Senior Autonomous Systems Research Scientist

Software Engineering Institute | Carnegie Mellon University•Pittsburgh, PA

75d•Onsite

About The Position

The AI for Autonomy Lab within the SEI’s AI Division is seeking a Senior Autonomous Systems Research Scientist to address fundamental research questions in the development and use of AI-enabled autonomous systems, particularly in high-stakes environments. The role focuses on the lifecycle of these systems and helping sponsors apply AI to increase effectiveness without adding unacceptable risk. The scientist will develop a research agenda and lead or conduct research supporting critical U.S. government needs. The position involves research in areas such as applied machine learning and AI, autonomy evaluation and explanation, collaborative autonomy, counter-autonomy, and modeling and simulation. The successful candidate will lead interdisciplinary teams in translating research into prototype operational capabilities, collaborate with researchers and government customers, mentor junior staff, stay current with relevant technical developments, and communicate findings through presentations, conferences, workshops, and peer-reviewed publications. The position is based onsite five days per week at SEI offices in either Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, or Arlington, Virginia. Travel of up to 25% is required, including travel to SEI offices, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings. The employee must undergo a background investigation and be able to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Robotics, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline and 10 years of experience; or a master’s degree in the same fields and 8 years of experience; or a Ph.D. in the same fields and 5 years of experience.
Published track record of conducting machine learning and robotics research and applying scientific methods.
Experience leading research projects and collaborating across research teams and stakeholders.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to convey complex technical ideas to diverse audiences.
Experience writing and delivering successful research proposals to funding agencies and leading the resulting projects.
Experience with programming languages such as Python and C/C++, and other pertinent languages and frameworks.
Ability to undergo a background investigation and obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance.
Ability to work onsite five days per week at SEI’s Pittsburgh or Arlington offices.
Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with state of practice, emerging trends, and opportunities in industry and government focused on maritime, land, or space domains.
Experience working with the Department of War and Intelligence Community.

Responsibilities

Develop a research agenda and lead or conduct research in support of critical U.S. government needs.
Lead novel research in applied machine learning and robotics.
Lead interdisciplinary teams in turning research results into prototype operational capabilities for government customers and stakeholders.
Collaborate with researchers, developers, engineers, designers, technical leads, campus labs, and government customers to understand challenges, needs, and potential solutions.
Mentor and teach junior staff, lead technical sessions, and contribute to establishing technical norms for the Lab.
Stay aware of developments in AI-enabled autonomous systems, especially those relevant to National Security use cases.
Develop and deliver technical presentations for diverse audiences, tailor content for different stakeholders, speak at conferences and workshops, and publish in relevant peer-reviewed journals.
Travel up to 25% of the time to SEI offices, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings.