Validation Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

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What You Will Do

As a Model Validation Lead, you will provide technical and programmatic leadership for the independent validation, governance, and risk management of advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI models deployed in federal environments. You will lead model validation efforts supporting mission‑critical use cases across defense and federal financial domains, ensuring models are sound, explainable, compliant, and operationally fit for purpose.

You will work closely with data scientists, MLOps engineers, system owners, risk stakeholders, and government counterparts to define validation standards, execute reviews, and ensure alignment with federal, DoD, and financial governance expectations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead end‑to‑end model validation activities for ML, AI, and advanced analytical models

• Define and oversee validation frameworks covering conceptual soundness, data integrity, methodology, performance, bias, and stability

• Review and challenge model assumptions, feature engineering, training approaches, and performance metrics

• Assess model robustness, sensitivity, and limitations across operational scenarios

• Evaluate model explainability, transparency, and interpretability for technical and non‑technical stakeholders

• Partner with MLOps and engineering teams to ensure models are production‑ready and compliant with governance requirements

• Establish validation documentation standards, review artifacts, and approval processes

• Support audits, reviews, and governance forums related to AI/ML risk and compliance

• Advise clients on model risk management, AI governance, and responsible AI practices

• Mentor junior staff and serve as a technical authority within analytics and AI engagements

• An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, or a related quantitative field

• FIVE (5) or more years of experience in model validation, model risk management, data science, quantitative analysis, or advanced analytics

• Experience validating ML, statistical, and predictive models in regulated or high‑risk environments

• Experience in Python and analytics tooling used to assess, test, and challenge models

• Experience working with large‑scale datasets and complex analytical pipelines

• Experience leading small teams or workstreams and interfacing directly with senior stakeholders

• Strong understanding of model risk management concepts, including governance, documentation, and independent review

• Experience supporting the Department of Defense, including exposure to Advana or enterprise analytics platforms

• Hands‑on experience validating models using federal financial, budgetary, accounting, or audit data

• Experience validating models deployed on Databricks (e.g., Spark, MLflow)

• Ability to translate technical findings into clear, defensible conclusions for government and executive audiences

• Exposure to models developed or operationalized in Palantir Foundry

• Familiarity with MLOps practices and how validation integrates into CI/CD pipelines

• Experience in Azure Government, AWS GovCloud, or other regulated cloud environments

• Knowledge of Responsible AI, fairness, bias detection, and explainability techniques

• Experience supporting internal or external audits of AI/ML systems

• Master’s degree or PhD in a quantitative or technical discipline

What We Offer:

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance

• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays

• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus

• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance

• 401(k) Retirement Plan

• Basic Life & Supplemental Life

• Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

• Student Loan PayDown

• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities

• Skills Development & Certifications

• Employee Referral Program

• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach

• Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program

• Mobility Stipend

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.

All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or guidehouse@myworkday.com.  Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse.  Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.

If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse’s Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact recruiting@guidehouse.com. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant’s dealings with unauthorized third parties.

Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.