Junior Machine Learning Engineer

DESE Research, Inc. is seeking a Junior Machine Learning Engineer to join a growing team focused on applying artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to support national defense initiatives. In this role, you will work alongside experienced engineers and researchers to assist in developing, testing, and deploying machine learning models that enhance the security and resilience of military platforms and critical systems.

As a Junior Machine Learning Engineer, you will contribute to projects that involve analyzing data, experimenting with algorithms, and supporting the integration of AI technologies into real-world defense applications. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand mission requirements and help build innovative solutions that protect critical system functions from emerging threats.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with academic or internship experience in AI/ML who is eager to grow their skills while solving real-world challenges that impact national security.

Education and Work Experience

Bachelor's degree (current or eminent) in Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related field

US Government Security Clearance Eligibility

Applicants must be eligible to receive at least a secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Assist in designing, developing, and maintaining basic machine learning models and algorithms
• Support data scientists and engineers in implementing and deploying scalable AI solutions
• Help process and analyze data to improve model performance and accuracy
• Keep current with emerging AI/ML tools and methods to contribute fresh ideas to projects
• Document development steps and outcomes for team review and stakeholder updates
• Troubleshoot and optimize AI components under guidance, and identify areas for automation
• Work as part of a small, collaborative team in a fast-paced environment
• Participate in technical discussions and presentations, sharing insights on your contributions
• Contribute to team planning sessions and support estimation efforts
• Perform software development tasks using high-level or scripting languages as needed
• Assist with other related tasks as assigned by management or leadership
• Research and maintain understanding of emerging cloud technologies

Required Skills and Experience

• Internship or academic project experience in software development with a focus on AI/ML concepts
• Familiarity with programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++
• Exposure to ML frameworks and libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Scikit-learn
• Basic understanding of data structures and fundamental software development principles
• Familiarity with REST APIs and basic software development workflows (version control, CI/CD, etc.)
• Willingness to learn and contribute in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Introductory knowledge of computer security or secure coding practices is a plus
• Exposure to basic computer networking concepts through coursework or self-study
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies through class projects or internships
• Effective verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Contributions to open-source projects.
• Experience in deploying AI models in production environments.
• Familiarity with MLOps tools and methodologies.