[Hiring] Junior Data Solutions Architect @Shift5

Role Description

We are seeking a mission-aligned Junior Data Solutions Architect to collaborate with customers and internal stakeholders to generate critical, data-driven insights. This role sits cross-functionally across Mission Operations, Mission Delivery, Solution Engineering, and Systems and Core Engineering, playing a pivotal role in taking complex business problems, deconstructing them into testable hypotheses, and leveraging data to deliver actionable solutions. This is a dynamic, collaborative role requiring a "no task too small" mindset, an eagerness for mentorship, and a meticulous approach to data analysis and problem-solving.

• Perform structured data analyses under senior guidance to extract actionable insights and solve key customer problems.
• Utilize statistical tools and software to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies in complex data sets for diagnostic and predictive support.
• Assist in identifying customer problem sets, prioritizing issues, scoping solution requirements, and analyzing problem manifestations in data.
• Support the development of testable hypotheses, identify required data sources, and assist in the creation and execution of testing suites.
• Translate analytical workflows into modular, reusable components for data science capabilities and services, helping generalize targeted solutions back into Shift5 core capabilities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with programmers, engineers, project leads, and internal stakeholders to identify process improvements, support system updates, and execute data strategies.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of industry experience, or equivalent practical research experience demonstrated through undergraduate laboratory research or technical coursework.
• Coachability: A humble receptiveness to mentorship, guidance, direction, and constructive feedback or correction.
• Ability to learn how to break down unstructured, ambiguous, and complex problems into smaller, manageable parts.
• Aptitude in a generic analytics coding language (e.g., Python, R, SQL, MATLAB).
• Data analysis skills, including the ability to identify data types and technical tests required to validate hypotheses.
• Willingness to learn to articulate the business impact of data analysis and connect findings directly to decision points.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a track record of clearly and efficiently presenting technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Confidence to admit when you're wrong and ask for help.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% of the time (US only).

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience contributing to end-to-end, guided project execution from problem definition to final deliverable.
• Exposure to time-series data analysis.
• A foundational formal education in data science or a related field (with emphasis on linear algebra, computation, and statistics).
• Industry exposure in defense, aerospace, cybersecurity, or mechanical engineering.

Benefits

• Base Salary: $90,000 - $110,000
• Bonus program and equity in a fast-growing startup
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families
• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions
• Employer-paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Uncapped paid time off policy
• Flexible work & remote work policy
• Tax-deferred public transit benefits with Metro SmartBenefits (DC/MD/VA)