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Senior Principal Data Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a Sr. Principal Data Scientist, you will operate at the highest technical individual-contributor level at Warner Bros. Discovery-serving as a company-wide authority in advanced Data Science ...

Your New Role As a Sr. Principal Data Scientist, you will operate at the highest technical individual-contributor level at Warner Bros. Discovery--serving as a company-wide authority in advanced Data ...

$159K - $285K/yr

The Senior Principal Data Scientist will report to Director of Growth and Data Science in the Experience Foundations organization. This is a founding data science role for our agentic product ...

Principal Data Scientist

Austin, TX · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Overview The Principal Data Scientist is a senior leader and technical authority responsible for advancing Central Health System's data science capabilities in support of population health, care ...

Principal Data Scientist

Austin, TX · On-site

$180 - $230/hr

Overview The Principal Data Scientist is a senior leader and technical authority responsible for advancing Central Health System's data science capabilities in support of population health, care ...

Overview The Principal Data Scientist is a senior leader and technical authority responsible for advancing Central Health System's data science capabilities in support of population health, care ...

Overview The Principal Data Scientist is a senior leader and technical authority responsible for advancing Central Health System's data science capabilities in support of population health, care ...

Overview The Principal Data Scientist is a senior leader and technical authority responsible for advancing Central Health System's data science capabilities in support of population health, care ...

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Senior Principal Data Scientist information

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$41.5K

$142.5K

$201K

How much do senior principal data scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal data scientist in the United States is $142,460.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $166,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Principal Data Scientist vs Lead Data Scientist?

AspectSenior Principal Data ScientistLead Data Scientist
CredentialsAdvanced degrees (Master's/PhD), extensive experienceSimilar educational background, often with leadership experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic, research-focused, cross-functional teamsProject leadership, team coordination, stakeholder communication
Industry UsageResearch labs, tech companies, consulting firmsProduct teams, analytics departments, startups

The Senior Principal Data Scientist typically focuses on high-level research and strategic initiatives, leveraging deep expertise. In contrast, the Lead Data Scientist often manages projects and teams directly, emphasizing execution and stakeholder engagement. Both roles require strong technical skills and industry experience, but their primary focus and responsibilities differ.

What are Senior Principal Data Scientists?

Senior Principal Data Scientists are highly experienced professionals who lead complex data science projects and teams within an organization. They are responsible for developing advanced analytical models, setting strategic direction for data initiatives, and mentoring other data scientists. Often, they collaborate with stakeholders to solve high-impact business problems using data-driven approaches. Senior Principal Data Scientists typically have deep expertise in statistics, machine learning, and domain knowledge relevant to their industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Principal Data Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Principal Data Scientist, you need advanced expertise in statistical analysis, machine learning, and data modeling, typically supported by a Ph.D. or master's degree in a quantitative field. Proficiency with programming languages like Python or R, big data platforms such as Spark or Hadoop, and relevant certifications in data science or cloud technologies are often expected. Exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills set top performers apart, enabling them to guide teams and collaborate with stakeholders. These competencies are critical for driving impactful data initiatives, ensuring technical excellence, and aligning analytics with organizational goals.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Principal Data Scientists when leading cross-functional projects?

Senior Principal Data Scientists often encounter challenges such as balancing strategic vision with hands-on technical guidance, aligning diverse stakeholder expectations, and ensuring effective communication between data teams and business units. They must translate complex analytical insights into actionable recommendations for non-technical audiences while fostering collaboration among data engineers, analysts, and product managers. Navigating these dynamics requires strong leadership, adaptability, and a keen understanding of both technical and business priorities.
What cities are hiring for Senior Principal Data Scientist jobs? Cities with the most Senior Principal Data Scientist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Data Scientist jobs? The most popular types of Principal Data Scientist jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Principal Data Scientist jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Principal Data Scientist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Senior Principal Data Scientist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,460 per year, or $68.5 per hour.
Principal / Sr. Principal Data Scientist - ML and Predictive Analytics

Principal / Sr. Principal Data Scientist - ML and Predictive Analytics

Northrop Grumman Corporation

San Diego, CA • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Northrop Grumman rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 357 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

86th of 535 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: NoCLEARANCE TYPE: Top SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman is seeking an experienced,Principal or Senior Principal Data Scientist to support our Product Support Analytics and Innovation team.

This position is required full-time, in-office. Hybrid scheduling (time split between in-office and work-from-home) may become available depending on future project needs.

This position is located on-site at our facility in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Accomplish

We are seeking a first-principles thinker and skilled data scientist to solve complex data challenges. This is not a role for operating pre-built tools; this is an opportunity to architect and build the core data logic of our systems. You will be responsible for creating custom, high-performance statistics and machine learning tools from the ground up, making meaning of complex data sets. Your work will involve deep data modeling, abstracting reusable patterns, and writing modular, maintainable code that stands the test of time.

Essential Functions:

  • Collaborate closely with software engineers, analysts, and other data scientists to understand data requirements and deliver robust, integrated solutions.

  • Architect and develop custom, maintainable data science solutions from the ground up.

  • Write and maintain tests and documentation for data architecture, workflows, and processes.

  • Champion software engineering best practices within the data domain, including comprehensive unit/integration testing, CI/CD automation (Git, Docker), and robust documentation.

  • Tune and optimize complex algorithms within our on-premise infrastructure.

Succeed:

The individual we seek will be self-motivated, proactive, goal-oriented to help us grow our services, become even better at what we do and will possess the following qualifications.

***This role may be filled at the Principal or Sr. Principal Level.***

Basic Qualifications for a Principal Data Scientist:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related field, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, OR Master of Science degree in relevant fields with 3 years of relevant experience.

  • Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning

  • Recent professional experience in software development and/or data engineering.

  • Strong programming skills in Python and SQL.

  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (e.g., Git, Docker, etc.)

  • Your ability to obtain and maintain a government Top Secret clearance and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company

Basic Qualifications for a Sr Principal Data Scientist:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or related field, with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, OR Master of Science degree in relevant fields with 6 years of relevant experience, OR PhD/Doctorate degree in relevant fields with 4 years of relevant experience.

  • Deep understanding of Machine Learning and Deep Learning

  • Recent professional experience in software development and/or data engineering.

  • Strong programming skills in Python and SQL.

  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control (e.g., Git, Docker, etc.)

  • Your ability to obtain and maintain a government Top Secret clearance and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's degree or higher, in Data Science or related discipline.

  • 7 years of experience in software development.

  • Experience with C/C++.

  • Experience with machine learning pipelines and data science workflows.

  • Familiarity with SQL Alchemy, Numpy, Pandas, SKLearn, PyTorch.

  • Ability to troubleshoot and optimize complex data queries and workflows.

  • Familiarity with big data concepts, machine learning pipelines, and MLOps.

  • Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot and optimize across the entire data stack.

  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

  • Current, Active, DoD Top Secret clearance and Special Program Access

Thrive with Us

At Northrop Grumman we are invested in the growth and well-being off all our employees. We offer flexible work arrangements, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment.

Our Total Rewards Program offers a comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.

If you are ready to join us in defining possible, apply now.

Primary Level Salary Range: $125,300.00 - $187,900.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $156,400.00 - $234,600.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939