Junior Data Scientist (Remote - Colorado Residents Only)

Salary: $60,000–$100,000 (DOE) Benefits: Unlimited PTO (subject to manager approval), flexible remote work. Health and 401(k) benefits offered; salary can be adjusted accordingly. About Us Pikes Peak Data Sciences (https://pikespeakds.com) is a Colorado-based consultancy delivering high-impact data science and AI solutions for clients in regulated industries including healthcare, aerospace, and federal contracting. We focus on developing scalable systems using cloud platforms, modern ML tools, and practical engineering. About the Role We’re seeking a Junior Data Scientist who is self-driven, curious, and eager to grow. This is a hands-on, remote position supporting both internal product development and external client work. Due to payroll and contracting restrictions, applicants must: • Currently reside in the state of Colorado • Be a U.S. citizen (required for eligibility to work on government contracts) You’ll help prototype GenAI applications, support written technical communication, and develop models for real-world NLP and data engineering problems. What You'll Do • Prototype and deploy machine learning and GenAI solutions with a strong focus on natural language processing (NLP), text embeddings, and vector-based search • Develop and refine text vectorization workflows, such as generating and indexing embeddings for semantic similarity, clustering, or retrieval applications • Implement zero-shot and few-shot text classification using models like OpenAI, Hugging Face Transformers, or Bedrock-hosted models to handle tasks without labeled data • Design and maintain Python-based data science pipelines for NLP preprocessing, feature extraction, and model serving • Work with libraries such as LangChain, FAISS, Chroma, or Milvus to support semantic search and knowledge retrieval • Support consulting projects involving custom model development, prompt engineering, and analytical reporting • Collaborate with the founder and technical team on client-facing AI solutions and internal R&D initiatives • Take ownership of small projects, independently driving prototypes from concept to deliverable What We're Looking For • Required: • U.S. citizen • Resident of Colorado • Strong proficiency in Python and familiarity with the data science stack (NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.) • Hands-on experience with NLP techniques, including text preprocessing, tokenization, embeddings, and vector similarity search • Understanding of zero-shot and few-shot learning for text classification and content tagging • Exposure to both classical ML models (e.g., logistic regression, SVMs) and deep learning architectures (e.g., Transformers, LSTMs) • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently while communicating results clearly in a professional environment Nice to Have • Experience with AWS Bedrock or other cloud-based GenAI platforms (e.g., OpenAI API, Anthropic Claude, Vertex AI) • 1 year of experience in a technical, data science, or ML engineering role • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) for deployment and data workflows • Familiarity with MLOps or DevOps tooling (Docker, GitHub Actions, CI/CD pipelines, model versioning) • Interest in technical writing, documentation, or communicating complex AI concepts to diverse audiences You’ll Thrive Here If You… • Are intellectually curious and eager to learn fast • Take initiative and are dependable without micromanagement • Value real-world impact over academic perfection • Want to be part of a small, agile company building cutting-edge tools