Principal Data Scientist

Principal Scientist (Scientist IV) Job Description Location: Based in Austin, TX   About Us: Valkyrie is an applied science firm that builds industry-defining custom AI, Machine Learning and Knowledge Engineering solutions. Our interdisciplinary applied science teams support our clients end-to-end—from data normalization through model deployment—solving complex, high-impact problems across commercial and government sectors. Our work spans industries and institutions including SiriusXM, Activision, Chubb Insurance, and the U.S. Department of Defense. We operate at the intersection of deep technical rigor, operational excellence, and real-world impact. Principal Scientist Position: Principal Scientists serve as senior technical leaders responsible for shaping, scoping, and delivering applied AI and advanced analytics solutions for client organizations. They lead small cross-functional project teams (typically 1–3 scientists and engineers per project) and ensure that solutions are technically sound, aligned with client needs, and delivered with high quality.   This role combines hands-on technical contribution, technical leadership, and client interaction. Principal Scientists are expected to remain deeply engaged in modeling, analysis, and development while guiding teams through ambiguity, evolving requirements, and complex stakeholder environments.   This is not a pure individual contributor role and not a solely people-management role; it is a technical leadership position centered on project execution, client trust, and scientific rigor. Principal Scientist Key Responsibilities: Technical Leadership & Project Execution Translate ambiguous business problems into structured technical approachesArchitect, build, and validate ML models, experiments, and analytical pipelinesMaintain high standards of code quality, experimentation rigor, and documentationEvaluate and integrate new tools or methods as projects require Client Engagement & Advisory Serve as a trusted technical partner to client stakeholdersLead technical discussions and guide expectation-settingCommunicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiencesContribute to strategic deliverables (AI roadmaps, data maturity assessments, and data architecture redesigns)Build long-term client trust through thoughtful execution and pragmatic guidance Team Leadership & Mentorship Lead and mentor small teams of data scientists and engineersProvide technical direction, feedback, and mentorshipGuide teams through ambiguity, evolving requirement and delivery milestonesEnsure quality control across modeling, code, and deliverablesFoster a culture of scientific curiosity and disciplined execution Strategic Contribution & Business Support Collaborate with business development teams on new opportunitiesContribute to proposal development and drafting Statements of Work (SOWs)Provide insight into emerging technologies and methods relevant to client needs Principal Scientist Qualifications: We encourage candidates to apply even if they don’t have 100% of the below qualifications. We believe in a holistic approach when evaluating talent for our team and post new roles often, so even if this role isn’t quite right, we want to meet you!                                                                           Bachelor’s or higher in Computer Science, STEM, or related field8+ years of relevant professional experience5+ years delivering applied AI/ML or advanced analytics solutions in consulting (preferred) or centralized enterprise AI/data science teamsDemonstrated ability to translate ambiguous business problems into structured technical solutionsProven ability to independently engage clients while leading small technical teamsExperience designing and validating machine learning models, experiments, and analytical pipelines.Strong Python proficiency with common data science and ML ecosystems (e.g. scikit-learn, Pandas, Polars, seaborn, Plotly, Jupyter, PySpark, PyTorch/Tensor Flow, Hugging Face)Familiarity with SQL and enterprise database environments (relational, cloud-native, or hybrid) (e.g. Snowflake,  PostgresSQL, Oracle)Working knowledge of cloud deployment patterns and modern data/ML infrastructure (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP, Dask, Airflow, Prefect, Databricks, Sagemaker)Ability to evaluate unfamiliar techniques quickly and integrate them pragmaticallyDemonstrated experience across 2+ industry verticals/domainsStrong mentorship and team leadership experience Like-to-Have Qualifications: Familiarity with graph theory, graph databases (Neptune, Neo4j)Experience collaborating with business development teams to secure new engagementsExperience leading or directing multiple projects simultaneouslyExperience managing junior scientists or small technical teams   Perks: Tremendous growth potentialOpen and unlimited PTO & Sick timeMedical, dental, vision, & HSA options401KParking IncludedOnsite gym & showersStocked kitchen with healthy snacks, drinks, coffee, etcTeam events including happy hours, catered lunches, and other fun outingsInnovative, collaborative, and fun work environment that fosters a positive and supportive culture for growth Locations: Austin, TX