Senior Principal AI/ML Engineer

SRC•Fairborn, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

SRC, Inc. is seeking a Senior Principal AI/ML Engineer to lead the vision, direction, and execution of SRC’s external and internal research and development portfolio. This role is crucial for shaping SRC’s future technology by aligning external and internal efforts with customer needs, market opportunities, and SRC’s technical heritage. It's a hands-on leadership position integrating operational and R&D strategy, scientific mentorship, and business development. The candidate will collaborate with program managers, engineers, scientists, and capture teams to ensure AI/ML work yields meaningful results that transition into programs supporting ISR, EW, advanced sensing, decision science, and emerging mission domains.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
15+ years of experience in R&D leadership, advanced technology development, scientific portfolio management, or strategic program capture.
An active TS/SCI clearance is required.
Demonstrated experience managing AI/ML portfolios, technology road mapping, or scientific/technical strategy.
Proven track record in AI/ML, advanced analytics, modeling & simulation, or emerging technology prototyping.
Experience mentoring technical teams and developing scientists into high impact contributors.
Ability to work at the interface of engineering, science, strategy, and business development.
Familiarity with DoD mission domains, customer communities, and technology transition pathways.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with comfort engaging senior stakeholders.
Ability to coordinate diverse contributors and maintain focus during rapid or evolving technology efforts.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.

Responsibilities

Curate, manage, and maintain a forward-looking AI/ML portfolio informed by customer missions, SRC strengths, and anticipated demand signals.
Review and synthesize existing AI/ML efforts into cohesive technology roadmaps and strategic direction statements.
Conduct customer-driven gap analyses across major programs to identify unanswered questions and key technology shortfalls.
Collaborate with program development and capture teams to align AI/ML execution with SRC’s overarching strategy.
Mentor scientific teams to ensure technical rigor, high quality experimentation, defensible data, and clear transition-ready outcomes.
Guide “fullstack” scientific development - concept creation, proposal shaping, execution, analysis, and customer-facing transition.
Support business development through persuasive technology storytelling and B&P product contributions.
Engage stakeholders across technical, management, and executive levels with strong executive presence.
Lead or contribute to advanced AI/ML, MS&A, and prototyping activities when hands-on execution is required.
Partner with engineering, operations, and capture to translate AI/ML results into viable, fieldable products and solutions.