Lead Generative AI Engineer

The MITRE Corporation; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 174,000 - 261,000; Full time

Job summary

The MITRE Corporation in Fort Meade, MD is seeking a senior AI engineer to research, develop, and integrate generative AI and agentic AI capabilities. You will lead cross-functional teams, prototype AI components, and drive mission-focused AI deployments using real data.

Ideal candidates bring 8+ years in AI/GenAI with LLM experience, strong Python/Java skills, and the ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance within 12 months. This onsite role offers impactful, mission-driven work at MITRE.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of AI/GenAI experience in R&D or operations.
• Experience with large language models (LLM) in real-world settings.
• Prototyping AI components aligned with department capabilities.
• Strong ML/NLP skills and data processing ability.
• Proficiency in Java or Python.
• Ability to obtain/maintain a DoD Secret clearance within 12 months.
• U.S. citizen per government clearance requirements.
• On-site availability at least 3 days/week.

Responsibilities

• Research, develop, evaluate, and integrate generative AI and agentic AI capabilities.
• Lead cross-functional teams to develop and implement AI solutions.
• Prototype AI/GenAI systems and deliver prototypes into operational spaces using mission data.
• Evaluate technologies in mission contexts and provide actionable recommendations.
• Convey complex ideas to non-technical audiences via briefings/white papers.
• Lead large projects or teams to solve complex AI problems for sponsors.
• Leverage MITRE’s AI Sandbox (NVIDIA DGX) and AI Platform for R&D.

Skills

GenAI / AI/ML

Python

Java

NLP / LLM tech

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor's in CS/Eng or related

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

NVIDIA DGX SuperPod

AI Platform

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

The Generative and Agentic AI Engineering Department works across the full range of US Government agencies to develop, engineer, and deploy advanced AI capabilities that address complex mission needs for our sponsors. Our department applies generative AI, agentic AI, and AI/ML research and engineering to operational challenges while researching, prototyping, and transitioning innovative technologies to support critical mission objectives for our sponsors. Our work spans generative AI applications, agentic AI system design, AI model fine-tuning and adaptation, knowledge representation and extraction, AI architectures, MLOps/LLMOps, and human language technology (HLT). The department maintains deep expertise in large language models, agentic AI, autonomous AI workflows and data processing pipelines, computational linguistics, knowledge graph construction, identity resolution and AI/GenAI evaluation.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The position involves researching, developing, evaluating, and integrating generative AI and agentic AI capabilities. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Work in and provide technical leadership to cross-functional teams to develop and implement AI solutions, including prototype implementation of capabilities that leverage generative AI, large language model technology and agentic AI capabilities

• Analyze data and language processing needs and recommend innovative solutions that solve mission-critical problems

• Prototype AI/GenAI systems or components based on analysis of workflow and operational mission needs and deliver prototype solutions into operational spaces/systems using real mission-relevant data

• Evaluate technology solutions in the context of mission data and workflow needs, and provide actionable recommendations towards workable solutions for critical problems

• Convey complex ideas to non-technical audiences through briefings and/or white papers

• Lead large projects and/or small technical teams to solve complex AI/GenAI problems for our sponsors

• Leverage MITRE’s Federal AI Sandbox (NVIDIA DGX SuperPod hardware) and AI Platform to support research, development and evaluation of generative AI capabilities

Basic Qualifications:

• Requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, computational linguistics, or related disciplines; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.

• 8+ years of impactful work experience in AI/GenAI

• Demonstrated recent experience with large language model (LLM) technology applications in R&D or operational settings

• Demonstrated experience in prototyping/developing AI components/systems that align with department capabilities (as described above)

• Ability to apply state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to data and natural language processing challenges

• Experience with programming languages such as Java or Python

• Ability to work independently to learn new technologies, methods, processes, frameworks/platforms, and systems

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate challenging technical concepts to both lay and expert audiences

• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a DOD Secret clearance within 12 months from the date of hire

• Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance

• This position requires a minimum of 3 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, computational linguistics, or related disciplines

• Track-record of successful deployment of agentic, generative, and HLT systems or components that have been used by customers or stakeholders outside of a lab/experimental setting

• Experience leading mid-sized or large teams to solve complex practical technical challenges

• Active DOD security clearance

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$174,000 - $217,500 - $261,000 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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