AI and Software Engineering Research Scientist — Edge Software Systems

About the Role

The SEI’s Tactical Edge and AI-Enabled Systems (TAS) initiative advances and transitions AI and edge software capabilities with a focus on production-readiness of AI and edge systems and components. This includes supporting small units operating in difficult edge environments that are often disconnected from enterprise computing infrastructure, such as tactical autonomy, first responders, space, and avionics systems. A natural outcome of this work is the advancement and transition of software engineering tools, methods, and approaches to enable production-readiness of AI systems and components.

As an AI and Software Engineering Research Scientist in the TAS Initiative, you will develop, mature, and prototype technologies, and transition these technologies to government and industry organizations. You will directly develop and apply work with customers, balancing short-term needs with long-term goals of solving complex technical challenges in tactical edge and AI-enabled systems. You will represent technical work with customers, stakeholders, and the academic community while advancing the TAS research agenda in areas such as:

• Edge AI in DDIL (degraded, disconnected, intermittent, limited) environments
• Edge Intelligence
• Edge-to-Cloud continuum
• UaX-Edge collaboration
• Software engineering for AI-enabled systems, including agentic AI systems

As part of the AI-native Software Engineering (AISE) directorate, you will also contribute to the AISE Lab, advancing and learning about state-of-the-art AI-assisted tools and processes that are changing the practice of software engineering.

Responsibilities

• Develop, mature, and prototype AI and edge software technologies
• Transition technologies to government and industry organizations
• Balance short-term customer needs with long-term research goals
• Represent technical work with customers, stakeholders, and the academic community
• Advance the TAS research agenda in edge software systems and AI-enabled systems

Requirements

• PhD in computer science, software engineering, machine learning, or related discipline
• Two (2) or more years of full-time professional experience engineering edge software systems in a research environment, or eight (8) or more years of demonstrated experience leading the development and transition of innovative software engineering techniques into operational practice
• Strong empirical research skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Desired Skills and Experience

• Development and deployment of edge software systems, or systems with similar technical challenges, into operational environments
• Ability to communicate research outcomes, demonstrated by a publication record in relevant top-tier venues in software engineering and AI
• Development of successful research proposals
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in teams with a variety of technical and organizational skills

Other Requirements

• Flexible to travel to sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings (~10% travel)
• Able and willing to work onsite at the SEI office in Pittsburgh, 5 days per week
• Subject to a background investigation and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense security clearance

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous retirement savings program with employer contributions
• Tuition benefits
• Ample paid time off and observed holidays
• Life and accidental death and disability insurance
• Free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass
• Access to Family Concierge Team for childcare navigation
• Fitness center access

For a comprehensive overview of benefits, visit the Benefits page.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Schedule

Full time, onsite at the SEI office in Pittsburgh (5 days per week).