Data Scientist, Data Practice

The Government Technology Agency (GovTech) is the lead agency driving Singapore’s Smart Nation initiatives and public sector digital transformation. As the Centre of Excellence for Infocomm Technology and Smart Systems (ICT & SS), GovTech develops the Singapore Government’s capabilities in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, Application Development, Smart City Technology, Digital Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity. 
 
At GovTech, we offer you a purposeful career to make lives better. We empower our people to master their craft through continuous and robust learning and development opportunities all year round. Our GovTechies embody our Agile, Bold and Collaborative values to deliver impactful solutions. 
 
GovTech aims to transform the delivery of Government digital services by taking an “outside-in” view, putting citizens and businesses at the heart of everything we do. 
 
Play a part in Singapore’s vision to build a Smart Nation and embark on your meaningful journey to build tech for public good. Join us to advance our mission and shape your future with us today! 
 
Learn more about GovTech at tech.gov.sg. 

GovTech Data Practice

The Data Practice drives innovation and sets best practices for the effective and responsible use of data across the Whole-of-Government (WOG). We work at the intersection of data engineering, AI, privacy, and governance – developing standards, platforms, and tools that enable agencies to build high-quality data products and unlock the value of data for public good. 

A core focus of our work is advancing responsible data use. As data sharing and AI adoption accelerate, we develop both the frameworks and technologies needed to ensure sensitive data can be used safely; including in AI systems, where interactions with sensitive data are becoming more widespread and risks will scale further with more autonomous, agentic workflows.

A core focus of our work is to make responsible data use practical and scalable. This includes developing technical guardrails, privacy-preserving workflows, evaluation methods, and reusable standards that help agencies use data safely for analytics, AI, and digital services. Our work spans areas such as AI privacy, context-aware anonymisation, synthetic data generation, federated AI / computing, encrypted computation, differential privacy, and confidential computing. We bridge the gap between policy, research, and real-world deployment by experimenting with new approaches, validating them through agency pilots, and operationalising them into standards, implementation guides, and central government tools.

We are seeking a Data Scientist at the intermediate to senior level. At the baseline, you will (a) conduct rigorous research and experimentation to evaluate emerging privacy solutions, (b) design scalable, implementable workflows tailored for government adoption, and (c) translate these into practical tools, guidelines, and systems used across agencies. Depending on experience and seniority, you may also take on broader ownership in shaping the team’s direction; identifying emerging technology opportunities, working with stakeholders across policy and engineering, and driving initiatives from problem definition through to scaled deployment.

What you will be working on

1. Applied Research & Development
   a. Design and execute rigorous experiments to evaluate emerging PETs and AI-enabled solutions
   b. Develop proof-of-concepts that demonstrate real-world applicability and measurable impact
   c. Stay current with academic research and translate findings into practical, deployable solutions
   d. Contribute to the broader community through publications and knowledge sharing with government and international partners
    
2. Agency Partnership & Pilot Implementation
   a. Collaborate directly with government agencies to deeply understand their unique privacy challenges and operational constraints
   b. Design and execute pilot programmes to test PET solutions
   c. Systematically gather user feedback and iterate on solutions based on practical deployment experiences and lessons learned
   d. Provide ongoing technical consultation and hands-on support to agencies throughout their privacy technology adoption journey
    
3. End-to-End Solution Innovation & Development
   a. Identify opportunities where PETs can address current common data challenges across government
   b. Architect and develop scalable solutions designed for widespread adoption across the Whole of Government ecosystem
   c. Establish clear implementation pathways and adoption frameworks for new privacy technologies

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration
   a. Work as a collaborative team player alongside data scientists, data engineers, software engineers, and product managers
   b. Partner strategically with government agencies to align technical solutions with the evolving landscape of regulatory requirements and governance frameworks

5. Strategic Direction & Technical Leadership (for more senior hires)
   a. Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and their relevance for government use cases
   b. Shape the team’s direction by defining high-impact problem areas and prioritising initiatives
   c. Scope and drive projects end-to-end, from early exploration through to scaled deployment across agencies
   d. Engage stakeholders across policy, engineering, and vendors to align on problem framing and solution design
   e. Mentor team members and contribute to building a strong, high-performing team

What we are looking for 

1. Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Business Analytics or a related field, with at least 2-3 years of relevant professional experience. Candidates will be assessed based on their experience and may be considered at the intermediate or senior level.

2. Core Data Science & ML skillset 
   ● Strong foundation in machine learning, with hands-on experience in model development and experimentation.
   ● Strong programming proficiency in Python and extensive experience with ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn).
   ● Ability to analyze model behavior, diagnose training issues, and design experiments to optimise performance and reliability

3. Applied Research & Experimentation
   ● Demonstrated ability to read, synthesise, and critically evaluate academic research papers and technical literature
   ● Experience designing and conducting rigorous experiments to validate hypotheses and measure solution effectiveness
   ● Comfort working with ambiguous problems and developing novel approaches to complex challenges

4. Nice-to-Haves
   ● Experience with privacy-enhancing technologies, including but not limited to anonymisation, synthetic data generation or differential privacy.
   ● Familiarity with frontend integration workflows (Next.js/React).
   ● Prior experience working in multi-disciplinary teams.

5. Mindset & Collaboration
   ● Curiosity and willingness to learn new domains (esp. data privacy).
   ● Strong communication skills to explain technical concepts to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders.
   ● Inclination to work in a collaborative, fast-moving Agile environment.
   ● Strong in communication with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audience

Our employee benefits are based on a total rewards approach, offering a holistic and market-competitive suite of perks. These include leave benefits to meet your work-life needs and employee wellness programmes.  

We champion flexible work arrangements (subject to your job role) and trust that you will manage your own time to deliver your best, wherever you are, and whatever works best for you.  

Learn more about life inside GovTech at go.gov.sg/GovTechCareers. 
Stay connected with us on social media at go.gov.sg/ConnectWithGovTech