Machine Learning Application Engineer

University of Maryland•College Park, MD

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is seeking qualified candidates with expertise in applied machine learning (ML) application development to build, deploy, and sustain end-to-end ML capabilities in support of U.S. national security missions. Ideal candidates will demonstrate experience translating technical problems into robust ML solutions—spanning data selection and preparation, model development, evaluation, and delivery of models into operational workflows—with a preference for candidates with experience applying natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision methods and tools. Candidates should have a foundational understanding of machine learning methods and practical familiarity with common ML libraries and frameworks (e.g., PyTorch/torch, scikit-learn, SciPy), along with experience deploying and maintaining ML systems using modern engineering practices such as CI/CD, workflow orchestration, and monitoring. Successful applicants will also be comfortable collaborating on interdisciplinary teams and communicating complex technical work through technical deliverables and briefings for government stakeholders. Successful candidates will contribute to a portfolio of government-sponsored projects addressing emerging challenges in areas such as decision support, information processing, human-machine teaming, and operational analytics, with particular emphasis on delivering ML capabilities that are reliable, testable, and maintainable. Work may include rapid prototyping as well as production-oriented engineering to transition research into usable tools, including interactive applications that enable end users to apply ML models in real-world contexts. Final appointment title and responsibilities will be based on qualifications and matched to programmatic needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience.
~2 years of demonstrated experience in organizing and managing projects through volunteer, extracurricular, or work activities
Demonstrated potential for excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs
Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary opportunity team in a matrixed organization with a collaborative and team-centric culture
Strong oral and written communication skills
Excellent analytical and deep-dive skills
Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience and 3+ years of experience in a technical role or project management position for defense or intelligence R&D programs with experience in technology assessment, systems design, system analysis, executing on multiple technical programs with scheduled deliverables, and communicating and interfacing with government customers; or Bachelor’s Degree and 5+ years of relevant experience in a role of equivalent responsibility
Superior ability to deliver excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs
Interact with U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary opportunity capture team in a matrixed organization with a collaborative and team-centric culture
Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience and 7+ years of experience in a technical role or project management position for defense or intelligence R&D programs with experience in technology assessment, systems design, system analysis, executing on multiple technical programs with scheduled deliverables, and communicating and interfacing with government customers; or Bachelor’s Degree and 10+ years of relevant experience in a role of equivalent responsibility
Knowledge of DoD appropriations and requirements processes
Lead engagements with U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
PhD plus 5 years of research experience in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline; including success leading research projects and a record of engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
Ability to initiate new projects with long-term research goals, tackling more complex problems than an Assistant Research Engineer, leading work on multiple, concurrent projects, and managing cross-functional engineering teams
Serve as Principal Investigator or having primary responsibility for a significant part of a project
Expected to identify funding opportunities and serve as Principal Investigator on large proposals
Mentor junior staff and Professional Track Faculty Specialists and participating in their promotion sub-committees
PhD plus 5 years of PhD-level research experience, including success capturing and leading large projects and a record of significant engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
Recognized as an authoritative subject matter expert and receive commensurate recognition
Ph.D. with at least 10 years of PhD-level research experience, including success capturing and leading large projects and a record of significant engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
Established reputation for outstanding engineering practice, design, and development and viewed nationally as an authoritative subject matter expert
Proven Ability to tackle problems of considerable scope and complexity with currently non-existent solutions requiring unconventional, novel approaches and sophisticated research techniques.
Pursue funding opportunities and serve as Principal Investigator or have primary responsibility for a significant part of a multi-investigator project
Lead the design and implementation of large projects with many components (subcontractors, teams, etc.).
Build and execute new research programs
Hold leadership positions within ARLIS, on campus, or professional committees
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area and show potential for excellence in the administration and/or management of academic or research programs.
Faculty Specialists are expected to engage in activities such as developing curriculum and/or innovative means for delivering curriculum, supervising the non-research activities of graduate or post-doctoral students, serving as grant writers or authors of other publications for an academic or research program, conducting specialized research duties or other such duties that would generate intellectual property to which the faculty member shall retain the rights.

Nice To Haves

Experience applying natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision methods and tools
Foundational understanding of machine learning methods and practical familiarity with common ML libraries and frameworks (e.g., PyTorch/torch, scikit-learn, SciPy)
Experience deploying and maintaining ML systems using modern engineering practices such as CI/CD, workflow orchestration, and monitoring
Comfortable collaborating on interdisciplinary teams and communicating complex technical work through technical deliverables and briefings for government stakeholders
Active TS/SCI

Responsibilities

Building end-to-end ML systems from technical problem formulation through training data selection/curation, modeling, evaluation, and delivery of ML models into usable tools and workflows, preferably with a focus on natural language programming and computer vision methods and tools
Applying core ML theory and methods in practice, including selecting appropriate approaches, implementing baselines, conducting error analysis, and iterating on model performance using common libraries and frameworks (e.g., PyTorch/torch, scikit-learn, SciPy)
Deploying and maintaining ML systems in development and operational environments, including git-based CI/CD, workflow orchestration, model packaging and Docker-based deployment, and monitoring for system health, data quality, and model performance over time
Developing interactive ML-enabled applications for end users, including front-end development using FastAPI + React (including Vite) and/or MERN/PERN stacks to deliver intuitive user experiences powered by ML models
Supporting proof-of-concept back-end development and requirements generation, including prototyping data stores and retrieval patterns and translating findings into clear requirements for a back-end engineering team (e.g., using Postgres (including pgvector), MongoDB, and/or ElasticSearch)
Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams including researchers, engineers, domain experts, and analysts to integrate ML capabilities into broader systems and mission workflows
Preparing technical deliverables and briefings for government stakeholders, translating complex technical work into clear, decision-relevant products (e.g., reports, slide briefings, memos, and research summaries)
Contributing to research proposals and technical work plans, including scoping technical approaches, estimating effort, identifying risks, and supporting sponsor engagement as needed