Data Scientist

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features. The Privacy team builds the government’s capabilities in data privacy and advances the adoption of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) . As a Data Scientist, you will be at the forefront of privacy engineering; leveraging machine learning and AI to develop scalable, impactful technologies that enable safe and effective data sharing. The team aims to bridge the gap between research and adoption through experimentation and piloting with agencies to assess the feasibility and utility of each technology, and prepare them for wider adoption in government, whether it be through building products, evaluating current solutions, developing clear guidelines around usage or education. We are seeking a Data Scientist to: Conduct rigorous research and experimentation to evaluate emerging privacy solutions Design scalable, implementable workflows tailored for government agency adoption Create comprehensive guidelines and frameworks that enable successful deployment of PETs. Job Scope Applied Research & Development Design and execute rigorous experiments to evaluate emerging PETs and solutions. Develop proof-of-concepts that demonstrate real-world applicability and measurable impact. Stay current with academic research and translate findings into practical, deployable solutions. Contribute to the broader community through publications and knowledge sharing with government and international partners. Agency Partnership & Pilot Implementation Collaborate directly with government agencies to deeply understand their unique privacy challenges and operational constraints. Design and execute pilot programmes to test PET solutions. Systematically gather user feedback and iterate on solutions based on practical deployment experiences and lessons learned. Provide ongoing technical consultation and hands‑on support to agencies throughout their privacy technology adoption journey. End‑to‑End Solution Innovation & Development Identify opportunities where PETs can address current common data challenges across government. Architect and develop scalable solutions designed for widespread adoption across the Whole of Government ecosystem. Establish clear implementation pathways and adoption frameworks for new privacy technologies. Cross‑Functional Collaboration Work as a collaborative team player alongside data scientists, data engineers, software engineers, and product managers. Partner strategically with government agencies to align technical solutions with the evolving landscape of regulatory requirements and governance frameworks. Requirements • Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Business Analytics or a related field, with at least 2‑3 years of relevant professional experience. Core Data Science & ML skillset Strong foundation in machine learning, with hands‑on experience in model development and experimentation. Strong programming proficiency in Python and extensive experience with ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit‑learn). Ability to analyze model behavior, diagnose training issues, and design experiments to optimise performance and reliability. Applied Research & Experimentation Demonstrated ability to read, synthesise, and critically evaluate academic research papers and technical literature. Experience designing and conducting rigorous experiments to validate hypotheses and measure solution effectiveness. Comfort working with ambiguous problems and developing novel approaches to complex challenges. Nice‑to‑Haves Experience with privacy‑enhancing technologies, including but not limited to anonymisation, synthetic data generation or differential privacy. Familiarity with frontend integration workflows (Next.js/React). Prior experience working in multi‑disciplinary teams. Curiosity and willingness to learn new domains (esp. data privacy). Strong communication skills to explain technical concepts to both engineers and non‑technical stakeholders. Inclination to work in a collaborative, fast‑moving Agile environment. Strong in communication with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences. Minimum Education Qualifications Category 2 Security Clearance required. Seniority level: Entry level Employment type: Contract Job function: Engineering and Information Technology Industries: IT Services and IT Consulting #J-18808-Ljbffr