Data Scientist – Talent Analytics & Organizational Research

Peraton is seeking a Data Scientist to join our Talent Analytics & Insights team. In this role, you will leverage your strong quantitative skills in data analysis, statistical testing, and research design to support our investigations into critical workforce questions such as attrition drivers, workforce planning, internal mobility, employee engagement, and performance outcomes.

Over time you will take on increasingly sophisticated modeling and analytic challenges. You will support not just producing numbers, but in producing advice and answers that senior leaders will use to make critical workforce decisions.  To this end, excellent oral and written communication skills will differentiate the best candidates for this position.

This is not a back-end data engineering role. We are looking for someone who enjoys applied research, analytical problem-solving, and the challenge of making data useful for real decisions.

While work may be performed remotely, preference will be given to qualified candidates able to work occasionally from our Reston, VA office.

What You'll Do

• Conduct descriptive and diagnostic analyses of workforce data to surface trends, anomalies, and actionable patterns (e.g., attrition hotspots, promotion rates, engagement shifts)
• Apply hypothesis testing, correlation analysis, and regression techniques and other methods to answer workforce questions with rigor
• Extract, join, transform, and validate data from enterprise data warehouse and HR systems using SQL
• Translate business questions into structured analytical approaches and deliver end-to-end analyses from scoping through presentation
• Communicate findings clearly to HR and business stakeholders, including visualizations, written summaries, and presentations
• Partner with HR functions throughout the lifecycle of analytics initiatives — from data gathering and exploratory analysis through delivery and documentation
• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and confidentiality of highly sensitive workforce data

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Data Science, Economics, Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Computer Science, or related discipline) with 5+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree in a relevant field with up to 3 years of experience (including graduate research or internships)
• 9+ years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree. 
• Solid grounding in statistics, including hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression modeling
• Proficiency in SQL for querying, filtering, joining, and aggregating structured data from relational databases
• Proficiency in a statistical programming language (R or Python) for data manipulation, analysis, and visualization
• Ability to interpret analytical results accurately and communicate findings clearly in written and verbal form
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate, well-documented work
• Proven ability to manage projects independently, prioritize effectively, and deliver high-quality results
• Demonstrated integrity and discretion when working with sensitive data
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must be a US citizen. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in people analytics, organizational behavior, industrial-organizational psychology, or workforce research
• Exposure to machine learning concepts and practical application (academic projects, internships, or professional experience)
• Experience with Workday reporting and HRIS data structures
• Familiarity with Alteryx or similar tools for data preparation and workflow automation
• Experience working with HR or employee data in a professional or research setting