Applied ML/AI Data Researcher for Defense R&D

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University’s Defense Industrial Base Institute (DIBI) seeks a Jr. Data Researcher to advance ML/AI methods and Navigator framework alongside a multi-disciplinary team across academia, industry, and government. You will help prototype, model, and validate solutions with a focus on autonomous systems and sensing.

Ideal candidate has 2–4 years in ML/AI R&D, strong Python, and exposure to simulation-based models; U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain security clearance preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data science, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or closely related field.
• 2–4 years of professional experience in software engineering, data science, or applied R&D with exposure to ML/AI system development.
• Preferred Master’s with a focus on ML/AI, data-intensive systems, network science, optimization, or related areas.
• Experience contributing to government, defense, or security-related R&D programs.
• Familiarity with simulation-based models (physics-based, network-based, agent-based, stochastic) for analysis or decision support.

Responsibilities

• Support R&D efforts to scale Navigator Methodology for defense contracts, including modeling, design and experimentation.
• Test and validation of AI/ML tools for sprints, tasks, projects and deliverables.
• Provide subject matter expertise across diverse application areas to sponsor and partners.
• Assist PI/CO-PIs with scoping project budgets (systems, tools).
• Scope proposals and opportunities with leadership.
• Support internal operations system build-outs with senior leaders.

Skills

Python

Distributed computing

C++/Java

GPU computing

Graph analytics

UI/Frontend curiosity

MLOps

Version control

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Data Science/CS/CE

Master’s in ML/AI or related

Tools

PyTorch

PostgreSQL

Neo4j/Memgraph

Azure/AWS

Docker

Git

Job description

Northeastern University’s Defense Industrial Base Institute (DIBI) seeks a Jr. Data Researcher to advance ML/AI methods and Navigator framework alongside a multi-disciplinary team across academia, industry, and government. You will help prototype, model, and validate solutions with a focus on autonomous systems and sensing.

Ideal candidate has 2–4 years in ML/AI R&D, strong Python, and exposure to simulation-based models; U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain security clearance preferred.