Machine Learning Research Scientist - Frontier Lab

Position Overview

At the SEI AI Division, our Frontier Lab advances AI engineering by translating frontier AI research into practical government applications. As a Machine Learning Research Scientist in the Frontier Lab, you will conduct applied AI/ML research and develop prototype capabilities to improve real government and DoW workflows. You will work across the research‐engineering spectrum—collaborating with users, addressing operational constraints, and transforming sponsor needs into credible technical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Mission-context execution: Execute tasks within the mission context, considering users, operational constraints, and intended outcomes. Translate sponsor goals into clear technical questions and measurable success criteria.
• Applied research and experimentation: Design studies grounded in mission needs, form hypotheses, run controlled experiments, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Prototype capability development: Build research prototypes, evaluation harnesses, and reference implementations to demonstrate feasibility in realistic settings.
• Evaluation and assurance (TEVV): Develop and apply evaluation methodologies for ML systems, including metric design, robustness testing, and repeatable test pipelines.
• Engineering rigor: Write clear, maintainable code and documentation with reproducibility and downstream integration in mind.
• Iterative execution and time management: Plan, execute, and deliver work in iterative cycles while managing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Customer translation: Clearly communicate technical progress and results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders through briefings, demos, and reports.
• Publication and knowledge dissemination: Identify opportunities to publish research insights and share lessons learned at reputable venues.
• Team collaboration: Participate in technical discussions, support shared project goals, and offer guidance to junior teammates when appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• Education/Experience: BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field with 8 years of software development experience; OR MS with 5 years; OR PhD with 2 years of relevant experience.
• Strong foundation in machine learning and statistical learning, including experiment design and evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to implement ML systems in Python using modern ML libraries (e.g., PyTorch or TensorFlow) and scientific tooling.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey technical results clearly in both written and verbal formats.
• Ability to work effectively with ambiguity, manage time well, and deliver results in iterative project cycles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in applied ML research and prototyping for operational workflows, including tool-integrated AI systems and human-in-the-loop settings.
• Expertise in designing and operating evaluation pipelines for LLMs and/or CV models, including benchmarking and robustness testing.
• Familiarity with language model grounding techniques, such as structured knowledge integration and error analysis.
• Experience with learning under constrained or noisy data conditions, including synthetic data and semi-/self-supervised approaches.
• Knowledge of edge-relevant ML including model compression, quantization, and efficient inference strategies.
• Evidence of research output, such as publications, technical reports, or open-source contributions.
• Experience working with government or high-assurance stakeholders.

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous retirement savings program with employer contributions.
• Tuition benefits to help unlock your potential.
• Ample paid time off and observed holidays.
• Life and accidental death and disability insurance.
• Free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass.
• Access to our Family Concierge Team to assist with childcare needs.
• Fitness center access and much more!