Principal Artificial Intelligence Engineer

The Mitre Corporation•Hollymead, VA

4d•$191,200 - $286,800•Onsite

About The Position

MITRE’s Multi-INT AI Engineering Department seeks an experienced AI, software, and cloud engineering professional to lead mission-focused research and development. The role combines technical and domain expertise to build capabilities for sponsor missions, bringing together sensors, AI and machine learning, and data engineering to exploit multimodal data, including infrared imagery, hyperspectral imagery, radar, full motion video, wide-area motion imagery, and 3D data. The Principal Artificial Intelligence Engineer sets technical direction across related prototype efforts, establishes approaches for multimodal data engineering and AI evaluation, and leads complex teams and projects. The role also advises sponsors and mission stakeholders, mentors technical staff, identifies significant mission challenges, and helps guide long-term technical investments and capability transitions. The position is on-site five days per week and requires work in classified and unclassified environments, including a SCIF.

Requirements

Typically, at least 10 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; 8 years with a master’s degree; a Ph.D. with 5 years of experience; or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
Expert software and cloud engineering knowledge, including experience setting architecture and resolving integration and deployment tradeoffs across related AI efforts.
Experience establishing data engineering approaches for multimodal pipelines with complex quality, integration, performance, and access needs.
Experience setting AI evaluation strategies and applying knowledge of multi-INT workflows and mission constraints to complex studies.
Ability to assess emerging technologies, identify significant capability gaps, and solve technical problems with lasting impact.
Experience leading related teams or projects with notable risk, complexity, and resource requirements.
Ability to build sponsor relationships, align stakeholders around technical decisions, mentor staff, and share expertise across the job family.
Ability to work in classified and unclassified environments, including a SCIF.
Must have an active Top Secret/SCI with CI Poly U.S. Government-issued security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required to be considered for a security clearance.
Must have or obtain a Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph clearance within one year from the date of hire.
Must work on-site five days a week.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, or related disciplines.
Experience shaping multi-INT fusion approaches across related efforts and assessing how sensor characteristics affect findings.
Experience advising on the capabilities, limitations, and mission value of large language models or agentic AI across multiple use cases.
Experience coordinating technical studies that inform government acquisition or investment decisions.
Track record of leading multidisciplinary efforts from prototype evaluation through recommendations for sponsor transition or investment.

Responsibilities

Set technical direction for related prototype efforts, resolving architecture and integration tradeoffs and identifying research approaches suited to emerging mission needs.
Establish data engineering approaches for complex multimodal pipelines and integrate findings across mission data sources.
Set evaluation and study approaches across related sponsor questions, assessing the strength and limitations of the evidence.
Lead teams or projects with notable risk, complexity, and resource requirements across related efforts.
Align teams around shared objectives, resolve dependencies, and guide execution across technical disciplines.
Build productive sponsor relationships, advise on technical options, and influence decisions among technical and mission stakeholders.
Mentor technical staff and transfer expertise across the job family.
Identify consequential mission challenges, secure support for long-term outcomes, and advise on technical investments and transition paths.