RESEARCH COMPUTER SCIENTIST - RESEARCH ENGINEER - Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning - Warner Robins, GA

Southwest Research Institute; Warner Robins (GA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute’s Spectrum Innovation section in Warner Robins, GA seeks a senior ML engineer to architect and deploy deep learning models for electronic warfare and RF signal analysis. You will build data pipelines with synthetic data, validate models, and benchmark third-party ML frameworks, communicating progress to customers and leadership.

Ideal candidates have a strong background in ML and signal processing, experience with PyTorch or TensorFlow, and a demonstrated ability to

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s or Masters in Electrical/Computer Engineering, CS, Data Science or related field.
• 4–8 years hands-on DL model design, training, and deployment using PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• 3 years building end-to-end data pipelines including synthetic data generation.
• 3 years professional experience in technical communication and presentations.
• 1 year applying ML to DSP/RF/electronic warfare domains.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Design, train, optimize, and profile custom deep learning architectures for RF signal characterization and EW countermeasures.
• Develop, preprocess, and validate multi-sensor RF/EW datasets via synthetic generation, HWIL lab collections, and signal processing transformations.
• Benchmark, review, and stress test ML architectures to deliver evaluation reports and recommendations.
• Prepare and deliver progress briefings, demonstrations, and milestone updates to teams and sponsors.
• Collaborate with systems and embedded engineers to containerize models for edge compute.

Skills

ML & signal processing

Data pipeline development

PyTorch or TensorFlow

Technical communication

DSP / RF expertise

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Computer Engineering / CS / Data Science

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

HWIL data collection tools

Job description

Who We Are:

The Spectrum Innovation section within the Defense & Intelligence Solutions Division specializes in innovating the next generation of Electronic Warfare to benefit warfighters around the globe.

Objectives of this Role:

Architect mission-tailored neural network models that address critical electronic warfare challenges, including cognitive EW, real-time RF signal classification, spectrum agility, and automated electronic attack/protection techniques. Drive synthetic and measured data generation pipelines to ensure robust, validated, and representative RF and EW datasets are established for training, fine-tuning, and testing mission-critical algorithms. Conduct rigorous technical assessments of emerging commercial and academic AI/ML frameworks to advise clients and program leadership on architectural trade-offs, feasibility, and edge deployment viability. Serve as a primary technical advisor and liaison in sprint reviews, milestone gates, and customer-facing briefings to clearly communicate technical risks, algorithmic performance metrics, and project status.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

Design, train, optimize, and profile custom deep learning architectures (e.g., CNNs, RNNs/Transformers, graph neural networks, or neuromorphic models) for RF signal characterization and EW countermeasure development. Develop, preprocess, and validate multi-sensor RF and EW datasets through synthetic generation tools, hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) lab collections, and signal processing transformations. Conduct systematic benchmarking, technical reviews, and stress testing of third-party or client-provided ML architectures to deliver comprehensive evaluation reports and recommendations. Prepare and deliver progress briefings, technical demonstrations, and sprint milestone updates to cross-functional engineering teams, management, and external customer sponsors. Collaborate with systems and embedded software engineers to containerize models and ensure architectural compatibility with modular frameworks and edge compute constraints.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors or a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science or related technical degree field with research and/or experience focused on machine learning and signal processing.
• 4-8 years: Hands-on experience architecting, training, and deploying deep learning models using modern frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow, with a demonstrated focus on complex or non-traditional data types.
• 3 years: Practical experience building end-to-end data pipelines, including the generation of synthetic data, augmentation of sparse datasets, and formal data quality/labeling validation for mission-critical systems.
• 3 years: Professional experience in technical communication, including authoring formal evaluation reports, presenting at customer design reviews, and leading technical discussions across multidisciplinary teams.
• 1 years: Demonstrated experience applying machine learning techniques to digital signal processing (DSP), radio frequency (RF) signals, communications, or electronic warfare domains (e.g., modulation recognition, spectrum sensing, emitter identification).
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.

Special Requirements:

Work assignment is in Warner Robins, Georgia. Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen. Job Locations: Warner Robins, Georgia Or Dayton, Ohio

For more information about this division, visit the Defense & Intelligence Solutions home page.

For benefits information at our San Antonio location, click here.

For benefits information at all other locations, click here.

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status.