Machine Learning Application Engineer

Summary

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is dedicated to advancing research and technology in support of U.S. national security. They are seeking a Machine Learning Application Engineer to develop, deploy, and sustain end-to-end machine learning capabilities, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to address national security challenges.

Responsibilities

• Building end-to-end ML systems from technical problem formulation through training data selection/curation, modeling, evaluation, and delivery of ML models into usable tools and workflows, preferably with a focus on natural language programming and computer vision methods and tools
• Applying core ML theory and methods in practice, including selecting appropriate approaches, implementing baselines, conducting error analysis, and iterating on model performance using common libraries and frameworks (e.g., PyTorch/torch, scikit-learn, SciPy)
• Deploying and maintaining ML systems in development and operational environments, including git-based CI/CD, workflow orchestration, model packaging and Docker-based deployment, and monitoring for system health, data quality, and model performance over time
• Developing interactive ML-enabled applications for end users, including front-end development using FastAPI + React (including Vite) and/or MERN/PERN stacks to deliver intuitive user experiences powered by ML models
• Supporting proof-of-concept back-end development and requirements generation, including prototyping data stores and retrieval patterns and translating findings into clear requirements for a back-end engineering team (e.g., using Postgres (including pgvector), MongoDB, and/or ElasticSearch)
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams including researchers, engineers, domain experts, and analysts to integrate ML capabilities into broader systems and mission workflows
• Preparing technical deliverables and briefings for government stakeholders, translating complex technical work into clear, decision-relevant products (e.g., reports, slide briefings, memos, and research summaries)
• Contributing to research proposals and technical work plans, including scoping technical approaches, estimating effort, identifying risks, and supporting sponsor engagement as needed

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience
• ~2 years of demonstrated experience in organizing and managing projects through volunteer, extracurricular, or work activities
• Demonstrated potential for excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary opportunity team in a matrixed organization with a collaborative and team-centric culture
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical and deep-dive skills
• Master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience and 3+ years of experience in a technical role or project management position for defense or intelligence R&D programs with experience in technology assessment, systems design, system analysis, executing on multiple technical programs with scheduled deliverables, and communicating and interfacing with government customers; or Bachelor's Degree and 5+ years of relevant experience in a role of equivalent responsibility
• Superior ability to deliver excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs
• Interact with U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary opportunity capture team in a matrixed organization with a collaborative and team-centric culture
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical and deep-dive skills
• Master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience and 7+ years of experience in a technical role or project management position for defense or intelligence R&D programs with experience in technology assessment, systems design, system analysis, executing on multiple technical programs with scheduled deliverables, and communicating and interfacing with government customers; or Bachelor's Degree and 10+ years of relevant experience in a role of equivalent responsibility
• Superior ability to deliver excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs
• Knowledge of DoD appropriations and requirements processes
• Lead engagements with U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary opportunity capture team in a matrixed organization with a collaborative and team-centric culture
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical and deep-dive skills
• PhD plus 5 years of research experience in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline; including success leading research projects and a record of engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
• Ability to 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 U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Expected to identify funding opportunities and serve as Principal Investigator on large proposals
• Mentor junior staff and Professional Track Faculty Specialists and participating in their promotion sub-committees
• PhD plus 5 years of PhD-level research experience, including success capturing and leading large projects and a record of significant engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
• Recognized as an authoritative subject matter expert and receive commensurate recognition
• Ability to 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 U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Identify funding opportunities and serve as Principal Investigator on large proposals
• Mentor junior staff and Professional Track Faculty Specialists and participating in their promotion sub-committees
• Ph.D. with at least 10 years of PhD-level research experience, including success capturing and leading large projects and a record of significant engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
• Established reputation for outstanding engineering practice, design, and development and viewed nationally as an authoritative subject matter expert
• Proven Ability to tackle problems of considerable scope and complexity with currently non-existent solutions requiring unconventional, novel approaches and sophisticated research techniques
• 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 U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Build and execute new research programs
• Hold leadership positions within ARLIS, on campus, or professional committees
• Mentor junior staff and Professional Track Faculty Specialists and participating in their promotion sub-committees
• Must be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance, preference will be given to TS/SCI eligible candidates upon verification
• Active TS/SCI

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience
• ~2 years of demonstrated experience in organizing and managing projects through volunteer, extracurricular, or work activities
• Demonstrated potential for excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary opportunity team in a matrixed organization with a collaborative and team-centric culture
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical and deep-dive skills
• Master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience and 3+ years of experience in a technical role or project management position for defense or intelligence R&D programs with experience in technology assessment, systems design, system analysis, executing on multiple technical programs with scheduled deliverables, and communicating and interfacing with government customers; or Bachelor's Degree and 5+ years of relevant experience in a role of equivalent responsibility
• Superior ability to deliver excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs
• Interact with U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary opportunity capture team in a matrixed organization with a collaborative and team-centric culture
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical and deep-dive skills
• Master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, plus relevant experience and 7+ years of experience in a technical role or project management position for defense or intelligence R&D programs with experience in technology assessment, systems design, system analysis, executing on multiple technical programs with scheduled deliverables, and communicating and interfacing with government customers; or Bachelor's Degree and 10+ years of relevant experience in a role of equivalent responsibility
• Superior ability to deliver excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs
• Knowledge of DoD appropriations and requirements processes
• Lead engagements with U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary opportunity capture team in a matrixed organization with a collaborative and team-centric culture
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical and deep-dive skills
• PhD plus 5 years of research experience in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline; including success leading research projects and a record of engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
• Ability to 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 U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Expected to identify funding opportunities and serve as Principal Investigator on large proposals
• Mentor junior staff and Professional Track Faculty Specialists and participating in their promotion sub-committees
• PhD plus 5 years of PhD-level research experience, including success capturing and leading large projects and a record of significant engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
• Recognized as an authoritative subject matter expert and receive commensurate recognition
• Ability to 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 U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Identify funding opportunities and serve as Principal Investigator on large proposals
• Mentor junior staff and Professional Track Faculty Specialists and participating in their promotion sub-committees
• Ph.D. with at least 10 years of PhD-level research experience, including success capturing and leading large projects and a record of significant engineering achievement and show promise of continued productivity
• Established reputation for outstanding engineering practice, design, and development and viewed nationally as an authoritative subject matter expert
• Proven Ability to tackle problems of considerable scope and complexity with currently non-existent solutions requiring unconventional, novel approaches and sophisticated research techniques
• 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 U.S. government sponsors, customers, and stakeholders
• Build and execute new research programs
• Hold leadership positions within ARLIS, on campus, or professional committees
• Mentor junior staff and Professional Track Faculty Specialists and participating in their promotion sub-committees
• Must be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance, preference will be given to TS/SCI eligible candidates upon verification

Nice to Haves

• Active TS/SCI