e4ce seeks an accomplished engineer/scientist to lead our Autonomy, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning (AAIM) Lab. This leadership role combines hands-on technical work with team management, guiding a dynamic group of researchers, software engineers, and AI experts in developing and deploying innovative AI solutions for government and defense customers. The successful candidate will drive R&D initiatives, contribute to business development, and mentor emerging technical talent while advancing the state-of-the-art in applied artificial intelligence.
R
es
ponsibilities:
T
ec
hnical Leadership & Execution
D
es
- ign, develop, and implement AI/ML solutions addressing customer-specific problem sets across defense, warfighter, and government applications.
Ap
p- ly AI/ML techniques to diverse domains and challenging technical problems
De
v- elop and augment computational models and code (primarily Python) for novel solutions across various application areas
Im
p- lement machine learning approaches for both limited and large-scale datasets
Co
n- duct virtual verification and validation of AI/ML models and systems
Pe
r- form hands-on engineering work on active contracts, ensuring technical excellence and timely delivery
R
es
earch & Innovation
L
ea
- d internal and customer-funded R&D efforts employing cutting-edge AI/ML methodologies
Au
t- hor white papers and technical documentation
Pr
e- sent research findings at technical conferences
Pu
b- lish peer-reviewed articles in relevant journals
St
a- y current with emerging AI/ML technologies and methodologies
B
us
iness Development & Proposals
Par
- ticipate in proposal development, including technical writing and solution architecture
Su
p- port business development activities and customer engagement
Co
n- tribute to concept development and technical strategy for new opportunities
Co
l- laborate with BD team on past performance narratives and capability presentations
T
ea
m Leadership & Mentorship
Lea
- d, advise, and mentor AAIM Lab team members
Fo
s- ter a collaborative research environment
Co
o- rdinate with internal and external partners, customers, and stakeholders
De
v- elop work plans and objectives in alignment with organizational goals
Su
p- port professional development of junior staff
T
hi
s position is designed to be flexible, with responsibilities evolving to meet business needs and enable individual growth.
Q
ua
lifications:
Act
- ive secret clearance or ability to obtain one
Ba
c- helor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related technical field
5+
- years of hands-on experience in AI/ML development and deployment
De
m- onstrated experience working on government contracts (preferably defense/DoD)
Mo
t- ivation to grow into a leadership role and develop team management skills
St
r- ong proficiency in Python and modern software development practices
De
e- p understanding of AI/ML principles, algorithms, and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn)
Ex
p- erience with computational modeling, simulation, and numerical methods
Fa
m- iliarity with data engineering, MLOps, and model deployment pipelines
Kn
o- wledge of software development lifecycle and version control systems
Ex
c- ellent written and oral communication skills
Ex
p- erience writing technical proposals and white papers
St
r- ong problem-solving and analytical capabilities
Ab
i- lity to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and customers
Ea
g- erness to mentor team members and foster collaborative environments
P
re
ferred Qualifications:
Mas
- ter's degree or Ph.D. in a relevant technical field
Tr
a- ck record of peer-reviewed publications
Ex
p- erience with DoD research programs (SBIR/STTR, DARPA, service labs, etc.)
Pr
i- or experience in technical leadership or project management roles
Ex
p- ertise in specific technical areas such as materials design and computational materials science, optics/photonics, magnetics, electronics, quantum technologies, metamaterials, chemical synthesis, process modeling and control, or directed energy
Fa
m- iliarity with agile development methodologies
Ex
p- erience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization
Kn
o- wledge of high-performance computing environments
W
hy
Work for Us?
Cor
e4ce is a team of innovators, self-starters, and critical thinkers—driven by a shared mission to strengthen national security and advance warfighting outcomes.
W
e
offer:
4
01
- (k) with 100% company match on the first 6% deferred, with immediate vesting
Co
m- prehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage—employee portion paid 100% by Core4ce
Un
l- imited access to training and certifications, with no pre-set cap on eligible professional development
Tu
i- tion assistance for job-related degrees and courses
Pa
i- d parental leave, PTO that grows with tenure, and generous holiday schedules
Go
t- a big idea? At Core4ce, The Forge gives every employee the chance to propose bold innovations and help bring them to life with internal backing.
J
oi
n us to build a career that matters—supported by a company that invests in you.
A
ll
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, veteran status, age, genetic information, or other legally protected status.
*
Co
- e4ce provides the listed pay range for this position as a general guideline only and not as a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final offers may take into account a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, job responsibilities, education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, market data alignment, any applicable collective bargaining agreement, and other legal requirements.
S
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