ARLIS Intelligence and Security Research Engineer

Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement:
The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), based at the University of Maryland College Park, was established in 2018 under the auspices of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USDI) to be a strategic asset for research and development in social systems, autonomy and augmentation, and advanced computing. ARLIS conducts both unclassified and classified research spanning from basic to applied system development and works to serve the US Government as an independent and objective trusted agent.

ARLIS research is driven by a cadre of research scientists and engineers, faculty research specialists and project engineers, further supported by senior University of Maryland faculty and a consortium of university partners. Research is typically conducted through teams of e.g. social scientists, computer scientists, psychologists, linguists, cognitive neuroscientists, applied mathematicians, political scientists, policy analysts, and systems engineers.

ARLIS seeks research engineers (in the Assistant, Associate and full ranks) to commit effort on ARLIS projects. Research engineers conduct independent research, combining scientific discovery with excellence in engineering practice, design, and development. The typical research engineer candidate may have fewer peer-reviewed publications due to experience in industry or US Government but has demonstrated experience building systems and delivering solutions to a defined customer.

Research engineers of all ranks are primarily involved in research with a focus on creating new things, and expected mechanisms of disseminating research success may be primarily in forms other than journal papers (e.g., patents, reports, software, etc.). ARLIS Research Engineers focus on realizing things (hardware, software), although they also produce and disseminate knowledge. Activities include designing, building, testing, analysis, project management, and serving as a technical subject matter expert. Annual publication of scholarly works (journal article, book chapter, conference paper, technical report, standard, etc.) and invention disclosures may be expected, in addition to other means of knowledge dissemination, including software, standards, procedures, technical reports, and publicly available design studies.

Research engineers are expected to bring in sufficient funding to run their R&D programs, which will be consistent with the overall ARLIS mission.

Exceptional candidates in all areas related to the ARLIS’s current research trajectories will be given serious consideration, particularly those with experience in multiple areas. These include:
• Computational social science (including agent-based modeling and simulation, social media analysis, behavioral economics, game theory, predictive modeling)
• Artificial intelligence, including computer vision, natural language processing, human language technologies, multimodal sense-making, and other AI/ML based systems
• Human-machine interface (to include augmented and virtual reality [AR/VR]), human-systems integration, and augmenting human performance
• Computational neuroscience and its links with machine learning and artificial intelligence
• Data science, data creation/curation, data fusion, visualization, analytics, and decision support
• Industrial security, including supply chain illumination and risk assessment
• Software engineering, static/dynamic software analysis, formal methods, applied mathematics, systems verification and validation, metric development, testbed design, and trusted AI
Assistant Research Engineer:
• PhD in relevant field, or at least a Master of Science Plus +5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor of Science plus +10 years relevant experience
• Evidence of sound scholarly production
• Support existing ARLIS awards
• Design research and development plans; contribute to the execution of systems development efforts
• Apply as a Principal Investigator for single investigator grants and be co-Principal Investigator on larger proposals
• Carry projects from conception through to prototypes, including application of theory, system specification and evaluation, and directing the work of others on the project.
• Mentor students and faculty specialists
• Lead data analysis
• Draft reports/deliverables
• Administer pilot studies and prototype development
• Primary author/presenter for publications/academic conferences
• Propose, develop, and manage research projects
• Experience in grant writing and working on technical teams
• Strong communications, presentation and writing skills

Associate Research Engineer:
• PhD plus 5 years of research experience, or at least Mater of Science plus 10 years of engineering research experience including success capturing and leading large projects, or a Bachelor of Science plus 15 years of relevant experience and a record of significant engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
• Initiate new projects with long-term research goals, tackling more complex problems than an Assistant Research Engineer, leading work on multiple, concurrent projects, and managing cross-functional engineering teams
• Serve as Principal Investigator or having primary responsibility for a significant part of a project
• Interact with sponsor/customers
• Expected to identify funding opportunities and serve as Principal Investigator on large proposals
• Generate significant intellectual property that may be licensed by third parties
• Mentor junior staff and Professional Track Faculty Specialists and participating in their promotion sub-committees
• Recognized as an authoritative subject matter expert and receive commensurate recognition

Full Research Engineer:
• Ph-D with at least 10 years of PhD-level research experience, or at least 20 years of engineering research experience including success capturing and leading large projects
• Established reputation for outstanding engineering practice, design, and development and viewed nationally as an authoritative subject matter expert
• Pursue funding opportunities and serve as Principal Investigator or have primary responsibility for a significant part of a multi-investigator project
• Lead the design and implementation of large projects with many components (subcontractors, teams, etc.).
• Lead engagements with sponsor/customers
• Mentor students and less experienced researchers
• Build new research programs and mission areas
• Hold leadership positions within ARLIS, on campus or professional committees
• Proven ability to tackle problems of considerable scope and complexity with currently non-existent solutions requiring unconventional, novel approaches and sophisticated research techniques.

Must be eligible for a U.S. security clearance.

Physical Demands:
Sedentary work performed in a normal office environment; exerts up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Ability to attend meetings both on and off campus. Spending long hours in front of a computer screen.

Preferences:
• Experience as Principal Investigator or Co-PI on awards (or submitted awards)
• Management and leadership experience in technical or other relevant areas
• Program and project management expertise
• Experience in customer relationship management
• Willingness to travel
• Active TS with SCI eligibility

Minimum Qualifications

This rank is generally parallel to Professor. In addition to having the qualifications required of the Associate Research Engineer, appointees shall have established a national and, where appropriate, international reputation for outstanding engineering practice, design, and development. Appointees should provide tangible evidence of sound scholarly production in research, publications, professional achievements, or other distinguished and creative activity. Appointments are typically made as five-year contracts. Appointments for additional five-year terms can be renewed as early as the third year of any given five-year contract.

Additional Job Details

Required Application Materials: Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, List of References

Best Consideration Date: N/A

Posting Close Date: N/A

Open Until Filled: No

Department

VPR-Applied Research Lab for Intelligence & Security

Worker Sub-Type

Faculty Regular

Salary Range

$58,656 - $240,082

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization.  Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO/AA Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer; all qualified applicants, including veterans and people with disabilities, will receive consideration for employment. UMD is actively engaged in recruiting, hiring, and promoting underrepresented communities. Please read the entire University of Maryland  Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Statement of Policy .

Women, Minorities, Disabled, Veterans, and LGBTQ+ Welcome!

Diversity Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

The University of Maryland (UMD) does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, color religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs and activities. Specifically, Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in UMD programs and activities, including with respect to admission and employment.

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