques on datasets.
• Applies existing data science techniques to new problems and datasets using specialised programming techniques to meet the needs of the project and customer.
• Evaluates the outcomes and performance of data science models. Identifies and implements opportunities to train and improve models and the data they use.
• Publishes and reports on machine learning model outputs to meet customer needs and conform to agreed standards.
• Has in-depth knowledge of NLP, application of ML, or computer vision.
• Has experience with Generative AI.
• Supports review of data science and AI activities, processes, products or services.
• Works in conjunction with other data professionals (such as Data Scientists, data and information managers, and data engineers), software engineers and SMEs from different functional areas, branches and directorates within HQ SACT or NATO entities, as directed, for example in support of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development of the ACT Innovation Branch.
• Provides subject matter expertise to (military and civilian) staff within HQ SACT or the NATO Enterprise and develops proofs of concept, as directed.
• Supports internal and external communities that bring together DS & AI practitioners and consumers.
• Supports the development of scientific studies.
• Supports educational efforts and training development related to data, AI or digital literacy.
• Remains up-to-date with new developments in data science and AI to bring innovative ideas into implementation.
• Supports building a data-driven culture that uses analytics to generate insights, improve decision-making at all levels, inform strategy and policy decisions, and improve performance.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Proven work experience as a Data Scientist, ML Engineer or a similar role in the last four years.
• Proficient in Machine Learning/AI, statistical and mathematical analysis.
• Experience in modern software architecture and software development related to data science, analytics and AI, e.g. Python, SQL, R.
• Experience with machine learning and AI frameworks, using e.g. TensorFlow, PyTorch, sci-kit-learn, or other modern machine learning frameworks.
• Experience with planning, executing and maintaining Data Science pipelines.
• Experience visualizing data and producing high-quality graphs and reports, charts and interactive dashboards using tools such as Tableau, MS Power BI, and Kibana.
• Experience with agile methodologies.
• Experience in providing training in various areas related to data science, analytics, and AI at different technical levels.
• Portfolio of demonstrable products available via GitLab, or other platforms.
• Ability to work in a cloud environment, in particular Microsoft Azure, or Amazon Web Services.
• Working experience in an international environment with both military and civilian elements.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, with excellent briefing skills.

Education

• A Master's degree or higher at a nationally recognised/certified university in Data Science, Data Analytics, AI engineering, or a related discipline such as Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or Software Engineering OR four years minimum professional experience in the area of Data Science, including providing analysis and advice in the field of data science, within the last five years.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience working within a Big Data ecosystem, with tools such as Databricks, Spark etc.
• Experience working with open-source and publicly available data.
• Experienced 'data storyteller'.
• Experience working on a military staff.
• Knowledge of NATO and its functions.
• Experience in project management.

Working Location

• (Norfolk, VA, USA)

Working Policy

• Onsite

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO personal security clearance

Language

• Professional English