Principal Data Scientist

Principal Data Scientist will serve as the senior technical authority for applied AI and data science, leading high-impact solutions from problem framing to production deployment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver solutions to the organization’s highest-impact problems using advanced statistical analysis, exploratory data analysis, and predictive model development
• Use Large Language Models (LLMs) and other generative AI methods as needed to support analytic goals
• Work directly with clinical, operational, and information systems (IS) stakeholders to define the problem and translate it into technical delivery
• Own end-to-end work: data acquisition and transformation, model development, validation, and production deployment
• Set technical direction and establish standards for the data science team
• Mentor other data scientists
• Act as the principal technical reviewer for the team’s most important work
• Contribute to AI governance and ongoing model monitoring

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Biostatistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Data Science, Medical Informatics, or a related field (as listed)
• Equivalent experience may be accepted in lieu of the required degree or diploma
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in computer science, applied statistics, or machine learning
• Proven track record moving from stakeholder problem framing to production deployment with measurable impact
• Expertise in advanced statistical methods: regression, time series, survival analysis, causal inference, and experimental design
• Expertise in machine learning techniques including supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning
• Mastery of LLM and generative AI techniques: evaluation, fine-tuning, retrieval-augmented generation, prompt engineering, and agent development
• Advanced working knowledge of Python and SQL (Structured Query Language)
• Knowledge of Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR) data structures (Clarity, Caboodle) and clinical data standards (HL7, FHIR) preferred
• Knowledge of applicable regulatory and risk frameworks, including HIPAA, FDA SaMD guidance, and NIST AI RMF, plus experience with bias and fairness evaluation
• Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to explain complex work for executive and clinical audiences
• Demonstrated ability to mentor technical staff and influence outcomes without direct authority
• Regular in-office attendance required; candidates should be prepared to commute on a regular basis to support collaboration and business needs

Technologies

• Python
• Structured Query Language (SQL)
• Large Language Model (LLM)
• Retrieval-augmented generation
• Prompt engineering
• Agent development
• Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Clarity
• Caboodle
• Health Level Seven (HL7)
• Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) guidance
• National Institute of Standards and Technology Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (NIST AI RMF)

Schedule and Employment Details

• Location: Sacramento, CA (hybrid)
• Work mode: Hybrid with regular in-office attendance required
• Shift: Days
• Schedule: Full Time
• Days of week: Monday - Friday
• Weekend requirements: As Needed
• Weekly hours: 40
• Position status: Exempt
• Employee status: Regular
• Union: No
• Organization: SHSO-Sutter Health System Office-Valley

Compensation

• Annual pay range: $181,896.00 to $291,033.60

Benefits

• Benefits: Yes

Note: The role is listed as hybrid, but regular in-office attendance is required. Candidates should be prepared to commute on a regular basis to support team collaboration and business needs.