Senior AI/ML R&D Portfolio Lead

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

The National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.

The Advanced Research and Engineering (AR&E) Sub-Division is seeking an innovative and proactive Senior AI/ML R&D Portfolio Lead (Principal Engineer-Data Science/Big Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence) to tackle some of the nation's most critical and complex challenges in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and next-generation ground architectures. This is a unique opportunity to help define the future of AI for a major Intelligence Community organization. As the strategic lead for Aerospace's AI/ML portfolio supporting the Deputy Chief AI Officer, you'll be at the epicenter of AI transformation within the IC and Aerospace, bridging cutting-edge research with operational impact.

By working directly with senior IC leadership, you will inform AI strategy, policy, and investment decisions that will impact national security for years to come. Additionally, you will demonstrate your technical depth by leading initiatives spanning:

•           AI-enabled Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (TCPED) architectures

•           Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) frameworks for mission-critical AI systems

•           Responsible AI governance and ethical AI deployment at scale

•           Future-focused AI R&D roadmaps addressing emerging ISR challenges

You will serve as the principal technical advisor and thought leader to harness an AI-enable architecture to orchestrate and optimize TCPED, translating complex AI/ML concepts into strategic recommendations while simultaneously guiding hands-on R&D efforts that push the boundaries of what's possible in intelligence operations.  In addition, you will collaborate across Aerospace to leverage the power of the entirety of the corporate matrix to bring Aerospace value-added to the customer AI initiatives.

This position requires 100% on site work in Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Providing thought leadership to the Deputy Chief AI Officer of an Intelligence Community Customer to develop a strategic plan that integrates AI into all elements of the customer’s architecture
• Exhibiting leadership within a critical role focused on enterprise impact and cross-community collaboration across government customers and all of Aerospace
• Serving as a Corporate steward coordinating across Aerospace enterprise on a cohesive AI implementation strategy across customer organizations
• Serving as a mentor for integration of AI into the Aerospace workforce and developing the next generation technical workforce
• Leading Aerospace R&D support to a portfolio of projects to apply AI/ML expertise to support development of new capabilities for ISR architectures. 
• Leading a portfolio where Aerospace technical depth in the Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) can be leveraged to effectively address and influence key areas of interest such as AI-enabled TCPED, IV&V for mission critical AI systems, responsible AI governance and ethical deployment at scale, and implementation of state-of-the-art tools and algorithms for emerging ISR challenges  
• Leveraging Aerospace's technical backplane to synthesize state-of-the-art AI capabilities across the corporation, translating breakthrough research into actionable intelligence solutions.
• Engaging with stakeholders across the entire IC enterprise, fostering innovative partnerships and building consensus on transformative AI initiatives.
• Providing guidance for development and demonstration of new capabilities and architectures.
• Working directly with Government, other FFRDC, SETA staff, and other partners to design and implement ground-breaking roadmaps and strategy.
• Informing senior Aerospace leadership on AI strategy

What You Need to be Successful

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