AI Researcher/Prototyping Engineer

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans

MIT-funded pension

Matching 401(k)

Paid leave (vacation, sick, parental)

Tuition reimbursement

Mentorship programs

Work-life balance options

Additional perks and benefits

Job summary

The MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts is seeking a Research Engineer focused on AI prototyping for national security. This role involves creating machine learning algorithms for various applications, including multimedia, speech, and cybersecurity.

Required qualifications include a PhD or a master's degree with relevant experience, and the work promises collaborative, challenging projects. Comprehensive health and retirement benefits are offered, along with opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• PhD or master's degree with relevant experience in a related engineering or computer science field.
• Experience with AI, ML, cybersecurity, or adversarial assurance.
• Current TS/SCI clearance or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Design and architect advanced ML methods.
• Develop algorithms for speech, NLP, and multimedia.
• Publish research at conferences.

Skills

Artificial intelligence knowledge (multimedia, cybersecurity, adversarial contexts)

Deep AI/ML experience

System analysis and problem decomposition skills

Hands-on experience with agentic-AI frameworks

Expert proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks

Strong software engineering practices

Team and project leadership experience

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Detail-oriented and multitasking abilities

Current TS/SCI clearance or willingness to obtain

Education

PhD in electrical engineering, computer science, or related discipline

Master's degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience

Tools

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

NumPy

pandas

SciPy

LangChain

Job description

Job Overview

A research engineer focused on AI prototyping in national security, working with MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s AI Technology and Systems Group.

We develop machine learning algorithms for multimedia, speech, text, images, video, cyber security, and adversarial AI to support critical national missions.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and architect advanced ML methods.
• Develop algorithms in speech, natural language processing, multimedia, cyber, and graph analytics.
• Publish and present research at premier conferences.
• Research state‑of‑the‑art algorithms in signal processing, natural language processing, graph analytics, or adversarial AI.
• Apply innovative methods to challenging, real‑world problems.
• Work in a collaborative, team‑oriented development environment.

Qualifications

Candidate should possess a PhD in electrical engineering, computer science, or another relevant discipline, or have a master’s degree with at least five years of relevant experience.

Desired Skills

• Knowledge of artificial intelligence, ideally with applications in multimedia, cybersecurity, or adversarial/assurance contexts.
• Deep AI/ML experience at the graduate or professional level, including state‑of‑the‑art machine learning, deep learning, large language models, multimodal perception, graph analytics, adversarial AI, AI‑assurance, or cyber‑ML.
• System analysis and problem decomposition skills: translate high‑level requirements into research tasks, define metrics, and produce task‑breakdown structures aligned with program milestones.
• Experience turning novel algorithms into reproducible prototypes within tight timelines.
• Hands‑on experience with agentic‑AI frameworks such as LangChain or comparable toolkits.
• Expert proficiency in Python and deep‑learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.), the Huggingface ecosystem, NumPy, pandas, SciPy, and related libraries.
• Strong software‑engineering practices: Git workflow, code reviews, continuous integration, and documentation.
• Team and project leadership experience, including task assignment, progress monitoring, and mentoring.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for preparing briefings, white papers, demos, and funding proposals.
• Detail‑oriented and able to multi‑task, working autonomously and with minimal supervision.
• Current TS/SCI clearance or willingness to obtain one.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT‑funded pension
• Matching 401(k)
• Paid leave (vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
• Mentorship programs
• Work‑life balance options
• Additional perks and benefits are available.

Selected candidates 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.