Lead AI Engineer

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The MITRE Special Operations and Joint Staff Department (N552) partners with the U.S. Special Operations community to solve complex national security challenges by delivering innovative, mission-driven engineering and technical expertise. Working across government, industry, and academia, we accelerate the development, integration, and transition of advanced capabilities that strengthen operational effectiveness, reduce mission risk, and help ensure Special Operations Forces (SOF) maintain decision advantage in contested environments.

We are seeking a strategic-minded, technically skilled, and operationally focused Artificial Intelligence Engineer to serve in a full-time sponsor environment supporting U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). The successful candidate will bring deep experience developing, deploying, and transitioning AI/ML-enabled capabilities in support of complex national security missions. Working directly with DoD and Intelligence Community sponsors, operators, and mission partners, this individual will develop, integrate, and operationalize advanced data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning capabilities that improve mission planning, operational effectiveness, and decision-making.

N552 operates as a globally integrated team supporting USSOCOM Headquarters, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Service Component Special Operations Commands (SOCs), and Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs). Engineers work directly with operators, acquisition organizations, and mission partners to identify emerging challenges, evaluate advanced technologies, and transition mission-ready capabilities into operational use.

This position offers the opportunity to work alongside Special Operations Forces and government sponsors, applying advanced data science and artificial intelligence to some of the nation's most challenging national security problems while rapidly delivering innovative capabilities to operational users.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Qualified candidates will have a strong background in data science, machine learning, and software engineering, with demonstrated success applying advanced analytics to complex operational problems. This role includes designing and implementing technical solutions, conducting applied research and rapid prototyping, and collaborating directly with government stakeholders to improve mission outcomes.

The selected candidate will work closely with Special Operations Department leadership and technical teams across MITRE to develop tactical, operational, and strategic capabilities supporting the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. Success in this role requires working effectively within MITRE's federated environment by partnering across NSEC, MITRE Labs, and other organizations while engaging directly with SOF operators and government technical experts.

Candidates should possess hands-on experience developing production-quality software, machine learning applications, and data analytics solutions, with the ability to rapidly prototype, deploy, and transition capabilities across multiple mission areas.

Selected candidates will demonstrate the following:

• Domain/Technical Competence. Demonstrated experience in two or more of the following areas: (1) Data Science, (2) Machine Learning, (3) Artificial Intelligence, (4) Computer Vision, and (5) DoD Special Operations. Demonstrated ability to design, develop, deploy, and transition technical solutions that address operational needs.

• Leadership and Execution. Build trusted relationships with legal, policy, intelligence, technical, and operational stakeholders. Coordinate technical efforts across multiple projects while working directly with SOF program teams to deliver solutions supporting specialized missions and sensitive activities.

• Communication and Teamwork. Lead and mentor technical teams to achieve mission objectives while clearly communicating technical approaches, risks, and impacts to sponsors and stakeholders. Collaborate with engineers, planners, analysts, and mission specialists to deliver actionable solutions that address operational needs.

• Sponsor Engagement. Build enduring relationships with senior military leaders, engineers, and technical experts to understand mission needs, shape technical direction, and deliver operationally relevant solutions.

• Flexibility and Suitability. Demonstrate the agility to adapt as sponsor priorities and operational requirements evolve. Leverage MITRE's technical reach-back capabilities to rapidly assemble the right expertise at the right time while operating effectively within SOF culture and sensitive mission environments.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field.

• Hands-on experience designing, building, deploying, and transitioning prototype systems for DoD or Intelligence Community sponsors.

• Experience developing AI/ML solutions, including traditional machine learning, deep learning, and large language model (LLM)-enabled applications using frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Codex/Claude CLI, LangChain, or equivalent.

• Experience developing scalable data processing and analytics solutions using distributed computing frameworks such as Spark, Hadoop Distributed File System, Delta Tables, or similar technologies.

• Strong software development skills in Python/PySpark/Scala, with experience developing production-quality software using modern engineering practices, including Git, automated testing, documentation, and CI/CD workflows.

• Experience with Linux operating systems and terminal use.

• Experience developing data science and machine learning applications using open-source tools such as NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, Scikit-Learn, SQL, and related frameworks.

• Experience integrating, processing, and analyzing structured, unstructured, geospatial, temporal, and multi-source operational data.

• Demonstrated success leading capability development efforts and transitioning operational prototypes to government sponsors.

• Active Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain SCI and a polygraph, as required.

• Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements for a clearance, U.S Citizenship is required.

• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field.

• Experience leading technical projects for DoD or Intelligence Community sponsors, including managing multidisciplinary teams and executing work within secure operational environments.

• Experience applying advanced technical solutions to support mission needs in highly constrained, operational, or denied environments.

• Demonstrated success identifying operational capability gaps and developing innovative technical solutions for DoD or Intelligence Community sponsors.

• Experience with big data architectures, distributed analytics, and cloud-based data processing technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop, Python).

• Experience developing software for embedded, distributed, high-performance, or cloud computing environments.

• Experience deploying AI/ML or data analytics capabilities into operational environments supporting military or intelligence missions.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$174,000 - $217,500 - $261,000 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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