Machine Learning Application Engineer

UM01 University of Maryland College Park (UMCP); United States; On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland's Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS) is seeking talent for roles focused on machine learning systems. Positions are available for entry-level to senior-level candidates. Key tasks include developing machine-learning applications and collaborating with diverse teams.

Salary ranges from $80,000 to $110,000, emphasizing a commitment to innovation in national security research. Candidates must be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Qualifications

• Entry Level: Bachelor's in CS, Engineering, or Data Science with ~2 years experience.
• Mid-Level: Master's with 3+ years in defense or intelligence R&D.
• Senior-Level: Master's + 7+ years in defense or intelligence R&D.

Responsibilities

• Build end-to-end machine-learning systems from problem formulation to deployment.
• Deploy and maintain ML systems in operational environments.
• Collaborate with teams to integrate ML capabilities into broader systems.

Skills

Machine Learning

Natural Language Processing

Computer Vision

Project Management

Research and Development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Master’s degree in relevant field

PhD in related field

Tools

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Docker

FastAPI

Postgres

Job description

Job Description Summary

Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is a University‑Affiliated Research Center dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and technology transition to improve decision making for U.S. national security. ARLIS combines deep scientific expertise with operational insight to address challenges in intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence / machine learning, quantum science, and human‑machine teaming. Researchers, scientists, engineers, and analysts collaborate with government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions to deliver actionable insights and transformative solutions through research and development. Employees contribute directly to the nation’s security and are supported by a culture that values integrity, collaboration, and professional growth.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Build end‑to‑end machine‑learning systems from problem formulation through training data selection/curation, modeling, evaluation, and delivery of models into usable tools and workflows, with a focus on natural language programming and computer vision methods.
• Apply core ML theory and methods in practice, selecting appropriate approaches, implementing baselines, conducting error analysis, and iterating on model performance using libraries such as PyTorch, scikit‑learn, and SciPy.
• Deploy and maintain ML systems in development and operational environments, including git‑based CI/CD, workflow orchestration, model packaging, Docker‑based deployment, and monitoring for system health, data quality, and model performance.
• Develop interactive ML‑enabled applications for end users, including front‑end development with FastAPI + React (or MERN/PERN stacks) to deliver intuitive user experiences powered by ML models.
• Support proof‑of‑concept back‑end development and requirements generation, prototyping data stores and retrieval patterns, and translating findings into clear requirements for back‑end engineering teams (e.g., Postgres, MongoDB, ElasticSearch).
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of researchers, engineers, domain experts, and analysts to integrate ML capabilities into broader systems and mission workflows.
• Prepare technical deliverables and briefings for government stakeholders, translating complex technical work into clear, decision‑relevant products such as reports, slide briefings, memos, and research summaries.
• Contribute to research proposals and technical work plans, including scoping technical approaches, estimating effort, identifying risks, and supporting sponsor engagement as needed.

Qualifications

Research Specialist

• Entry Level – Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related field plus relevant experience; ~2 years of demonstrated experience in organizing and managing projects; potential for excellence in research or academic program administration; strong oral and written communication; deep analytical skills.
• Mid‑Level – Master’s degree in a relevant field plus 3+ years of technical or project management experience in defense or intelligence R&D; ability to deliver excellence in research administration; interact with U.S. government sponsors; strong communication and analytical skills.
• Senior‑Level – Master’s degree (or equivalent) plus 7+ years of experience in defense or intelligence R&D; knowledge of DoD appropriations; lead engagements with U.S. government sponsors; superior research administration; strong communication and analytical skills.

Research Engineer

• Assistant Research Engineer – PhD plus 5 years of research experience; lead research projects; record of engineering achievement; manage cross‑functional engineering teams; act as Principal Investigator; mentor junior staff.
• Associate Research Engineer – PhD plus 5 years of PhD‑level experience; recognized subject matter expert; manage multiple concurrent projects; serve as Principal Investigator; mentor junior staff; identify funding opportunities.
• Full Research Engineer – Ph.D. with ≥10 years of experience; outstanding research reputation; tackle complex problems with novel approaches; pursue funding and serve as Principal Investigator; lead large multi‑investigator projects; hold leadership positions; mentor junior staff.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work performed in a normal office environment; occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds. Ability to attend meetings on and off campus; long hours in front of a computer screen.

Security Clearance

Must be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance. Final offer contingent upon successful acquisition of the necessary interim Secret security clearance.

Salary Range

$80,000 – $110,000.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.