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Sr AI/ML Research Scientist

Peraton

Posted today
Public Trust
$146,000 - $234,000
Unspecified
Annapolis Junction, MD (On-Site/Office)

About Peraton

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 world's 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 solve the most daunting challenges that our customers face. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Program Overview

About The Role

Join Peraton Labs in advancing the safety, efficiency, and modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS) through the FAA's Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) contract. As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton helps deliver the systems and services that keep our nation's skies safe and connected.

We're looking for innovative professionals who thrive in mission-critical environments and are passionate about shaping the future of air traffic management. This is your chance to make an impact on one of the world's most vital transportation infrastructures, working alongside leaders in aviation, engineering, data science, and systems integration.

At Peraton Labs, you won't just support the mission - you'll define it.

Join a team dedicated to protecting the safety and integrity of U.S. air travel. Peraton Labs is seeking a Senior AI/ML Research Scientist to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. The ideal candidate will influence national strategies and policies by guiding decisions on integrating next-generation technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), satellite navigation, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Whether you're supporting safety validation efforts or leading teams on major FAA programs, your work will directly impact the millions of passengers and aviation professionals who rely on safe, efficient airspace operations every day. The Senior AI/ML Research Scientist will work with senior research scientists and managers to perform research and development of AI/ML technologies such as natural language processing and generative AI.

In this position, you will:
  • Provide guidance and strategic direction on research initiative to ensure they align with FAA requirements and program objectives
  • Collaborate with leadership, research teams, and external partners to identify research opportunities, develop methodologies, advance innovations, and address complex scientific challenges.
  • Collaborate with leading experts in government, academia, and industry to address some of the most complex challenges in modern aviation.
  • Influence national strategies and policies by guiding decisions on integrating next-generation technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), satellite navigation, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
  • Contribute to critical research programs at premier facilities such as the William J. Hughes Technical Center, where cutting-edge simulations and testing shape the National Airspace System (NAS).
  • Bridge research and operational application, ensuring innovative solutions are practical, safe, and ready for deployment across the aviation ecosystem.
  • Conduct and guide research and development on technologies supporting the NAS, airport infrastructure, and air traffic management.
  • Provide technical leadership and advisory support to FAA leadership on emerging technologies such as AI, satellite navigation, UAS, and advanced communications.
  • Lead or contribute to design, testing, and innovation initiatives for next-generation aviation systems.
  • Prepare technical reports, white papers, and presentations for FAA leadership and external advisory groups.
  • Participate in special programs related to environmental and energy research.
  • Oversee or support contractor-led research efforts to ensure alignment with FAA priorities and standards.

Why This Role Matters

The FAA is the cornerstone of aviation safety and innovation. As global air traffic grows and technology evolves, research scientists and advisors are essential to ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of aviation advancements. Your expertise will directly influence the safety of millions of passengers, improve operational efficiency, and guide the adoption of next-generation technologies.

Qualifications

Required:
  • U.S. Citizenship Required.
  • Must have the ability to obtain / maintain a Public Trust clearance
  • Bachelor's degree and 12+ years, Master's degree and 10+ years, or PhD and 7+ years in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field of experience
  • Demonstratable AI/ML research experience, academic research publications in peer-reviewed international AI/ML conferences are required, unless similar qualifications can be demonstrated
  • Expertise in one or more programming languages: C, C++, Python, Javascript
  • Hands-on development experience in AI/ML model building and tuning
  • Hands-on development experience of agentic AI
  • Demonstratable proficiency in working with state-of-the-art large language models at the API level (During interviews on MS Teams, candidates are expected to use VSCode to execute tasks through programmatic interactions with OpenAI tool/function calling API)
  • Modern software development practices and toolsets (Git, CI/CD toolchains)
Desired:
  • Machine learning libraries, such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc
  • Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP)
  • End-to-end machine learning model and generative AI agent development experience
  • Linux, containers such as Docker, and orchestration tools such as Kubernetes
  • Hands-on AI/ML development experience in cloud environments, such as AWS Bedrock
  • Full stack programming experience
  • Azure cloud working experience

SCA / Union / Intern Rate or Range

Details

Target Salary Range: $146,000 - $234,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

Benefits Statement: Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.

Application Duration Statement: The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

EEO:Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.
group id: 91005870
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About Us
Peraton drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted and highly differentiated national security solutions and technologies that keep people safe and secure. Peraton serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies across the intelligence, space, cyber, defense, civilian, health, and state and local markets. Every day, our employees do the can’t be done, solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Join Peraton and #DoTheCan'tBeDone

Peraton Jobs


Clearance Level
Public Trust
Employer
Peraton