Lead AI Research Engineer

The MITRE Corporation • McLean, VA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us.
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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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

Responsibilities

• 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

What This Job Offers

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