ISR Technical Lead for AI/ML

The MITRE Corporation’s All-Domain Integration (ADI) Department (N174) partners with the Department of the Air Force to accelerate the delivery of integrated command-and-control capabilities. Through expertise in mission engineering, systems integration, systems engineering, architecture, modeling and simulation, operational analysis, and artificial intelligence, MITRE provides independent technical leadership supporting advanced operational capabilities.

The ADI Department is seeking a Lead Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning Engineer to support an Air Force program at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. This customer-facing role will evaluate, guide, and advance AI/ML work in the geospatial domain, with emphasis on imagery enhancement, geospatial modeling, and the application of advanced AI techniques to mission needs.

The successful candidate will provide technical leadership to government and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) stakeholders, guide architectures and implementation approaches, and help shape strategic plans and technology roadmaps for geospatial AI/ML capabilities.

Key Functions

• Serve as a lead technical advisor for AI/ML applications in the geospatial and imagery-analysis domain.
• Evaluate and guide AI/ML architectures, designs, implementation approaches, and system-engineering activities supporting Air Force mission needs.
• Apply expertise in geospatial modeling, imagery enhancement, computer vision, deep learning, data augmentation, classification techniques, and search optimization.
• Develop and assess AI/ML approaches that improve the quality, usability, and exploitation of geospatial imagery and related data products.
• Provide technical leadership for the use of PyTorch, Python, Pandas, AI-assisted code-generation tools, and other industry-standard AI/ML development environments.
• Collaborate directly with government customers and OEM vendors to translate mission needs into technically sound AI/ML solutions.
• Guide technical trade studies, experimentation, prototyping, and evaluation of emerging geospatial AI/ML capabilities.
• Develop strategic plans, architectures, and roadmaps that evolve the program’s geospatial AI/ML capabilities.
• Communicate technical findings, recommendations, risks, and opportunities clearly to senior government leaders, technical teams, and vendor partners.
• Support in-person work in classified and unclassified environments, including work performed in a SCIF.

Expected Outcomes

The successful candidate will:

• Advance the Air Force’s ability to apply AI/ML to geospatial analysis and imagery-enhancement challenges.
• Provide trusted technical leadership for AI/ML architecture, design, implementation, and system-engineering decisions.
• Improve the maturity, performance, and operational relevance of geospatial AI/ML capabilities.
• Enable informed customer and acquisition decisions through clear technical assessments and actionable recommendations.
• Establish a strategic AI/ML roadmap that aligns technical investments with mission priorities.
• Strengthen collaboration among government stakeholders, OEM vendors, and MITRE technical teams.

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with Bachelor’s degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, engineering, geospatial science, or a related technical field; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Experience guiding complex technical architectures, design, implementation, systems engineering, and strategic technology roadmaps.
• Demonstrated expertise in AI/ML techniques, including deep learning, computer vision or image processing, data augmentation, classification, and search optimization.
• Experience applying AI/ML to geospatial analysis, imagery enhancement, geospatial modeling, or related mission applications.
• Demonstrated mastery of the PyTorch framework.
• Strong Python proficiency, including experience with Pandas and modern AI/ML development tools, including AI-assisted code-generation tools.
• Strong customer-facing communication, leadership, collaboration, and technical-influence skills.
• Experience working directly with government customers and OEM vendors.
• Ability to work in person at Hanscom Air Force Base, including in SCIF and non-SCIF environments.
• Ability to travel within the continental United States approximately 10-15%.
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance with the ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI U.S Government issued Security Clearance . Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site., * Advanced degree in artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer science, engineering, geospatial science, or a related field.
• Active SCI clearance.
• Experience supporting Department of the Air Force, Department of War, intelligence community, or other national-security geospatial missions.
• Experience with geospatial data pipelines, remote sensing, sensor data, imagery exploitation, or geospatial intelligence systems.
• Experience leading AI/ML technical assessments, prototypes, demonstrations, or transition activities from research to operational use.
• Familiarity with responsible AI, AI assurance, model evaluation, model risk management, and secure AI/ML development practices.

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That’s because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation’s toughest challenges-and we’re committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We’re making a difference every day-working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us.