Senior AI Scientist

The Elevator Pitch

Join Evolv as Senior AI Scientist/Engineer to drive applied AI innovation in physical security technology. As a key member of the ML/AI team you will be instrumental in developing and deploying state-of-the-art solutions that leverage LLMs and deep learning. Your work will focus on translating cutting-edge research into practical, high-impact applications that enhance Evolv’s product capabilities and deliver measurable value to customers. This hands-on role involves working with diverse data sources, including 3D cameras, magnetic sensors, and X-ray images to build intelligent, multi-sensor systems that operate in real-time on constrained hardware platforms. Your contributions will directly influence product features, performance, and the future of AI-powered security screening.

Success in the Role: What are performance outcomes over the first 6-12 months you will work toward completing?

In the first 30 days, you will:

• Become familiar with Evolv’s mission, data infrastructure, and AI strategy
• Explore existing ML pipelines and identify opportunities for research
• Engage in collaborative learning and contribute to peer reviews and technical discussions
• Assess the current state of LLMs and generative AI in the context of Evolv’s product roadmap

Within the First Three Months:

• Work with the product team to gather requirements and translate these to derived requirements that guide and inform ML/AI development efforts
• Initiate applied research projects focused on LLMs, deep learning, and generative AI with clear product relevance
• Engage in cross-functional communication with various engineering teams to disseminate ML/AI ideas, to inform roadmap and research priorities

By the End of the First Year:

• Deliver research prototypes that demonstrate product-ready capabilities for LLMs or generative AI
• Publish internal whitepapers and contribute to external technical communications
• Translate research into scalable, deployable solutions that enhance Evolv’s AI product offerings
• Establish Evolv as a thought leader in AI-driven security innovation
• Support the execution of Evolv’s AI strategy by aligning innovation with customer value and business growth

The Work: What type of work will you be doing? What assignments, requirements, or skills will you be performing on a regular basis?

Technical Leadership:

• Lead the development and application for LLMs, generative AI, and deep learning
• Design and evaluate novel model architectures, training regimes, and inference strategies
• Develop tools and frameworks that accelerate experimentation and deployment

Innovation:

• Drive Evolv’s AI research agenda by identifying high-impact, product-aligned opportunities
• Prototype and test new ideas in collaboration with engineering and product teams
• Engage in external research communities and stay ahead of emerging trends
• Foster a culture of innovation through experimentation, iteration, and knowledge sharing

Technical Expertise Required: Machine Learning & Computer Vision

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field with 2+ years of experience in deep learning or NLP
• MS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field with 3+ years of experience in AI research
• Expertise in LLMs, transformer architectures, and generative models
• Strong command of emerging tools and architectures in machine learning
• Strong publication record or equivalent contributions to open-source or industry research
• Track record of delivering research with practical applications or product impact
• Experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, or similar frameworks
• Understanding of model evaluation, interpretability, and responsible AI practices
• Strong programming skills in Python and C++.

What is the leadership like for this role? What is the structure and culture of the team?

You will join our R&D organization, reporting directly to the Senior Director of ML and sensors. In this role, you will interface with cross-disciplinary teams of highly skilled and autonomous engineers with expertise in Electromagnetics, Computer Vision, and AI. The R&D organization comprises more than 60 dedicated developers and managers with deep expertise who are always willing to help.  Leadership at Evolv lives our values: doing the right thing, putting people first, owning results, winning together, and being bold while staying curious. You’ll be supported by leaders who set a clear vision, foster collaboration, and empower you to do your best work.