Lead Data Scientist - Simulation / Optimization

Company Description Govini transforms Defense Acquisition from an outdated manual process to a software-driven strategic advantage for the United States. Our flagship product, Ark, supports Supply Chain, Science & Technology, Production, Sustainment, Logistics, and Modernization teams with AI-enabled Applications and best-in-class data to more rapidly imagine, develop, and field the capabilities we need. Today, the national security community and every branch of the military rely on Govini to enable faster and more informed Acquisition decisions. Job Description The Lead Data Scientist will provide visionary technical leadership to a team of data scientists and AI engineers, driving the end-to-end development and deployment of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence solutions for our National Security clientele. This pivotal AI leadership role is instrumental in establishing a robust culture of decision-making Agentic AI and creating the AI platforms, the "brain" of The Ark, designed to be leveraged by a broad community of AI and Data Science professionals within Govini. As a hands-on technical leader, you will apply deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence and a keen understanding of complex Defense Acquisition challenges. Your primary focus will be to work with our proprietary and commercial datasets to find critical connections, derive actionable knowledge, and identify potential issues that help our government clients make more informed decisions. This involves designing, developing, and rapidly deploying scalable AI solutions that transform these insights into mission-critical capabilities. You will also have the opportunity to expand and grow data-driven research across Govini, leading new areas to apply advanced analytics to drive strategic business and national security results. You'll apply your deep knowledge in advanced simulation and optimization techniques, including Discrete Event Simulation, Monte Carlo methods, and stochastic optimization, to enhance our platforms to handle complex capability simulation and optimization techniques for critical defense use cases. To excel in this position, you must be an AI expert with a strong command of data science fundamentals and a proven ability to bring data-driven solutions to life within the defense ecosystem. The ideal candidate is a highly organized problem-solver who possesses excellent oral and written communication skills, capable of translating complex AI concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences. You must be independent, driven, and motivated to jump in and roll up your sleeves to get the job done. You lead by influence and motivation, demonstrating a passion for great work and an intolerance for mediocrity. We seek an uber-smart, creative, out-of-the-box thinker who is challenged by complex defense problems and obsessed with quality and rapid prototyping/deployment, knowing how to engage in constructive dialogue to find the best path forward. This role is a full-time position located out of our office in Pittsburgh, PA.  This role may require up to 10% travel Scope of Responsibilities  Drive the development of a complex, multi-modal decision intelligence system, serving as the central nervous architecture for integrating advanced simulation, optimization, and predictive modeling capabilities across The Ark's platforms.  Define the multi-year technical roadmap for AI initiatives, turning vague business challenges into concrete, scalable research and product goals. Raise the collective bar by mentoring Senior-level engineers and building high-performing teams that consistently deliver state-of-the-art (SOTA) results. Drive consensus across disparate groups such as DS and AI, Product, Forward Deployed AI and Engineering, to ensure AI deployments are technically sound, commercially viable, and responsible. Act as the authority on scientific breakthroughs and model strategy, ensuring that core architectures, training methodologies, and data ecosystems are robust, cost-effective, and future-proofed against the rapidly evolving AI landscape Lead the end-to-end execution of large-scale AI projects, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and timely delivery. Apply deep knowledge in advanced simulation and optimization techniques, including Discrete Event Simulation, Monte Carlo methods, and stochastic optimization. Enhance our platforms to handle complex capability simulation and optimization techniques for critical defense use cases. Act as the primary Individual Contributor (IC) and technical lead for complex AI/ML/DS projects, taking deep ownership from ideation to production deployment. Serve as the domain expert in a specific area of AI (e.g., Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, Decision Science), driving the application and development of state-of-the-art methods within that specialization. Work closely with partner teams, including AI research, data engineering, and software development, to