Lead Machine Learning Engineer

AeroVironment’s Learning and Active Perception (LEAP) group builds computer vision and related analytics for defense and commercial applications. In this Lead Machine Learning Engineer role (onsite in Centreville, VA), you will work as a strong individual contributor and technical leader, guiding end-to-end development from requirements through test, evaluation, validation, and verification. You will also mentor more junior engineers while partnering across teams to help deliver practical ML capabilities.

What you’ll do

• Lead the design and development of computer vision and machine learning algorithms for challenging problems such as detection, classifying, localizing, and tracking objects of interest across stationary and mobile sensor platforms.
• Stay current with relevant academic literature, commercial products, and open source projects to keep solutions aligned with the latest capabilities.
• Advise on and support software infrastructure and DevOps processes that enable ML development and deployment needs.
• Implement ML algorithms and validate designs through experiments designed for the specific problem areas.
• Evaluate trained models by analyzing algorithm behavior and errors, then design strategies to address failure modes.
• Select appropriate datasets and data representations, and supervise data acquisition when required.
• Manage available resources including hardware, data, and personnel to meet deadlines, coordinating with others and between teams as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science/engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related Science or Engineering discipline with 5+ years of relevant experience in machine learning and/or computer vision.
• Minimum 8-12 years of relevant experience.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Familiarity with C/C++ or Python (required).
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and troubleshoot complex systems.
• Proficiency with a deep learning framework, preferably PyTorch.
• Proficiency with scikit-learn and pandas.
• Proficiency with OpenCV.
• Proficiency with Linux.
• Familiarity with ML standards such as ONNX.
• Ability to select hardware for specific ML applications.
• Expertise in visualizing and manipulating big datasets.
• Experience working with DoW and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations on advanced technology, research, or AI/ML initiatives.
• Familiarity with classified spaces.
• Familiarity working in office software and computer-based productivity tools.
• Ability to work within defined requirements with minimal supervision.
• Team player with leadership qualities, strong verbal and written communication, and effective problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with small teams covering a broad variety of duties.
• Demonstrated ownership of work products and a commitment to learning from mistakes to improve personal and team performance.
• Must be able to work in an office environment (constant) and sit/stand for long periods, and talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard (frequent).
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain at minimum a Secret level DoD security clearance.
• Willingness to travel frequently, up to 40%.

Core technologies

• C/C++, Python
• PyTorch
• scikit-learn, pandas
• OpenCV
• Linux
• ONNX

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision
• 401K with company matching
• 9/80 work schedule
• Paid holiday shutdown

Compensation and location

Location: Centreville, VA (onsite)

Salary range: USD 158,000 - 241,000 per year

ITAR requirement: This position requires access to information subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

Clearance level: No Clearance