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Scientist II

Mission Support and Test Services

Goleta, CAJob$83–125K/yrSeen 5 days agoSeen in employer's feed 5 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$83–125K/yr
Location
Goleta, CA
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Security clearanceBachelor's degreeValid Driver's License

Job overview

Mission Support and Test Services seeks a Data Scientist to support the design and development of algorithms for signal and data processing at its Special Technologies Laboratory in Santa Barbara. The role works across interdisciplinary teams on machine learning and analysis of multimodal data from critical infrastructure monitoring. It applies statistical and data-driven techniques to quality assurance, system integrity, and counter-sabotage objectives, translating operational challenges into analytical solutions.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

CC++PythonStatistical ModelingMachine Learning ModelingTask PrioritizationWritten CommunicationOral CommunicationSignal ProcessingData ExplorationStatistical AnalysisClusteringRegressionClassificationData VisualizationUser InterfacesPhysical Modeling

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Calculus-Based STEM2+ Years Relevant ExperienceApplied Mathematics or EngineeringGraduate STEM DegreeValid Driver's LicenseDOE Q-Level Security ClearanceMust Be 18+U.S. Citizenship

Full job description

Job Description

The Special Technologies Laboratory (STL) is in search of a Data Scientist with a strong analytical background to work across multiple teams at our Santa Barbara, CA facility, supporting the design and development of novel algorithms for signal and data processing. This position is part of an interdisciplinary team that values a diversity of subject backgrounds.

Responsiblities

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop, implement, and evaluate machine learning algorithms to analyze multi-modal data (e.g. time series, imagery, sensor streams) from critical infrastructure monitoring.

  • Design models to detect anomalous behavior and emerging risks in complex processes.

  • Apply statistical and data-driven techniques to support quality assurance, system integrity and counter-sabotage objectives.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate operational challenges into analytical solutions.

  • Perform exploratory data analysis to understand data characteristics, limitations and quality.

  • Communicate technical findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

  • Contribute to documentation, testing and continuous improvement of analytical workflows.

  • Perform other duties assigned by Management.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in a calculus-based (STEM) field, plus at least 2 years’ relevant experience. Skill building experience must demonstrate either deeper technical specialization or additional cross-disciplinary knowledge. Graduate research experience may be recognized.

  • Course of study in applied mathematics, electrical, software or computer engineering preferred.

  • Prefer a graduate degree in a STEM field with either graduate or undergraduate degree in a calculus-based physical science, engineering, or applied mathematics field.

  • Proficiency with common compiled and interpreted scripting languages such C, C++ or Python.

  • Experience developing statistical concepts to create solutions to physical science problems.

  • Experience with building machine learning models for multi-modal datasets.

  • Interest in autonomous manufacturing and inspection.

  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.

  • Proficiency with signal processing, data exploration, and statistical analysis techniques is highly desired.

  • Interest in machine learning methods, including clustering, regression, and classification is preferred.

  • Experience with data visualization tools and user interfaces is preferred.

  • Experience in developing models of physical phenomena to correlate with measured data is preferred.

  • The primary work location will be at the Special Technologies Laboratory located in Santa Barbara, CA.

  • Flexible work schedule can be negotiated with the manager; employees can work 5/8s, 9/80 or 4/10 work weeks.

  • Pre-placement physical examination, which includes a drug screen, is required. MSTS maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.

  • Must possess a valid driver’s license.

MSTS is required by DOE directive to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants offered employment with MSTS are also subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. In addition, Applicants for employment must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship, at least 18 years of age. Reference DOE Order 472.2, “Personnel Security”. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Department of Energy Q Clearance (position will be cleared to this level). Reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal drug as defined in 10 CFR Part 707.4, “Workplace Substance Abuse Programs at DOE Sites,” will be conducted. Applicant selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation, required to participate in subsequent reinvestigations, and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified matter. Successful completion of a counterintelligence evaluation, which may include a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, may also be required. Reference 10 CFR Part 709, “Counterintelligence Evaluation Program.”

MSTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. MSTS is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

Annual salary range for this position is: $83,075.20 - $124,612.80.

Starting salary is determined based on the position market value, the individual candidate education and experience and internal equity.

How this job compares

Set against the 5,105 open Data Scientist jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 29, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$83–125K/yr
  • California median$156–241K/yr727 salary ranges
  • US median$135–216K/yr4,092 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $104K, is 48% below the California median midpoint ($201K) — in the lowest quarter of Data Scientist salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 854 open Data Scientist jobs in California and 5,105 across the US. 6% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 2 years of experience — less than three in four Data Scientist postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 4,402 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 2,829 of the 5,105 open Data Scientist jobs (55%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 29, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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