Lead Machine Learning Engineer

InvestedintheMission; Centreville (VA); On-site; USD 158,000 - 241,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401K with company matching

9/80 schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. in Virginia is seeking a Lead Machine Learning Engineer to lead computer vision and ML initiatives in the LEAP group within MacCready Works. You will mentor junior engineers and collaborate across teams on end-to-end development from requirements to validation.

The role requires deep ML and CV expertise, experience with PyTorch, OpenCV, and Linux, and the ability to design scalable solutions for defense and commercial applications while navigating security clearances.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/engineering or related field with relevant ML/vision experience.
• Strong knowledge of ML frameworks and CV libraries; deep learning experience required.
• Experience designing and troubleshooting complex systems and pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of CV and ML algorithms for detection, classification, localization, and tracking across sensor platforms.
• Maintain awareness of literature, commercial products, and OSS to keep solutions cutting edge.
• Advise on software infrastructure and DevOps processes to support ML needs.
• Implement ML algorithms and validate designs through purpose-built experiments.
• Analyze algorithms and model errors; supervise data acquisition if required.
• Manage hardware, data, and personnel to meet deadlines; coordinate team activities.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Linux

OpenCV

PyTorch

Machine Learning

Computer Vision

Team Leadership

Mentoring

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

ONNX

scikit-learn

Pandas

CUDA

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

NOTE: to qualify for this role, you must be a U.S. Citizen

Summary

The Lead Machine Learning Engineer will be a strong individual contributor and technical leader in the Learning and Active Perception (LEAP) group in AV’s MacCready Works division and oversee the development of a variety of innovative computer vision and related analytics for defense and commercial applications. As an experienced machine learning engineer, IV will also mentor more junior engineers. Development efforts will require a range of skills and tools across traditional engineering, computer science, and mathematical disciplines including computer vision, machine learning, optimization, deep convolutional neural networks, visual transformers, and visual tracking. This position requires interacting with other teams within and outside the LEAP group and will encompass all stages of the development cycle including requirements definition, concept design, prototyping, detailed design, test and evaluation, and validation and verification testing.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of computer vision and machine learning (ML) algorithms to address wide range of technically challenging problems, including but not limited to detection, classifying, localizing, and tracking objects of interest from a variety of stationary and mobile sensor platforms.
• Maintain awareness of relevant academic literature, commercial products, and open source projects to ensure our technical solutions remain at the cutting edge
• Advise on and support design of software infrastructure and DevOps processes to support ML needs
• Implement ML algorithms and validate designs through a series of purpose-designed experiments
• Analyze ML algorithms and errors of the trained models, design strategies to overcome them
• Select appropriate datasets and data representations; supervise data acquisition process if required
• Manage available resources such as hardware, data, and personnel so that deadlines are met; coordinate activities of others (Team Lead) and between Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science/engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related Science or Engineering discipline with 5+ years of relevant experience in machine learning and/or computer vision.
• Advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum of 10 - 12 years of relevant experience
• Familiarity with C/C++ or Python required
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and troubleshoot complex systems
• Proficiency with a deep learning framework, preferably PyTorch
• Proficiency with basic libraries for machine learning such as scikit-learn and pandas
• Proficiency with OpenCV
• Proficiency with Linux
• Familiarity with ML standards such as ONNX
• Ability to select hardware for specific ML applications

• Expertise in visualizing and manipulating big datasets

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Experience working with DoW and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations on advanced technology, research, or AI/ML initiatives
• Familiarity working in classified spaces
• Familiarity with office software and computer-based productivity tools
• Ability to work within defined requirements to complete tasks under minimal supervision
• Must be a team player and exhibit leadership qualities
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Has effective problem-solving, analytical, and interpersonal skills
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
• Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
• Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills

• Focuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Active Secret level DoD security clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance
• Willingness and ability to travel (Occasionally / Up to 20%)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship is required. Secret or Top Secret clearance, or the ability obtain a clearance is desired.

Salary

The salary range for this role is:

$158,000 - $241,000