Senior Machine Learning Research Scientist - Secure AI Lab Security Clearance

Position Overview

As a Senior Machine Learning Research Scientist – Secure AI Lab with Security Clearance, you will specialize in researching vulnerabilities in AI and machine learning algorithms and devising strategies to secure these systems. Working within the SEI AI Division at Carnegie Mellon University, you will join a world-class research community dedicated to advancing AI Engineering for Defense and National Security. Your work will help government customers harness AI for leap-ahead mission capabilities, addressing practical engineering challenges, operationalizing secure AI, and guiding the evolution of AI technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research on AI vulnerabilities, including Counter AI Research to identify potential weak points and design novel countermeasures.
• Develop and evaluate practical mitigations and defenses through AI and ML Algorithm Defense Research.
• Advance the state-of-the-art in Applied Adversarial Machine Learning by transitioning research capabilities to government sponsors.
• Identify and investigate emerging AI and adjacent technologies, publish impactful original research, and apply findings to real-world security challenges.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams—including software developers, researchers, and technical leads—to translate research into prototype operational capabilities and shape the national research agenda.
• Mentor and guide colleagues to enhance technical capabilities across the SEI AI Division.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in machine learning with a strong foundation in AI research and application.
• Proven track record of conducting and publishing impactful research in AI/ML vulnerabilities and defense techniques.
• Security Clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in adversarial machine learning is an advantage.
• Background in transitioning research into operational capabilities for government or similar high-stakes environments is a plus.