Lead AI Research Engineer

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Department Summary:

MITRE's Trustworthy & Secure AI (TSAI) Department within the AI, Autonomy, & Data Tech Division consists of a diverse team united by a passion and a sense of urgency to harness trustworthy and assured artificial intelligence (AI) to help solve problems in the public interest. The TSAI Department supports our sponsors' missions by delivering capabilities for securing and increasing trust in AI-enabled systems, including data driven AI risk awareness and mitigation, AI red teaming, and trusted tools and techniques for applying AI in high consequence environments. The TSAI Department works across government, industry, and academia to provide, assess, and shape trustworthy and secure AI systems to address complex mission needs for our sponsors. Our work provides opportunities to address real-world challenges in the rapidly developing field of AI assurance, and to research and prototype new methods to address mission needs. We are looking for highly motivated, adaptive, and self-directed candidates to perform research, development, engineering, evaluation, and integration of AI and large language models (LLMs). We are looking for expertise in AI and machine learning (ML), particularly the development, training, and use of LLMs and/or agentic AI.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The position involves researching, developing, evaluating, and integrating AI capabilities, with a particular focus on securing AI systems and integrating AI across cyber operations, especially for LLMs and agentic AI. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Work in and provide technical leadership to cross-functional teams to develop and implement AI/ML solutions, including capabilities that leverage LLM and agentic AI technology
• Analyze AI use cases and recommend secure and trustworthy solutions to sponsors
• Evaluate technology solutions in the context of mission data and workflow needs, and provide actionable recommendations
• Convey complex ideas to non-technical audiences through briefings and/or white papers
• Lead projects and teams to solve complex AI security related challenges for our sponsors
• Provide thought leadership supporting the innovation of new AI capabilities applied to cyber operational challenges
• Lead, mentor, and collaborate with technical staff

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of experience in artificial intelligence with a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years' experience; or equivalent combination of AI-related education and work experience.
• Hands-on experience in one of the following technical areas: AI security, AI-enhanced cybersecurity, AI-accelerated cyber operations, large language models, or agentic AI
• Demonstrated advanced skills with Python and the standard AI technical stack
• Ability to work independently to learn new technologies, methods, processes, frameworks/platforms, and systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate challenging technical concepts to both lay and expert audiences
• Must be U.S. citizen with an Active TS clearance
• Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, or related disciplines
• Track record of successful deployment of AI/ML systems or components that have been used by customers or stakeholders outside of a lab/experimental setting
• Experience leading mid-sized or large teams to solve complex technical challenges
• Active IC or DOD TS/SCI security clearance with CI Poly
• Knowledge of advances in AI for cyber or AI security capabilities in industry and academia

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
Top Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$174,000 - $217,500 - $261,000 Annual

Work Location Type:
Hybrid

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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