Yesterday
Unspecified
Mid Level Career (5+ yrs experience)
$58,656 - $240,082
Linguist
University of Maryland, MD (On/Off-Site)
Job Description Summary:
The Research Engineer will advance natural language processing (NLP) research and applications within ARLIS. This role bridges computational linguistics, applied machine learning, and domain-specific expertise, with a strong focus on projects involving Mandarin Chinese and related cultural contexts. Reporting to senior research leadership, the Research Engineer will apply computational methods to complex language problems, drive innovation, and contribute to high-impact applied research.
Organization Summary Statement:
The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) supporting the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. ARLIS conducts cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, linguistics, human behavior, and emerging technologies. As part of this mission, the Research Engineer will join an interdisciplinary team committed to solving national security challenges while advancing fundamental knowledge in computational linguistics and NLP. ARLIS values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and fosters a collaborative environment that brings together experts from across disciplines to address complex problems of national importance.
Physical Demands:
• Primarily office-based role requiring extended periods of computer use and screen time.
• Occasional travel may be required for project collaboration, conferences, or sponsor engagement.
• Regular participation in meetings, both virtual and in-person.
• Must be able to manage multiple tasks in a dynamic research environment.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop, evaluate, and refine computational linguistics and NLP methods for applied research projects.
• Implement Python-based workflows for data analysis, model development, and automation.
• Collaborate with linguists, computer scientists, and cultural experts to design and test NLP solutions.
• Preprocess, annotate, and manage datasets to support machine learning pipelines.
• Prototype and evaluate algorithms for language modeling, semantic analysis, and other NLP tasks.
• Contribute to technical documentation, deliverables, and scholarly publications.
• Monitor advances in NLP and integrate state-of-the-art techniques into research efforts.
Security Clearance Requirements:
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance is mandatory for this position.
• Candidates will undergo background checks, including verification of education, employment history, and potential security risks.
Preferences:
• Knowledge of Mandarin Chinese and familiarity with Chinese cultural norms.
• Experience with advanced NLP applications such as machine translation, semantic or syntactic analysis, or sentiment classification.
• Evidence of contributions to peer-reviewed research, applied research deliverables, or technical reports.
• Experience collaborating on interdisciplinary research teams.
Licenses/Certifications:
• No specific licenses or certifications are required.
• Relevant technical certifications (e.g., Python programming, machine learning, or NLP-related certifications) may be advantageous.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Master’s or doctoral degree in linguistics, computational linguistics, or language/literature (e.g., English, Chinese, Chinese literature, or related disciplines).
• Demonstrated proficiency in computational linguistics or NLP, with applied experience integrating NLP into research or domain-specific problems.
• Minimum of 1 year of regular Python use for NLP, data science, or general scripting; strong competency with commonly used packages.
• Intermediate proficiency with Python; 2+ years of professional application preferred.
• Familiarity with Python packages such as Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, and spaCy.
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to design and execute NLP workflows from data collection through model evaluation.
• Competence in Python programming and associated libraries for scientific computing and NLP.
• Familiarity with linguistic structures, semantics, and text processing methods.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Capacity to adapt quickly to evolving project requirements and sponsor needs.
Additional Job Description:
• This position may be eligible for hybrid work arrangements, subject to project requirements and sponsor approvals.
• Opportunities for professional development and engagement in cross-disciplinary research are supported and encouraged.
• Candidates will work under the supervision of senior ARLIS researchers and may provide technical guidance to junior staff or students.
Salary Range
$58,656 - $240,082
The Research Engineer will advance natural language processing (NLP) research and applications within ARLIS. This role bridges computational linguistics, applied machine learning, and domain-specific expertise, with a strong focus on projects involving Mandarin Chinese and related cultural contexts. Reporting to senior research leadership, the Research Engineer will apply computational methods to complex language problems, drive innovation, and contribute to high-impact applied research.
Organization Summary Statement:
The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) supporting the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. ARLIS conducts cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, linguistics, human behavior, and emerging technologies. As part of this mission, the Research Engineer will join an interdisciplinary team committed to solving national security challenges while advancing fundamental knowledge in computational linguistics and NLP. ARLIS values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and fosters a collaborative environment that brings together experts from across disciplines to address complex problems of national importance.
Physical Demands:
• Primarily office-based role requiring extended periods of computer use and screen time.
• Occasional travel may be required for project collaboration, conferences, or sponsor engagement.
• Regular participation in meetings, both virtual and in-person.
• Must be able to manage multiple tasks in a dynamic research environment.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop, evaluate, and refine computational linguistics and NLP methods for applied research projects.
• Implement Python-based workflows for data analysis, model development, and automation.
• Collaborate with linguists, computer scientists, and cultural experts to design and test NLP solutions.
• Preprocess, annotate, and manage datasets to support machine learning pipelines.
• Prototype and evaluate algorithms for language modeling, semantic analysis, and other NLP tasks.
• Contribute to technical documentation, deliverables, and scholarly publications.
• Monitor advances in NLP and integrate state-of-the-art techniques into research efforts.
Security Clearance Requirements:
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance is mandatory for this position.
• Candidates will undergo background checks, including verification of education, employment history, and potential security risks.
Preferences:
• Knowledge of Mandarin Chinese and familiarity with Chinese cultural norms.
• Experience with advanced NLP applications such as machine translation, semantic or syntactic analysis, or sentiment classification.
• Evidence of contributions to peer-reviewed research, applied research deliverables, or technical reports.
• Experience collaborating on interdisciplinary research teams.
Licenses/Certifications:
• No specific licenses or certifications are required.
• Relevant technical certifications (e.g., Python programming, machine learning, or NLP-related certifications) may be advantageous.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Master’s or doctoral degree in linguistics, computational linguistics, or language/literature (e.g., English, Chinese, Chinese literature, or related disciplines).
• Demonstrated proficiency in computational linguistics or NLP, with applied experience integrating NLP into research or domain-specific problems.
• Minimum of 1 year of regular Python use for NLP, data science, or general scripting; strong competency with commonly used packages.
• Intermediate proficiency with Python; 2+ years of professional application preferred.
• Familiarity with Python packages such as Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, and spaCy.
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to design and execute NLP workflows from data collection through model evaluation.
• Competence in Python programming and associated libraries for scientific computing and NLP.
• Familiarity with linguistic structures, semantics, and text processing methods.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Capacity to adapt quickly to evolving project requirements and sponsor needs.
Additional Job Description:
• This position may be eligible for hybrid work arrangements, subject to project requirements and sponsor approvals.
• Opportunities for professional development and engagement in cross-disciplinary research are supported and encouraged.
• Candidates will work under the supervision of senior ARLIS researchers and may provide technical guidance to junior staff or students.
Salary Range
$58,656 - $240,082
group id: 91122244
