AI and Software Engineering Research Scientist — Edge Software Systems

Carnegie-Mellon-University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute in Pittsburgh seeks an AI and Software Engineering Research Scientist to develop, mature, and prototype technologies within the TAS Initiative and to transition these technologies to government and industry partners.

You will work directly with customers, balance short-term needs with long-term goals, and advance the TAS research agenda in edge software systems and AI-enabled solutions.

Qualifications

• PhD in computer science, software engineering, machine learning, or related discipline.
• Two (2) or more years of full-time professional experience engineering edge software systems in a research environment, or eight (8) or more years of demonstrated experience leading the development and transition of innovative software engineering techniques into operational practice.
• Strong empirical research skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, mature, and prototype technologies for TAS; transition them to government and industry.
• Represent technical work with customers, stakeholders, and the academic community.

Skills

Edge AI

Empirical research

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in computer science or software engineering or ML

Job description

What We Do

The SEI’s Tactical Edge and AI-Enabled Systems (TAS) initiative advances and transitions AI and edge software capabilities with a focus on production-readiness of AI and edge systems and components. Examples include supporting small units operating in difficult edge environments that are often disconnected from enterprise computing infrastructure, such as tactical autonomy, first responders, space, and avionics systems. A natural outcome of our work is the advancement and transition of software engineering tools, methods, and approaches to enable production-readiness of AI systems and components.

Position Summary

As an AI and Software Engineering Research Scientist in the TAS Initiative you will develop, mature, and prototype technologies, and transition these technologies to government and industry organizations. You will directly develop and apply work with customers, balancing short-term customer needs with long-term goals of solving complex technical challenges within the development of tactical edge and AI-enabled systems. You will represent technical work with customers, stakeholders, and the academic community, while advancing the TAS research agenda in edge software systems.

Areas of Focus

• Edge AI in DDIL (degraded, disconnected, intermittent, limited) environments
• Edge Intelligence
• Edge-to-Cloud continuum
• UaX-Edge collaboration
• Software engineering for AI-enabled systems, including agentic AI systems

As part of the AI-native Software Engineering (AISE) directorate you will also be a part of the AISE Lab, advancing and learning about the state-of-the-art in AI-assisted tools and processes that are changing the practice of software engineering.

Requirements

• PhD in computer science, software engineering, machine learning, or related discipline
• Two (2) or more years of full-time professional experience engineering edge software systems in a research environment, or eight (8) or more years of demonstrated experience leading the development and transition of innovative software engineering techniques into operational practice
• Strong empirical research skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Development and deployment of edge software systems, or systems with similar technical challenges, into operational environments
• Ability to communicate research outcomes, demonstrated by a publication record which includes relevant top-tier venues in software engineering and AI
• Development of successful research proposals
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in teams with a variety of technical and organizational skills

Other Requirements

• Flexible to travel to sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings (~10% travel)
• Able and willing to work onsite at the SEI office in Pittsburgh, 5 days per week
• You will be subject to a background investigation and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Department of War) security clearance

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type Staff – Regular Full time/Part time Full time

Pay Basis Salary

Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

Statement of Assurance Always focused on the future, the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) advances software as a strategic advantage for national security. We lead research and direct transition of software engineering, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence technologies at the intersection of academia, industry, and government. We serve the nation as a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and are based at Carnegie Mellon University, a global research university annually rated among the best for its programs in computer science and engineering. Our people apply special knowledge and skills and are part of an elite research university. We perform research and apply our expertise every day to foresee problems and exploit opportunities in software engineering, AI engineering, and cybersecurity. Quality software that is secure will control the future. At CMU SEI, we are engineering that ever-greater software-fueled future.

Need Help? For technical assistance, email [e-mail] or call 412-268-5072.

We are committed to providing an accessible experience throughout our recruitment process. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application, interview, or hiring process, please contact Equal Opportunity Services by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 412-268-3930.