AI/ML Engineer Principal

SAIC • Chantilly, VA

22h • Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is hiring an AI/ML Engineer to join a mission-driven, multidisciplinary analysis team in Chantilly, Virginia. The role supports the design, acquisition, and operation of national security space systems by developing and integrating AI/ML capabilities into modeling and simulation environments for government satellite programs in Earth orbits, with a focus on mission planning and space domain awareness. The position is fully on-site in Chantilly, VA, with no remote work available. Work takes place in office and classified lab environments.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of relevant experience and a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field; a master's degree may substitute for some years of experience.
• Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating machine learning algorithms, such as supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, on real-world datasets.
• Proficiency in at least one major AI/ML programming language, such as Python or C++, including use of common ML and data libraries or frameworks.
• Experience conducting exploratory data analysis and developing predictive models, including training, tuning, validation, and quantitative performance evaluation.
• Experience with scalable data-processing or model-training pipelines in an HPC or cloud-like environment.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with an active and current polygraph.

Nice To Haves

• Experience applying AI/ML in the space domain, such as satellite operations, space surveillance, tracking, or space domain awareness.
• Experience with optical and/or radar sensor data for detection, classification, or tracking.
• Experience with physics-based modeling and simulation tools and integrating ML solutions into those workflows.
• Experience developing or optimizing algorithms for anomaly detection, mission planning, resource allocation, or sensor tasking.
• Experience building and operating HPC pipelines for large-scale model training and evaluation.
• Familiarity with astrodynamics, satellite mission design, or remote sensing concepts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply AI/ML algorithms and workflows for satellite mission planning, space domain awareness, and resilient mission operations.
• Perform end-to-end machine learning development, including data exploration, feature engineering, model training, tuning, validation, and performance assessment using supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning.
• Implement and optimize algorithms for classification, tracking, anomaly detection, and decision support using optical and radar space-surveillance sensor data.
• Design, build, and maintain scalable HPC or HPC-like pipelines and workflows for large-scale model training, testing, and deployment.
• Use Python and/or C++ to extend modeling, simulation, and data analysis tools for space-domain problems.
• Collaborate with satellite designers, operations planners, and subject-matter experts to translate mission needs into AI/ML requirements and integrate solutions into broader modeling and simulation efforts.
• Conduct trade studies and technical assessments, and review algorithms and models from internal and external teams.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior