Summary As an Al/ML Engineer in CPSC's Analytics Center of Excellence, you advance the agency's mission by developing Al-enabled capabilities that accelerate all elements of CPSC's mission from risk detection, to enforcing regulations, and all manners of decision-making. You collaborate with program offices, support cloud native modernization, and provide insight on various highly technical Al/ML projects while balancing long term data strategy with rapid response needs. Responsibilities This position is officially titled Data Scientist (Artificial Intelligence). The working title is AI/ML Engineer. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) Engineer will design and implement advanced technical solutions [e.g., natural language processing (NLP) models, agent-native and open-source generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs), multi-agent orchestration, etc.] focused on extracting actionable insights, evaluating model performance, and enhancing product safety decision-making. This role emphasizes data quality, performance, and interoperability in modern cloud environments, enabling CPSC's strategic acceleration toward preventative analytics for product safety. This role requires collaboration with data engineers, statisticians, program analysts, IT specialists, and more. The AI/ML Engineer is responsible for: Helping to build and maintain machine learning pipelines - from pulling in new data to training, testing, and deploying models - using modern cloud-based tools and engineering practices. Monitor how models perform over time, watching for issues like data drift or drops in accuracy, and help improve them so they are reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. Contribute to automating ML workflows using CI/CD and MLOps practices. Build and integrate AI agents using tools such as Copilot Studio, Python-based agents, or retrieval pipelines to speed up analytics workflows and help the agency make faster, better-informed safety decisions. Support the selection, training, and tuning of machine learning models - including models for prediction, anomaly detection, and natural language processing - ensuring they are accurate, fair, and scalable. Use deep learning frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow to work with both structured and unstructured data, helping ensure the models you develop meet quality standards for transparency and performance. Prepare clear technical documentation, summaries of model performance, and other materials that explain your work. Communicate complex AI/ML concepts in a way that non-technical audiences can understand. Participate as a member of an Agile, cross-functional team-collaborating with data engineers, analysts, program staff, and IT partners to deliver iterative improvements and solve problems together. Serve as a technical resource for data science principles, helping develop integrated "data fusion" products and staying current on emerging AI/ML methods through ongoing learning and collaboration. Take part in AI/ML working groups and communities of practice across the agency and federal space. This vacancy announcement will close after the receipt of the first 100 applications. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship Required. A background investigation is required. Must meet education requirements. Must be a U.S. Citizen. This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn. If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information. Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service. The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. Depending on your status, this position may require serving a 1-year probationary period. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the CPSC; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the CPSC or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: GS-11: 1) Assisting with machine-learning workflows, including data preparation, model training, and evaluation; 2) using Python and SQL to analyze structured/unstructured data and supporting NLP or deep-learning tasks; 3) contributing to cloud-based AI/ML work, basic MLOps practices and preparing technical summaries for diverse audiences; and 4) collaborating within project teams to support the development and deployment of analytical or AI/ML solutions. GS-12: 1) Independently designing and deploying end-to-end machine-learning models, including feature engineering, model optimization, and production implementation; 2) applying advanced AI/ML methods (NLP, deep learning, anomaly detection, generative models) and implementing MLOps practices such as CI/CD, monitoring, and drift detection in cloud environments; 3) applying data-governance or AI-risk-management standards and preparing technical documentation that informs program decisions; and 4) serving as a technical project lead to guide the adoption of AI/ML practices. Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement. Education Mandatory Education Requirement. All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify: A. A bachelor's or higher degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position. OR B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirement indicated above, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education as indicated below: GS-11: 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR PhD or equivalent doctoral degree OR 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-9 OR a combination of graduate level education beyond the second year of progressively higher graduate study and appropriate specialized experience. GS-12: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. All education claimed by applicants will be verified. Additional Information CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement. Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized. All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement. A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. This vacancy announcement will close after the receipt of the first 100 applications. As a condition of employment, the selectee must reside in the local commuting area of the duty station listed in this announcement. Proof of residence may be required. Must meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time, otherwise the employment offer may be withdrawn. CPSC headquarters employees (Bethesda, MD) will be relocating to 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC. This position will transition to the new location upon completion of the move. The transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Applicants should be aware that acceptance of this position includes the requirement to report to the new location once the relocation is finalized.
