Lead Machine Learning Engineer

AeroVironment’s Learning and Active Perception (LEAP) group is building computer vision and related analytics for defense and commercial applications, and this Lead Machine Learning Engineer role helps drive that work from requirements through test, evaluation, validation, and verification. This position functions as a strong individual contributor and technical leader, with expectations to mentor more junior engineers and shape how solutions are designed, validated, and improved.

Role Overview

• Serve as a technical leader in designing and delivering computer vision and machine learning algorithms for technically challenging detection, classification, localization, and tracking problems.
• Work across a range of stationary and mobile sensor platforms.
• Validate approaches through purpose-designed experiments and evaluate model performance by analyzing errors and developing strategies to overcome them.
• Select datasets and data representations, including supervision of data acquisition when required.
• Maintain technical awareness of relevant academic literature, commercial products, and open source projects to keep solutions current.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of computer vision and ML algorithms for wide-ranging real-world problems.
• Advise on and support software infrastructure and DevOps processes that enable ML needs.
• Implement ML algorithms and validate designs through experiments.
• Analyze trained model algorithms and errors; design strategies to address failure modes.
• Manage resources including hardware, data, and personnel to meet deadlines and coordinate activities as needed with a Team Lead and across teams.
• Maintain ownership and responsibility for current and past work products.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science/engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related Science or Engineering discipline, with 5+ years of relevant experience in machine learning and/or computer vision.
• Minimum of 8-12 years of relevant experience.
• Required familiarity with C/C++ or Python.
• 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 DoD and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations on advanced technology, research, or AI/ML initiatives.
• Familiarity working in classified spaces.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Must be able to obtain at least a Secret level DoD security clearance.
• Willingness to travel frequently (up to 40%).
• Effective verbal and written communication, problem-solving, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work within defined requirements with minimal supervision.
• Leadership qualities, teamwork, collaboration, initiative, and ownership.
• Must be able to work in an office environment; required to sit and stand for long periods and use a computer keyboard (frequent talking, hearing, and hand/finger use).
• Has commitment to learning from mistakes and improving performance of self and others.

Technologies

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

Compensation and Location

• Location: Centreville, VA (onsite)
• Salary range: USD 158,000 - 241,000 per year

Benefits

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

Compliance and ITAR

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.

Special requirements: Ability to obtain at minimum a Secret level DoD security clearance, U.S. Citizenship required, and willingness to travel frequently (up to 40%).