AI/ML Research Engineer

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Responsibilities

Peraton Labs is seeking an AI Research Engineer to lead the design and implementation of the machine learning core for extensive research and development into generative models. The role focuses on the research-to-code path for model generation, planning, and optimization, including formulating models, building the training and inference pipelines, integrating with synthetic and laboratory datasets, and delivering trained, containerized frameworks.

The ideal candidate combines a research background in causal inference, probabilistic programming, or Bayesian methods with strong software engineering discipline. They must be comfortable working in a domain where model outputs must be explainable and verifiable. Familiarity with communications and digital signal processing is preferred but not required at the outset; the ability to learn the domain quickly and collaborate closely with RF, DSP, and formal methods engineers is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and train causal graph models, planning algorithms, as well as architect approaches to multi-objective optimization
• Build and maintain the ML infrastructure: training and inference pipelines, experiment tracking, model versioning, dataset loaders for synthetic and real data, and the objective and interface
• Package trained models for inference as containerized components that conform to the specified API, working with the Lead System Integrator to deliver regular code drops and major code revisions
• Contribute to the design of synthetic data generation and simulation campaigns so that training data covers the objective space the models must generalize across
• Present research results at program design reviews, site visits, and PI workshops; author technical sections of monthly status reports and design documentation; coordinate with academic subcontractor researchers on shared model components

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience and an MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field
• 2+ years of applied machine learning research experience with demonstrated work in at least one of: causal inference and structural causal models, Bayesian networks and probabilistic graphical models, probabilistic programming (Pyro, NumPyro, Stan, PyMC, or similar), or learned optimization and planning
• Strong Python software engineering skills with production-quality use of PyTorch, including custom model implementation, training loop design, and performance profiling on GPUs
• Experience translating research prototypes into maintainable, tested, containerized code that runs unattended in an environment the developer does not control
• Some working knowledge of multi-objective and constrained optimization (evolutionary, Bayesian, gradient-based, or combinatorial methods) and experience applying it to structured design spaces
• Experience with experiment management, reproducible ML pipelines, and dataset versioning on a multi-person research team
• Ability to read and implement methods from the current research literature, and to communicate model behavior and limitations clearly to non-ML engineers and government stakeholders
• US Citizenship

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior work on IARPA, DARPA, or similar government research programs with independent T&E, leaderboard-based evaluation, and a regular delivery cadence
• Background in communications, digital signal processing, or information theory, including familiarity with modulation, coding, channel models
• Experience with neuro-symbolic methods, program synthesis, or graph generation models (graph neural networks, autoregressive graph generators, or diffusion over graphs)
• Familiarity with symbolic regression (PySR or similar) or with generating executable code or domain-specific language artifacts from learned models
• Experience with hardware-constrained inference (model compression, quantization, or deployment on embedded or edge compute)
• Publications in causal inference, probabilistic machine learning, or machine learning for wireless communications 
• Willingness and ability to obtain Secret security clearance 

Target Salary Range

$146,000 - $234,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

Benefits Statement

Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.

Application Statements

The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.