AI Researcher/Prototyping Engineer
Salary not listed • Lexington, MA, US • Full-time
Posted 1h ago
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Remote Work Policy
On-site
Employment Type
Full-time
Categories
AI Research Engineer
About the job
The Artificial Intelligence Technology and Systems Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory is seeking motivated individuals to contribute to world-class research in artificial intelligence with real impact on national security. The group specializes in machine learning (ML) algorithms, technologies, and systems that extract and analyze information from multimedia data, and has expanded to include impactful ML solutions for cybersecurity. As a recognized leader in both basic and applied AI/ML, the group shapes emerging AI fields and drives efforts in AI Assurance across the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. A hallmark of their work is a focus on operational relevance, designing and evaluating AI/ML systems using realistic datasets and metrics, and partnering directly with intelligence analysts and cyber operators to ensure rapid transition of technologies into real-world, mission-critical systems.
Responsibilities
- Design, program, and architect advanced ML methods.
- Develop algorithms in speech, natural language processing, multimedia, cyber, and graph analytics.
- Publish and present research at premier conferences.
- Research state-of-the-art algorithms in signal processing, natural language processing, graph analytics, or adversarial AI.
- Apply innovative methods to challenging, real-world problems.
- Work in a collaborative, team-oriented development environment.
- Translate high-level end-state requirements into research tasks, define success metrics, and produce a task-breakdown structure.
- Formulate hypotheses, design controlled experiments, and draw data-driven conclusions.
- Turn novel algorithms and approaches into robust, reproducible prototypes within tight timescales.
- Design, implement, and evaluate end-to-end LLM-driven agents.
- Lead small research teams, assign tasks, track progress, remove technical blockers, and mentor junior staff.
- Communicate technical briefings, compose white-papers, present demos, and write funding proposals.
- Convey complex research outcomes to sponsors, senior leadership, and external partners.
Requirements
- PhD in electrical engineering, computer science or other relevant discipline, or a Master's with 5 years of relevant experience.
- Knowledge of artificial intelligence, ideally with applications on multimedia, cyber security or adversarial/assurance experience.
- Deep AI/ML experience, including graduate-level knowledge of state-of-the-art machine learning, deep learning, LLM/agentic AI, multimodal perception, graph analytics, adversarial/AI-assurance, or cyber-ML.
- Ability to read, critique, and extend advanced research papers.
- Expert-level proficiency in Python and deep-learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.), plus Huggingface ecosystem, NumPy/pandas/Scipy.
- Strong Git workflow (branching, pull-requests, code reviews), continuous-integration testing, and environment reproducibility (e.g., conda, virtualenv).
- Ability to document code, write reproducible experiment notebooks, and maintain versioned releases.
- Detail-oriented, able to multi-task, work autonomously, set technical direction, and operate with minimal supervision.
- Current TS/SCI clearance or willingness to obtain one.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
- MIT-funded pension
- Matching 401K
- Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
- Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
- Mentorship programs
- A range of work-life balance options