Autonomy Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition benefits

PTO & holidays

Transit pass

Transit pass

Fitness center access

Family concierge services

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University’s SEI AI Division seeks an Autonomy Engineer to shape and lead engineering research addressing U.S. government needs. The role focuses on enhancing simulation tools and applying them to autonomy and uncrewed systems.

Responsibilities include leading cross-disciplinary teams, prototyping applied AI, and shaping research strategy in collaboration with AI Division leaders. Onsite work in Pittsburgh or Arlington with travel.

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science or related discipline with 8 years of experience as a baseline requirement
• MS in Computer Science or related field with 5 years of experience
• PhD in Computer Science with 2 years of experience
• Proficiency in deep learning, reinforcement learning, computer vision, or related areas; experience applying systems engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead interdisciplinary teams to translate research into prototype operational capabilities for government customers
• Lead prototyping in applied AI with focus on machine learning in autonomy and uncrewed systems
• Plan and execute a research and engineering strategy in collaboration with AI Division leaders
• Collaborate with software developers, researchers, designers, and technical leads to identify challenges and propose solutions
• Mentor and teach team members to improve technical capabilities and share insights across the division

Skills

Deep technical knowledge

Robotics & Autonomy

Machine Learning

Full-Stack development

Communication skills

Creativity

Education

BS in Computer Science or related

MS in Computer Science or related

PhD in Computer Science

Tools

Docker

MLFlow

Weights & Biases

Isaac Sim

Container Orchestration

Azure

AWS

GCP

Job description

Overview

The SEI AI Division conducts research in applied artificial intelligence and the engineering questions related to the practical design and implementation of AI technologies and systems. The division leads a community‑wide effort to mature AI engineering for defense and national security, creating mission‑scale AI capabilities for government customers.

Position Summary

As an Autonomy Engineer in the AI for Autonomy Lab, you will shape, conduct, and lead engineering research that addresses critical U.S. government needs. The focus of this role is to enhance simulation capabilities and apply these tools to support autonomy‑related projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead interdisciplinary teams to turn research results into prototype operational capabilities for government customers and stakeholders.
• Conduct and lead novel prototyping in applied artificial intelligence with a focus on machine learning in autonomy and uncrewed systems.
• Plan, develop, and carry out an overall research and engineering strategy in collaboration with AI Division leaders.
• Participate in teams of software developers, researchers, designers, and technical leads to understand challenges, propose solutions, and influence research directions.
• Mentor and teach team members to improve overall technical capabilities, participate in design sessions, and share insights across the division.

Requirements

• BS in Computer Science or related discipline with 8 years of experience, orMS in the same fields with 5 years of experience, orPhD in Computer Science with 2 years of experience.
• Onsite work 5days per week at SEI’s offices in Pittsburgh, PA or Arlington, VA with moderate travel (≈25%).
• Subject to a background investigation and eligibility to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance.
• Proficiency in deep learning, reinforcement learning, computer vision, or related areas; demonstrated experience applying systems engineering principles across multidisciplinary teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep Technical Knowledge
  • Extensive research or engineering experience in applied autonomy and AI.
  • Strong programming skills and familiarity with tools such as Docker, MLFlow, Weights & Biases.
  • Experience with physics‑based simulation (e.g., NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim) and digital twin modeling.
• Robotics & Autonomy
  • Proficiency in robotics principles, sensor fusion, navigation, collision avoidance, and mult‑agent collaboration across air, sea, and land domains.
  • Application of machine learning techniques to autonomous systems.
• Machine Learning & System Evaluation
  • Design and implement complex machine learning architectures tailored to autonomous systems.
  • Conduct rigorous model development and evaluation using tools such as MLFlow or Weights & Biases.
• Full‑Stack Implementation
  • Design and implement software and system resources for managing AI/ML prototypes.
  • Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) and container orchestration.
• Communication & Collaboration
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to present complex ideas to non‑technical audiences.
• Dedication & Creativity
  • Meet deadlines while multitasking under shifting priorities.
  • Innovative thinking and enthusiasm for collaborating with top researchers.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous retirement savings program with employer contributions.
• Tuition benefits, paid time off, and observed holidays.
• Life and accidental death & disability insurance.
• Free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, fitness center access, and family concierge services.

Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position is not currently closed.