AI/ML Engineer - Technical Staff

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

MIT-funded pension

401K matching

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Advanced Concepts & Technologies Group (Group 39) seeks a Technical Staff member to advance AI, modeling, and data analysis for technology development and assessment.

You will partner with government sponsors and mission experts to translate open-ended questions into quantitative analyses, software and model development, and rigorous evaluation of emerging capabilities.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Operations Research, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI, modeling, or analysis capabilities for technology development and assessment.
• Translate open-ended questions into quantitative analyses, technical requirements, and evaluation criteria.
• Develop and evaluate AI/ML methods including deep learning, LLMs, logic models, or RL.
• Design studies, analyze datasets, quantify uncertainty, and draw defensible conclusions.
• Develop software prototypes and ensure good software practices including testing and version control.
• Mentor staff and identify new approaches and research directions.

Skills

Deep learning

Large language models

Reinforcement learning

Statistics

Data analysis

Open-ended problem solving

Communication skills

Leadership

Problem formulation

Education

Ph.D. in Computer Science or related field

Master's with 5+ years of relevant experience OR Bachelor's with 8+ years

Tools

Python

Julia

Job description

The Advanced Concepts & Technologies Group (Group 39) is looking for exceptional engineers, scientists, and mathematicians who are excited to solve challenging problems. To improve operational effectiveness in rapidly evolving, complex threat environments, Group 39 conducts cutting‑edge research and development in systems and architecture analysis; modeling and simulation; software and hardware prototyping and fielding; artificial intelligence; and signal processing. The group’s multidisciplinary team includes scientists and engineers with backgrounds in physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. Group 39 values inclusiveness, fosters mentoring at all levels, and promotes critical and innovative thinking to address the needs of the nation. The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative team that supports professional growth and is dedicated to solving important national security challenges.

Job Description

The Advanced Concepts and Technologies Group is seeking a Technical Staff candidate to develop and apply artificial intelligence, modeling, and data‑analysis methods for technology development and assessment. Our team works with government sponsors to understand complex operational and technical problems, develop new capabilities, and quantitatively evaluate emerging technologies and concepts.

The successful candidate will lead efforts spanning problem formulation, algorithm and software development, modeling, experimentation, and analysis. Working with government sponsors, mission subject‑matter experts, scientists, and engineers, the candidate will translate open‑ended questions into technical approaches and quantitative assessments. Work may involve deep learning, large language models, logic models, reinforcement learning, applied statistics, physics‑based, and analysis of complex structured and unstructured datasets. Depending on the problem, these methods may be applied through simulation, interactive environments, experimental prototypes, or other analysis tools.

Responsibilities Include but Are Not Limited to

• Lead the development and application of AI, modeling, or analysis capabilities for technology development and assessment.
• Work with government sponsors and subject‑matter experts to translate open‑ended operational and technical questions into quantitative analyses, technical requirements, and evaluation criteria.
• Develop and evaluate AI/ML methods using deep learning, large language models, logic models, reinforcement learning, or related techniques.
• Develop and integrate statistical, physics‑based, and data‑driven models of complex systems and operations.
• Design quantitative studies and experiments, analyze complex structured and unstructured datasets, quantify uncertainty, and draw defensible technical and operational conclusions.
• Develop software prototypes and analysis tools, and establish appropriate practices for software architecture, testing, verification, validation, documentation, version control, and code review.
• Lead multidisciplinary technical efforts, mentor less‑experienced staff, and identify new technical approaches and research directions.

Communicate technical methods, assumptions, limitations, results, and recommendations through clear briefings, demonstrations, and written products for sponsor and technical audiences.

Requirements

Education / Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Operations Research, or a related technical field. In lieu of a Ph.D., a master’s degree with at least 5 years of directly relevant experience or a bachelor’s degree with at least 8 years of directly relevant experience will be considered.
• Advanced programming ability in Julia, Python, or a similar scientific programming language.
• Demonstrated technical depth in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or computational decision modeling, including substantial experience in at least one of the following areas: deep learning, large language models, logic models, or reinforcement learning.
• Demonstrated ability to formulate and solve complex, open‑ended technical problems and to lead the development of software, models, algorithms, or analytical capabilities.
• Strong knowledge of applied statistics, experimental design, and quantitative methods, including experience selecting appropriate methods and interpreting results.
• Experience analyzing complex, poorly structured, or unstructured datasets and extracting meaningful technical or operational insights.
• Proven ability to scope technical efforts, establish technical direction, and lead multidisciplinary teams through successful execution.
• Strong written and oral technical communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to rapidly develop expertise in new technical and mission areas.

Desired Qualifications

• Software engineering experience, including software architecture, modular and extensible design, automated testing, version control, code review, and technical documentation.
• Experience applying AI/ML, modeling, or data analysis to technology development, system assessment, or decision support.
• Experience with formal or logic‑based modeling approaches, such as PDDL, signal temporal logic, automated planning, rule‑based systems, or related methods.
• Experience developing visualizations, user interfaces, or interactive tools for complex technical systems, including simulations, analytical applications, or serious games.
• Familiarity with Department of War missions, operations, systems, or technologies.
• Background in physics‑based modeling, particularly radar systems, sensor performance, detection, tracking, or radio‑frequency propagation.
• Experience with Monte Carlo simulation, experimental design, uncertainty quantification, and/or sensitivity analysis.
• Experience with agent‑based models, decision‑support tools, human‑machine teaming, or autonomous decision‑making systems.
• Experience with high‑performance, parallel, distributed, or GPU computing.
• Experience mentoring technical staff, leading research and development teams, or working directly with government sponsors.

Recent Graduate Hiring Range: $145,200 - $170,000

Experienced Hiring Range: $145,200 - $220,000

Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including-but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.

Benefits offered to employees include:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT‑funded pension
• Matching 401K
• Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre‑employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.