AI/ML Engineer III

Sierra Nevada Corporation•Lone Tree, CO

2d•$124,771 - $171,561•Hybrid

About The Position

The AI/ML Engineer III is a mid-level technical position that requires advanced expertise in designing, developing, and deploying machine learning systems for aerospace and defense applications. In this role, you will lead the creation of cutting-edge AI solutions for complex problems, such as autonomous navigation, sensor fusion, and real-time decision-making. You will also mentor junior engineers, manage key projects, and contribute to strategic decision-making within AI/ML development efforts. Your work will directly impact mission-critical systems and next-generation technologies. As SNC's corporate team, we provide the company and its business areas with strategic direction and business support spanning executive management, finance and accounting, operations, human resources, legal, IT, information security, facilities, marketing, and communications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, applied statistics, various engineering disciplines, or related STEM discipline
6+ years of experience in a related field. Relevant experience can be considered as a substitute for the required educational qualifications. In the absence of a degree, a minimum of 9 years of related experience is required. Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
Proficient in machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch) and skilled in implementing advanced AI/ML techniques, such as supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning (e.g., PPO, Actor/Critic), as well as working with generative AI models (e.g., transformers).
Proficient in developing, deploying, and optimizing AI/ML models, including ANNs, CNNs, and RNNs, for production applications.
Contributed to the design and scaling of systems for larger datasets or environments with moderate complexity.
Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, C# or Java, with experience in building scalable AI/ML systems.
Demonstrated experience leading teams or projects, including mentoring junior staff.
Proven track record of deploying AI/ML models in production environments and optimizing them for real-world use cases.
Knowledge of regulatory and cybersecurity requirements for AI/ML systems in aerospace and defense applications

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or related field.
Experience leading teams or projects in aerospace and defense industries.
Familiarity with cybersecurity and regulatory requirements.
Proficient in Agile or DevOps workflows; active participant in iterative ML software development.
Practical experience designing and implementing advanced ML techniques, such as clustering, dimensionality reduction, or generative modeling.
Hands-on experience with GPU programming and using high-performance computing systems for ML workloads.
Experience with at least one reinforcement learning or generative AI model (e.g., implementing GANs or Transformers).
Able to analyze large-scale, heterogeneous datasets and apply advanced statistical and ML methods to real-world problems.
Experience translating mission objectives into actionable system requirements, including HMI scenarios.
Familiarity with hardware acceleration (e.g., CUDA, TensorRT) and introductory knowledge of edge AI or XAI.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of advanced machine learning models, including deep neural networks, reinforcement learning systems, and generative AI algorithms, to solve complex problems.
Architect scalable AI/ML systems that can integrate seamlessly with existing software and hardware platforms.
Provide guidance on the selection of tools, frameworks, and infrastructure.
Collaborate with systems engineers, hardware teams, and data scientists to align AI/ML solutions with mission-specific requirements and constraints.
Manage AI/ML projects, including scoping, resource allocation, and timeline management, ensuring that deliverables meet quality and performance expectations.
Develop and oversee robust validation and testing frameworks to ensure that AI/ML models meet performance, safety, and compliance standards in real-world scenarios.
Mentor junior engineers, providing technical guidance and fostering a collaborative, innovative team environment.
Stay current with emerging AI/ML technologies and propose innovative solutions to address new and existing challenges in the aerospace and defense domain.
Communicate technical concepts, project progress, and outcomes to stakeholders, including leadership and external partners, in a clear and concise manner.
Independently train, fine-tune, and optimize advanced AI architectures (including transformers) for complex applications.
Apply a broad range of AI/ML techniques (supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement, generative) to solve domain-specific challenges.
Lead the development and integration of signal processing, computer vision, and planning algorithms to advance autonomous system functionality.
Design and execute large-scale simulations and modeling of AI/ML systems, ensuring scalability, performance, and robustness on CPU/GPU platforms.
Lead rigorous validation and verification activities, ensuring deliverables meet performance, safety, and reliability requirements.