Machine Learning Engineer - Advanced AI and Cognitive Systems

HRL • Calabasas, CA

64d • $132,765 - $165,983

About The Position

Join a dynamic research team pushing the boundaries of intelligent systems. This role offers the opportunity to make an immediate impact on high-profile, mission-driven projects involving machine learning, generative AI, cognitive modeling, and human-machine teaming. You will support shaping the future of adaptive software systems through cutting-edge R&D and prototype development.

Requirements

• Candidates should have research or development experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Software Engineering: Experience building scalable systems, APIs, and containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes).
• LLMs & NLP: Deep understanding of transformer architectures, prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
• Human-Machine Interaction: Familiarity with cognitive architectures, user modeling, and explainable AI (XAI).
• Data Analytics: Strong skills in data wrangling, feature engineering, and statistical modeling using Python.
• Machine Learning & AI: Expertise in supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning; hands-on experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX.
• Strong interdisciplinary communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work in fast-paced, exploratory research environments.
• Curiosity-driven mindset with a passion for solving complex problems.
• MS or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Math, Cognitive Science, or related fields.
• 3-5 years of experience in applied ML or AI research, preferably in high-stakes or mission-critical domains.
• U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Security Clearance, or permanent resident status
• This position must meet export control compliance requirements. To meet export control compliance requirements, a "U.S. Person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required. "U.S. Person" includes U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with government-funded R&D programs (e.g., DARPA, IARPA, ARPA-H) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement algorithms for sensor data processing, system adaptation, and intelligent decision-making.
• Develop and fine-tune large language models (LLMs) and multimodal AI systems to reason over software, documentation, and human feedback.
• Apply cognitive science principles to enhance explainability, trust, and collaborative performance in human-AI systems.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to test and refine solutions in realistic operational scenarios.
• Stay current with emerging trends in ML, AI, and cognitive systems.
• Solve complex customer challenges and contributing to technical proposals.
• Authorize invention disclosures, research publications, and customer briefings.
• Demonstrate prototypes and supporting marketing of organizational capabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees