Celestir is a stealth-mode defense-tech startup building AI-powered
cybersecurity and intelligence platforms for U.S. federal agencies, allied
governments, and Fortune 500 companies. Unlike traditional contractors,
Celestir operates with Silicon Valley urgency—deploying solutions that solve
the universe's hardest problems. This is a role that can operate remotely, or
within Washington, DC/New York, NY. The ideal candidate MUST be a US citizen
or Green Card holder. We will have to auto-reject any candidate who is neither
of those. Celestir seeks a Data Scientist (Federal) who thrives in the
crucible of high-stakes innovation. This role demands ruthless
intensity—shipping production models under federal deadlines while advancing
peer-reviewed research at startup speed. You’ll operate in an "academic
utopia" with Ivy League-grade resources but zero tolerance for theoretical
thumb-twiddling. Compensation Philosophy: Base Salary: $130,000–$155,000
Performance Bonus: 5–40% of base Total Target Comp: $136,500–$201,500 The
Celestir Dichotomy Ruthless Intensity Deliver client ML solutions in 72hr
sprints or less Academic Utopia Publish or Perish (Rewarded): 5% base bonus
for every top-tier conference paper accepted Annual "Moonshot Budget" to test
practical bleeding-edge ideas (quantum ML, neurosymbolic AI) Core
Responsibilities Client Work: (Example): Build intrusion detection systems
where 99.9% precision isn’t a goal—it’s a contract requirement. Product Dev:
Ship code that passes both CI/CD pipelines and academic peer review. Grant
Execution: Turn whiteboard theoretics into funded realities Non-Negotiables
Intellect: PhD or 5+ published papers in ML/security (arXiv submissions don’t
count) Stamina: 50–55hr baseline with midnight deploys during critical
incidents Pride: Openly critique peer designs in daily code reviews—then buy
them whiskey afterward Ability to obtain clearance. Why Celestir? Elite Guild:
While Silicon Valley obsesses over ads, we’re rewriting the rules of
intelligence warfare. Bring your ego—we’ll incinerate it in the crucible. No
Mediocrity Tax: Underperformers (<90% OKRs) exit within 3mo—top performers get
25%-50% YoY comp bumps. Legacy: Your work will secure U.S. satellites, not
another TikTok recommender.