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Computer Science Associates Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Principal Associate, Data Scientist

Mclean, VA · On-site

$59K - $60K/yr

Principal Associate, Data Scientist Data is at the center of everything we do. As a startup, we ... Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 5 years of experience performing data ...

Principal Associate, Data Scientist Data is at the center of everything we do. As a startup, we ... Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 5 years of experience performing data ...

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Computer Science Associates information

See Virginia salary details

$24.3K

$48K

$78.3K

How much do computer science associates jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for computer science associates in Virginia is $47,976.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,200.00 and $51,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Computer Science Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Computer Science Associate, you need a solid understanding of programming languages, algorithms, and data structures, typically supported by an associate degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with software development tools, databases, and version control systems like Git is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are important soft skills for this role. These competencies enable Computer Science Associates to efficiently contribute to technical projects, collaborate with colleagues, and deliver reliable software solutions.

Is an associate's degree enough for an IT job?

For computer science associate positions, an associate's degree can be sufficient for entry-level roles such as help desk technician or support specialist, especially when combined with relevant skills like networking or programming. However, many employers prefer candidates with additional certifications or experience for more advanced IT jobs.

What are Computer Science Associates?

Computer Science Associates are professionals who typically hold an associate degree in computer science or a related field. They assist with tasks such as programming, troubleshooting, database management, and technical support in various industries. These roles are often entry-level positions that provide foundational experience and can lead to more advanced opportunities in the technology sector. Computer Science Associates work closely with IT teams and may also help maintain software and hardware systems. Their work is essential for ensuring the smooth operation of computer systems within an organization.

Is it worth getting an associate's degree in computer science?

For computer science associates, earning the degree provides foundational knowledge in programming, algorithms, and systems, which can help qualify for entry-level roles such as support technician or junior developer. However, many employers also value practical skills, certifications, and experience, so combining the degree with hands-on projects can improve job prospects.

What is the difference between Computer Science Associates vs Software Developers?

AspectComputer Science AssociatesSoftware Developers
Required CredentialsAssociate's degree in Computer Science or related fieldBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field
Work EnvironmentEntry-level roles in tech companies, IT departments, or support teamsDesign, develop, and maintain software applications across various industries
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in tech firms, government agencies, and corporate IT departmentsWidely employed in software firms, tech startups, and enterprise companies

Computer Science Associates typically hold an associate's degree and work in entry-level IT or support roles, while Software Developers usually have a bachelor's degree and focus on creating software solutions. Both roles are essential in the tech industry but differ in education level, responsibilities, and career progression.

What can I do with an associate's in computer science?

An associate's in computer science prepares individuals for entry-level roles such as computer support specialist, help desk technician, or network technician. It provides foundational skills in programming, troubleshooting, and basic networking, which can lead to further certifications or education for advanced positions.

Can I find a programming job with just an associate's degree in computer science?

Computer Science Associates can find entry-level programming jobs such as software developer or technician, especially if they have strong coding skills and knowledge of programming languages like Python or Java. However, many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree or relevant certifications for more advanced roles, and practical experience through internships or projects can improve job prospects.

What are some common challenges Computer Science Associates face when transitioning from academic projects to real-world industry work?

One common challenge for Computer Science Associates is adapting to the collaborative nature and scale of industry projects compared to individual or small-group academic assignments. In the workplace, code quality, documentation, and version control are emphasized, and associates often need to quickly learn company-specific tools and workflows. Balancing multiple projects simultaneously and effectively communicating technical ideas to non-technical stakeholders are also frequent hurdles. However, with mentorship and active participation in team meetings, associates can develop these professional skills and grow within their roles.
What are popular job titles related to Computer Science Associates jobs in Virginia? For Computer Science Associates jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Computer Science Associates jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Computer Science Associates jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Computer Science Associates jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Computer Science Associates job openings:
Infographic showing various Computer Science Associates job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 26% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,976 per year, or $23.1 per hour.
Principal Associate, Data Science - Model Risk Office

Principal Associate, Data Science - Model Risk Office

Capital One

Mclean, VA • On-site

$59K - $60K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


Capital One rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 143 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

72nd of 146 rated banks


Job description

Principal Associate, Data Science - Model Risk Office

Data is at the center of everything we do. As a startup, we disrupted the credit card industry by individually personalizing every credit card offer using statistical modeling and the relational database, cutting edge technology in 1988! Fast-forward a few years, and this little innovation and our passion for data has skyrocketed us to a Fortune 200 company and a leader in the world of data-driven decision-making.

As a Data Scientist at Capital One, you'll be part of a team that's leading the next wave of disruption at a whole new scale, using the latest in computing and machine learning technologies and operating across billions of customer records to unlock the big opportunities that help everyday people save money, time and agony in their financial lives.

In Capital One's Model Risk Office, we defend the company against model failures and find new ways of making better decisions with models. We use our statistics, software engineering, and business expertise to drive the best outcomes in both Risk Management and the Enterprise. We understand that we can't prepare for tomorrow by focusing just on today, so we invest in the future: investing in new skills, building better tools, and maintaining a network of trusted partners. We learn from past mistakes, and develop increasingly powerful techniques to avoid their repetition.

Role Description

In this role, you will:

  • Partner with a cross-functional team of data scientists, software engineers, and product managers to identify and quantify risks associated with models

  • Leverage a broad stack of technologies - Python, Conda, AWS, H2O, Spark, and more - to reveal the insights hidden within huge volumes of numeric and textual data

  • Lead teams of data scientists who build machine learning models to challenge current champion models that are deployed in production and contribute to the model governance framework for the next generation of models

  • Lead validation of a wide variety of models across multiple business domains and flex your interpersonal skills to present how identified model risks could impact the business to executives.

The Ideal Candidate is:

  • Innovative. You continually research and evaluate emerging technologies. You stay current on published state-of-the-art methods, technologies, and applications and seek out opportunities to apply them.

  • Creative. You thrive on bringing definition to big, undefined problems. You love asking questions and pushing hard to find answers. You're not afraid to share a new idea.

  • A leader. You challenge conventional thinking and work with stakeholders to identify and improve the status quo. You're passionate about talent development for your own team and beyond.

  • Technical. You're comfortable with open-source languages and are passionate about developing further. You have hands-on experience developing data science solutions using open-source tools and cloud computing platforms.

  • Statistically-minded. You've built models, validated them, and backtested them. You know how to interpret a confusion matrix or a ROC curve. You have experience with clustering, classification, sentiment analysis, time series, and deep learning.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining one of the following with an expectation that the required degree will be obtained on or before the scheduled start date:

    • A Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 5 years of experience performing data analytics

    • A Master's Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) or an MBA with a quantitative concentration plus 3 years of experience performing data analytics

    • A PhD in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's Degree in "STEM" field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) plus 3 years of experience in data analytics, or PhD in "STEM" field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics)

  • At least 1 year of experience working with AWS

  • At least 3 years' experience in Python, Scala, or R

  • At least 3 years' experience with machine learning

  • At least 3 years' experience with SQL

Capital One will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Chicago, IL: $147,100 - $167,900 for Princ Associate, Data Science


McLean, VA: $161,800 - $184,600 for Princ Associate, Data Science


New York, NY: $176,500 - $201,400 for Princ Associate, Data Science


Plano, TX: $147,100 - $167,900 for Princ Associate, Data Science








Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate's offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at theCapital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.

This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City's Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).


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