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Transportation Data Scientist Jobs in Reston, VA

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Transportation Data Scientist information

See Reston, VA salary details

$39K

$127.7K

$204.4K

How much do transportation data scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for transportation data scientist in Reston, VA is $127,692.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,500.00 and $141,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a transportation data scientist?

To excel as a Transportation Data Scientist, you should possess strong analytical skills, expertise in statistics and machine learning, and a background in transportation systems or engineering, often demonstrated by a relevant degree. Proficiency in tools such as Python, R, SQL, and GIS software, as well as familiarity with big data platforms or relevant certifications, is highly valued. Excellent problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and the capacity to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams are important soft skills. These competencies are essential for extracting actionable insights from complex transportation data and driving data-informed improvements in mobility and logistics.

What are the typical responsibilities of a transportation data scientist?

Transportation Data Scientists often work on projects that involve analyzing traffic patterns, optimizing routes, forecasting demand, and supporting infrastructure planning decisions. Responsibilities may include cleaning and visualizing large mobility datasets, building predictive models, evaluating the effectiveness of transportation initiatives, and presenting findings to stakeholders. Depending on the organization, you might collaborate closely with transportation planners, engineers, software developers, and public agencies. The role provides opportunities to make a tangible impact on urban mobility, public safety, and resource efficiency within the transportation sector.

What is a transportation data scientist?

A Transportation Data Scientist analyzes transportation-related data to optimize traffic flow, improve transit efficiency, and support infrastructure planning. They use machine learning, statistical modeling, and data visualization to interpret large datasets from sensors, GPS, and transportation systems. Their insights help governments, logistics companies, and urban planners make data-driven decisions for safer and more efficient transportation networks. Skills in programming (Python, R), data analytics, and GIS tools are essential for this role.

What are popular job titles related to Transportation Data Scientist jobs in Reston, VA? For Transportation Data Scientist jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Transportation Data Scientist jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Transportation Data Scientist jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Transportation Data Scientist jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Transportation Data Scientist job openings:
Transportation Data Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Transportation Data Scientist job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 60% In-person, and 40% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $127,692 per year, or $61.4 per hour.

Transportation Data Scientist (AI Solutions)

Leidos

Mclean, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Leidos rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 152 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 491 rated business services

Job description

Are you interested in improving and shaping the transportation industry in a group of intelligent and motivated individuals? Leidos operates the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory (STOL), a USDOT research lab focused on the improvement of transportation operations, safety, mobility, and environmental impacts. STOL provides a variety of services to support the advancement and deployment of emerging technologies, including vehicle automation and communication.
Leidos is seeking a talented Transportation Data Scientist at the junior to mid-level to support FHWA-funded projects at the intersection of AI, data science, and transportation. This role will involve assisting in the development and deployment of AI/ML models for applications such as vehicle load classification using weigh-in-motion (WIM) data and imagery, crash prediction in traffic management centers (TMCs), and creating data ecosystems for trustworthy AI. The ideal candidate will have foundational experience in AI model development, data integration, and stakeholder engagement, with a passion for exploring opportunities to apply AI in state-level transportation initiatives. This position offers the chance to contribute to innovation in a dynamic, federally supported research environment.
Location: This role will be expected to work full-time at the customer site in McLean, VA
Candidate MUST:
Be currently located in the United States for the current three consecutive years and be eligible for a Public Trust Clearance.
https://careers.leidos.com/search/jobs?q=stol&ns_job_category=stol-jobs
Primary Responsibilities
• Assist in conducting data and literature reviews, including targeted searches for AI methods, datasets, and technologies relevant to freight analytics, traffic safety, and operations (e.g., sensor fusion, computer vision, and multimodal AI).
• Prepare and integrate datasets for AI use cases, including cleaning, normalizing, enriching, and fusing multi-source data (e.g., traffic logs, imagery, weather, and permitting records) while addressing quality issues like inconsistency, sparsity, and bias.
• Contribute to the design, development, and deployment of AI/ML models for transportation applications.
• Evaluate AI model performance under diverse conditions, such as varying data quality levels, and provide recommendations for improving model robustness, scalability, and trustworthiness in real-world transportation environments.
• Support stakeholder outreach and engagement, including organizing peer exchanges, workshops, and technical briefings with state DOTs, MPOs, enforcement agencies, and vendors to gather insights on AI applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project alignment with USDOT goals, including risk management, quality assurance, and compliance with federal standards.
• Contribute to monthly progress reporting, risk mitigation, and iterative model refinement based on federal feedback.
Required Qualifications
  • Master's degree in computer science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Transportation Engineering, or a related field; Ph.D. preferred.
  • 2+ years of professional experience (NON-academic) in data science and AI/ML, with demonstrated familiarity in machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn), data processing tools (e.g., Pandas, NumPy), and AI techniques (e.g., deep learning, generative AI like GANs, computer vision, LLMs).
  • Must have HANDS-ON experience in AI Solution Development.
  • Strong experience in data preparation and integration, including ETL processes, handling multimodal data (e.g., imagery, sensor data, time-series), and addressing data quality challenges in real-world applications.
  • Strong analytical skills with familiarity in model evaluation metrics (e.g., AUC, accuracy, scalability) and testing AI systems under varied conditions.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience in stakeholder engagement, technical reporting, and presenting complex AI concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, research-oriented environment with travel up to 20% for stakeholder meetings, site visits, or conference support.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance (which includes three years of immediate residency in the US).
  • All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior experience working with state DOTs or federal transportation agencies (e.g., FHWA, USDOT) on AI initiatives, including prototyping and developing AI application in ITS.
  • Familiarity with transportation-specific data sources (e.g., HSIS, SHRP2, NGSIM) and standards (e.g., SAE J2735 for V2X).
  • Experience in synthetic data generation, generative AI (e.g., LLMs), or physics-informed ML for transportation applications.
  • Knowledge of federal AI governance, risk management, and equity considerations in transportation.
  • Project management experience, including leading AI tasks in multi-agency initiatives or contributing to communities of practice (CoPs).
  • Publications or presentations in AI/transportation conferences (e.g., TRB, ITS America).

Anticipated salary range for this role is $100,000-$120,000
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
June 26, 2026
For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

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About Leidos

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At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community.

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Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Reston, VA, US

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