Edge AI & Software Engineering Research Scientist

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

Job summary

Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University seeks an AI and Software Engineering Research Scientist in the TAS Initiative to develop, mature, and prototype AI-enabled edge software technologies and transition them to government and industry partners, balancing immediate customer needs with long-term goals.

You will work directly with customers, stakeholders, and the academic community, representing technical work while advancing the TAS research agenda in edge software systems,

Qualifications

• PhD in computer science, software engineering, ML, or related discipline.
• Two or more years of full-time experience engineering edge software in a research environment, or eight+ years leading transition of innovative software techniques.
• Strong empirical research skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, mature, and prototype AI and edge software technologies for TAS.
• Transition technologies to government and industry partners.
• Represent technical work with customers, stakeholders, and the academic community.
• Advance the TAS research agenda in edge software systems and AI-enabled systems.

Skills

Empirical research

Written communication

Verbal communication

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in computer science, software engineering, ML or related discipline

Job description

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, in areas such as:

• Edge AI in DDIL (degraded, disconnected, intermittent, limited) environments
• 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.