DataOperations Research Analyst

Peraton is seeking a Data/Operations Research Analyst to serve as a program-embedded power user and customer-facing operator of a customer-deployed Generative AI Platform. This role is purpose-built for customer intimacy: the analyst is uniquely aligned to a single program becomes deeply fluent in its data stakeholders and operating rhythms and converts that proximity into clear defensible insight. The position is intentionally broad-based applying data analysis and operations research tradecraft that is domain-agnostic and applicable wherever decisions must be made from imperfect disparate and largely unstructured information (operations program management customer experience supply chain finance compliance engineering performance and beyond).

This individual blends the quantitative rigor of a data analyst with the modeling and decision-analysis discipline of an operations research analyst. They will leverage the full breadth of the Generative AI Platform including agentic workflows natural language interfaces retrieval over enterprise content structured analysis and automated reporting to fuse heterogeneous inputs (documents emails tickets logs spreadsheets transcripts databases briefings and ad-hoc artifacts) into coherent decision-ready products. The analysts defining superpower is the ability to translate that synthesis into compelling dashboards recurring reports and on-demand analyses that program leadership and the customer actually use to run the work.

As a power user this analyst will also help shape platform development by providing direct mission-grounded feedback on usability capability gaps workflow effectiveness and reporting needs ensuring the platform evolves in ways that demonstrably improve program outcomes and customer satisfaction.

Location:Columbus Ohio candidates must currently reside in the area or be willing to relocate.

Key Responsibilities:

• Embed within an assigned program to develop deep customer intimacy understanding the programs mission stakeholders data landscape decision cadences and reporting obligations and translate that understanding into data-driven products that drive action.
• Conduct broad-based data and operations research analysis across whatever data the program generates or consumes leveraging the customer-deployed Generative AI Platform agentic workflows structured retrieval and AI-assisted analytical tools to produce timely defensible findings.
• Serve as a power user of the Generative AI Platform deeply learning its capabilities identifying optimal workflows and pushing the boundaries of AI-augmented data analysis and operations research.
• Acquire profile clean and integrate data from disparate sources flat files exports APIs databases knowledge bases and unstructured content establishing the data foundations on which downstream analysis depends.
• Apply quantitative methods (descriptive statistics trend and cohort analysis segmentation correlation basic inferential techniques and where appropriate forecasting optimization or simulation) to answer program and customer questions.
• Conduct primary and secondary research and operations analysis literature scans document review stakeholder interviews process and workflow analysis performance studies market and competitor scans policy or regulatory review and synthesize findings into clear well-cited products.
• Synthesize information from disparate predominantly unstructured sources (documents email threads meeting transcripts customer correspondence tickets logs knowledge bases structured exports) into clear well-sourced narratives and quantitative summaries.
• Design build and maintain dashboards scorecards and recurring reports that give program leadership and the customer a single trustworthy view of status risk performance and opportunity with the analytical depth to back every number shown.
• Translate ambiguous customer questions into structured analytical plans retrieval patterns prompt strategies and multi-step workflows that produce repeatable auditable answers.
• Evaluate and validate AI-generated outputs applying analytical rigor and program-specific judgment to ensure accuracy source traceability and methodological soundness before any product reaches the customer.
• Develop reusable analytical templates prompt libraries dashboard components briefing formats and report packages that improve speed and consistency across the program and can be lifted to other programs.
• Anticipate customer information needs surfacing emerging trends exceptions anomalies and risks proactively rather than waiting to be tasked.
• Provide continuous well-articulated feedback to engineering and product teams on platform usability workflow gaps integration needs and reporting features that would unlock additional program value.
• Support demonstrations pilot use cases and proof-of-concept analyses that show the platforms value to program stakeholders and customer leadership.
• Collaborate across the program team engineers architects project managers and customer staff to identify high-value analytical use cases and prioritize platform enhancements.
• Document data sources definitions methodologies and limitations so analytical products are reproducible and the capability is transferable.
• Support training onboarding and enablement of additional analysts and program staff by sharing expertise dashboards report templates and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 8 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 6 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 3 years with PhD
• Minimum of a Bachelors degree in Data Analytics Statistics Mathematics Operations Research Industrial Engineering Information Systems Business Analytics Economics Computer Science Engineering Public Policy Social Sciences or a related analytical/research field.
• 510 years of relevant experience as a data analyst operations research analyst research analyst business analyst program analyst customer insights analyst performance analyst or comparable broad-based analytical role.
• Demonstrated experience producing structured analytical products from diverse data sources including unstructured documents and correspondence semi-structured exports and structured databases.
• Demonstrated track record building dashboards scorecards and recurring reports that are actively used by leadership or customer stakeholders to make decisions.
• Working proficiency in SQL for data extraction and shaping plus advanced Excel; experience with at least one BI/visualization tool (Power BI Tableau Plotly Looker or equivalent).
• Working proficiency in Python or R for data wrangling exploratory analysis and reporting automation (pandas plotly/matplotlib or equivalent).
• Solid grounding in quantitative methods descriptive statistics trend and segmentation analysis basic inferential statistics and exposure to operations research techniques (forecasting optimization simulation queuing or decision analysis) with sound judgment about when to apply them.
• Demonstrated research and analysis skills the ability to scope a question gather authoritative sources evaluate credibility synthesize across sources and cite cleanly.
• Strong critical thinking analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills including the ability to assess source reliability reconcile conflicting inputs and quantify uncertainty.
• Comfort working with disparate messy and predominantly unstructured data and a demonstrated ability to impose structure on it without losing fidelity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to brief executive and customer audiences and to produce concise well-organized written products.
• Customer-facing presence and judgment the ability to build trust quickly manage sensitive information appropriately and represent the program professionally.
• Comfort operating in fast-paced evolving environments where tools and workflows are actively being developed and refined.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with technical teams and provide clear prioritized feedback on platform capabilities and analytical needs.

Clearance Requirements:

• US Citizenship
• Ability to obtain Public Trust

Desired Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with AI-enabled analytical tools large language models agentic AI platforms or AI-assisted research and reporting workflows.
• Experience with prompt engineering workflow configuration retrieval-augmented generation or natural language interaction with AI systems in an analytical or research context.
• Advanced dashboarding skill including data modeling for analytics semantic-layer design drill-through and parameterized reporting and dashboard performance tuning.
• Experience with operations research and statistical modeling techniques beyond the basics regression time-series forecasting clustering/segmentation A/B or quasi-experimental analysis linear/integer programming discrete-event simulation queuing models Monte Carlo methods or applied machine learning.
• Familiarity with structured analytical techniques decision-analysis frameworks KPI design OKR reporting or program performance management methodologies.
• Experience with qualitative research methods stakeholder interviews document analysis thematic coding process and workflow analysis alongside quantitative work.
• Experience in domains beyond intelligence such as commercial operations federal civilian programs healthcare financial services supply chain customer experience or engineering program management where analytical rigor and customer trust are equally critical.
• Familiarity with data warehousing concepts dimensional modeling or modern data stack tooling (dbt Snowflake Databricks or equivalent).
• Background in evaluating or adopting new analytical technologies including participation in pilot programs technology transitions or capability assessments.
• Experience developing analytical SOPs methodology guides training materials dashboard standards or report style guides.
• Familiarity with knowledge management data curation taxonomy/ontology work or information organization in support of analytical and research workflows.
• Experience embedding with a customer or program team for an extended period and being recognized as a trusted advisor rather than an external contributor.
• Exposure to Agile delivery sprint-based reporting cadences and cross-functional team collaboration.

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the worlds leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider we deliver trusted highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land sea space air and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day our employees do the cant be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit to learn how were keeping people around the world safe and secure.