Senior Principal Data Scientist (Marketing Channel Optimization)

Navy Federal Credit Union is seeking a senior, advanced individual contributor to deliver analytical insight from organizational data that supports mission-critical decisions. In this onsite role in Vienna, VA, you will apply advanced, largely unsupervised approaches to marketing channel optimization, combining exploratory analysis, predictive modeling, and ethical AI research to improve business outcomes.

This position operates at an industry-expert level and includes hands-on development of complex software, algorithms, and automated processes, along with clear communication of insights to senior stakeholders. You will also contribute as a technical resource, mentoring more junior team members while helping guide the evolution of policies and best practices.

Role Overview

• Serve as a subject matter expert and advanced individual contributor for highly complex, largely unsupervised work in marketing channel optimization.
• Advise senior leaders with analytical insights and solution approaches to address business problems.
• Translate complex business and technical requirements into technological objectives.

Responsibilities

• Direct existing principles and guide the development of new policies.
• Drive innovative solutions through exploratory data analysis using complex, high-dimensional datasets.
• Identify opportunities, pose business questions, and uncover actionable discoveries.
• Generate and test hypotheses, then analyze and interpret results.
• Develop and code the most complex software programs, algorithms, and automated processes.
• Use effective written and verbal communication to document and present findings to stakeholders for critical decision making.
• Research and apply new best practices, including ethical AI.
• Maintain strong working relationships with team members, subject matter experts, and senior leaders.
• May lead complex technical projects and initiatives with significant impact.
• Lead the development and enhancement of practices, procedures, and instructions.
• Serve as a lead technical resource for other team members and mentor/assist leading lower levels.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience.
• In-depth professional knowledge and a solid understanding of business dynamics and strategy.
• Specialized skills across statistics, machine learning, programming, data modeling, simulation, trend analysis, visualization, and advanced mathematics to recognize patterns.
• Experience with SQL, R, Python, Hadoop, SAS, SPSS, Scala, AWS.
• Project management skills and ability to execute a model lifecycle.
• Technical writing, data storytelling, and technical presentation skills.
• Research skills, interpersonal skills, mentoring, critical thinking, thought leadership, and initiative with sound judgment.
• Independent judgment and strong problem solving, including recognizing potential issues and risks for long-term implications.
• Master’s Degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a similar quantitative field.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or Engineering.

Logistics

• Location: 820 Follin Ln., Vienna, Virginia 22180 (onsite)
• Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM

Compensation

• Salary Range: USD 150,100 to 206,450 per year

Important Notices

• Navy Federal reserves the right to fill this role at a higher or lower grade level based on business need.
• An assessment may be required to compete for this position.
• Job postings may close early or extend longer than the anticipated closing date at the hiring team’s discretion.
• Salary ranges are established using market data to remain competitive; pay within the range is based on experience, location, and market position.
• Protect yourself from job scams: Navy Federal posts roles on jobs.navyfederal.org and reputable job boards (for example, LinkedIn and Indeed), and does not request payment, bank details, or personal financial information during hiring.
• Bank Secrecy Act: Remains cognizant of and adheres to Navy Federal policies, procedures, and regulations pertaining to the Bank Secrecy Act.

Technology Stack

• SQL, R, Python, Hadoop, SAS, SPSS, Scala, AWS