Edge AI Research Scientist

Carnegie Mellon University•Pittsburgh, PA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The SEI’s Enabling Edge Intelligence (E2I) team bridges edge AI research and operational deployment. Its multidisciplinary team designs and optimizes intelligent edge systems for resource-constrained environments where reliability, safety, and performance are primary concerns. The team works on emerging AI paradigms such as small language models, agentic AI, and hardware-aware runtime optimization; integration across the compute continuum from enterprise cloud to the tactical edge; and resilient infrastructure for mission-critical operations. The Edge AI Research Scientist will develop, mature, prototype, and transition technology for edge intelligence and critical missions. The role leads high-visibility research initiatives, balancing immediate customer challenges with longer-term technical research. The scientist serves as a lead technical voice, presenting work to executive stakeholders, defense and industry partners, and academic communities. Research areas include agentic systems for edge intelligence, software engineering for edge missions, resource management for edge systems, and adaptive systems for mission resilience. As a member of the AI-Native Software Engineering (AISE) Directorate, the scientist will collaborate within the AISE Lab and work with state-of-the-art AI-assisted tools and workflows that are transforming the software engineering lifecycle. The position is based onsite at Carnegie Mellon University’s SEI main office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, five days per week, and requires approximately 10% travel. The employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance and will be subject to a background investigation.

Requirements

PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Machine Learning, or a related field with at least 2 years of experience in edge AI system engineering, or equivalent experience such as 8 or more years developing and transitioning innovative technical solutions to operational practice.
Proven track record in rigorous empirical research design, experimentation, and quantitative validation.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate complex research into compelling technical narratives.
Ability and willingness to work onsite at the SEI main office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, five days per week.
Ability to travel approximately 10%.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance and undergo a background investigation.

Nice To Haves

Practical experience building and deploying edge AI software, or systems with similar hardware and network constraints, in real-world operational environments.
Ability to publish and present research findings at premier software engineering, edge computing, or AI conferences and journals.
Track record of crafting, winning, and executing research proposals or securing funding from government agencies or strategic industry partners.
Strong analytical and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

Develop, mature, prototype, and transition edge intelligence technology for critical missions.
Lead high-visibility research initiatives that address immediate customer challenges and longer-term technical bottlenecks.
Advance research in agentic systems for edge intelligence, software engineering for edge missions, resource management for edge systems, and adaptive systems for mission resilience.
Present research to executive stakeholders, defense and industry partners, and academic communities.
Collaborate within the AISE Lab and use state-of-the-art AI-assisted tools and workflows.
Conduct rigorous empirical research, experimentation, and quantitative validation.
Travel to conferences, collaborate with sponsors, and attend strategic offsite meetings.

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