Senior Algorithm Engineer / Scientist

ARA Brand; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) seeks a Senior Algorithm Engineer/Scientist to join a multidisciplinary team advancing mission-critical technologies for U.S. Government and defense customers.

You will develop novel algorithms and bridge research to deployment, collaborating with technical performers and other experts. The role includes mentoring, driving R&D thrusts, and expanding ARA’s AI/ML capabilities, with on-site work at our Littleton, CO facility and periodic travel to customer

Qualifications

• U.S. citizen and ability to obtain/maintain security clearance.
• 8+ years experience with B.S., 6+ years with M.S., or 3+ years with Ph.D. in a relevant field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop novel algorithms independently or with technical teams.
• Improve efficiency and accuracy of existing workflows.
• Bridge research and engineering to ensure real-world deployment.
• Mentor teammates and lead new initiatives in AI/ML and algorithms.
• Engage with customers to align approaches with operational needs.
• Communicate technical insights clearly via reports and briefings.
• Shape new research directions and contribute to capability growth.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Algorithm design

Team leadership

Technical mentoring

Security clearance

Communication

Education

Degree in Computer Science/Engineering/Applied Mathematics

Tools

MATLAB

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

Are you looking for a career in an industry focused on designing, developing, and rapidly deploying solutions to problems of national importance? Applied Research Associates (ARA) is seeking a highly capable Senior Algorithm Engineer/Scientist to join a multidisciplinary team advancing mission critical technologies for U.S. Government and defense customers.

Our work spans foundational research, scientific algorithm development, prototype implementation, and transitioning technology into operational systems. This role is ideal for innovative scientists and engineers who thrive when solving challenging, real-world problems and who enjoy working at the intersection of research, engineering, and national security.

The position will initially support active contracts based on technical fit and program needs. Active contracts span topics such as hearing/acoustics, stress effects, UAS detection, and ballistics modeling. As part of a collaborative research environment, the successful candidate will help drive scientific innovation, mentor team members, and grow new technical areas aligned with their expertise and interests.

Primary Role and Responsibilities

• Development of novel and innovative algorithms independently, in close collaboration with other technical performers, and/or with other algorithm subject matter experts.
• Provide new ideas and approaches to increase efficiency and accuracy of existing workflows.
• Bridge research and engineering, ensuring that algorithms not only work in theory or benchmarks but function reliably in real-world, constrained environments.
• Mentor others, lead new initiatives, and help expand ARA’s AI/ML and algorithmic capabilities.
• Engage with customers and end-users to align technical approaches with operational needs and ensure successful outcomes.
• Communicate technical insights clearly through reports, briefings, and customer interactions; act as a technical resource and mentor for other scientists and engineers.
• Shape new research directions, support proposal development, lead R&D thrusts, and contribute to capability growth within the organization.

Education

• Degree in Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Requirements

• B.S. + 8 years, M.S. + 6 years, or Ph.D. + 3 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• U.S. Citizen.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey advanced technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, such as mentoring, project leadership, or developing new technical capabilities.

Location

• Onsite work at ARA’s Littleton, CO facility, with periodic travel to customer sites, partner locations, and other ARA offices.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience developing novel algorithms for perception, inference, estimation, autonomy, and/or decision making.
• Ability to operate across the full research-to-deployment pipeline.
• Experience reasoning about constrained, real-world operational environments and designing algorithms that remain robust under uncertainty.
• Strong proficiency with programming languages such as MATLAB, Python or something similar.
• Experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar ML frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to write clean, maintainable, well tested code.
• Experience contributing to production quality or mission critical software systems.
• Experience writing proposals, technical reports, publications, and/or delivering customer briefings.
• Ability to support multiple projects, adapt to new technical areas, and work effectively in fast paced research settings.
• Experience with or ability to improve upon curation and maintenance of scientific databases, as well as validation methodologies of engineering models utilizing those databases.

Company & Division Information

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is an employee-owned scientific research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and critical problems. Founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, ARA currently has over 2,200 employee-owners in offices throughout the United States and Canada providing a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. In addition, we provide sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employee-owners are at the heart of every success. We embrace employee ownership which spawns greater creativity, initiative, and higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. All eligible employees have the opportunity to earn annual contributions to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and all of our employee-owners can directly impact our shared success.

ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees' needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/.