Visiting Scientist

What We Do

The SEI helps advance software engineering principles and practices and serves as a national resource in software engineering, computer security, and process improvement. The SEI works closely with defense and government organizations, industry, and academia to continually improve software-intensive systems. Our core purpose is to help organizations improve software engineering capabilities and develop or acquire the right software, defect free, within budget and on time, every time.

About the role

The SEI is researching the application of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to help our government and industry clients enable secure software engineering and software deolpyment  activities. In this temporary (fixed term) and part-time role, you will work with our Continuous  Deployment of Capability  team to identify applications of generative AI, self-adaptive networking and secure development and deployment  in software engineering, establish testing environments for AI assisted development environment, conduct testing of prompt engineering patterns, and summarize experimental results.  You'll get a chance to work with elite professionals to build new technologies that will influence solutions for national defense systems.

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science or related discipline.
• Work part-time between 10-20 hrs week for 6 months part time role
• Ability to work onsite in the SEI’s offices in Pittsburgh, PA.
• Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.
• This position involves items or technical data controlled under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”).  Under U.S. export control laws, restrictions apply to the release or disclosure within the United States of  ITAR-controlled technical data to individuals who are NOT “U.S. Persons.”  U.S. Persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, persons lawfully admitted for U.S. permanent residence (“green card” holders), persons granted U.S. asylum status and persons granted U.S. refugee status.  
• SEI can rely on ITAR authorizations to provide access to ITAR-controlled items for certain eligible applicants who are not U.S. Persons.  However, for SEI to ensure compliance with the ITAR, applicants who are NOT U.S. Persons are not eligible for this position if they are current or former permanent residents, nationals, or citizens of the following arms-embargoed or ITAR-restricted countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burma, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. We have to add this language for positions that don’t require a clearance.
  
   

Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Iterative experimentation: You’ll work with an interdisciplinary research team to design experiments, rapidly apply techniques for experimentation, and iterate on the technical solutions for challenging problems.
• Solution development: You’ll work with and lead interdisciplinary teams to turn research results into prototype operational capabilities for government customers and stakeholders.
• Publication: Summarize results of experimentation to contribute to publications. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
• Deep understanding of the application of AI technologies, including evaluation of effectiveness for enabling or automating engineering activities.
• Understanding of generative AI technologies, particularly Large Language Models and the use of prompt engineering to increase the effectiveness of these approaches.
• Understanding of cybersecurity considerations in software design or engineering workflows.
• Understanding of Retrieval-Augmented Generation approaches.
• Innovative and inquisitive with ability to imagine novel analytical solutions to problems.
• Programming experience in C++, Python, and other languages.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully communicate technical concepts in publications.
• Commitment to building and sustaining relationships with a highly diverse team of colleagues within the SEI and CMU communities and within our customer organizations.
• Focused ability to organize, create, and maintain comprehensive project documentation from project initialization to end of life.

Desired Experience

• Research practices and publications: You have a track record of conducting research in artificial intelligence and generative AI. You have a reputation for the highest level of research and technical integrity. You have demonstrated contributions and have published research.
• Iterative experimentation: Experience rapidly applying techniques for experimentation and iterative solution development for challenging problems.
• Continuous Learning: Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new concepts and a willingness to grow into new areas of work and interest and then sharing and demonstrating that knowledge with colleagues.
• Communication: Ability to create and provide accurate, grounded, and compelling publications that make complex issues more understandable to both an uninitiated audience and one that is also highly familiar with a topic.
• Experience applying AI to multi-model data challenges (such as video) is a plus
• Experience supporting training for AI research or application of new techniques is a plus

Skills/Abilities

• Deep knowledge of software engineering, including detailed knowledge of at least three of the following strengths: Requirements, Architecture and Design, Program and Acquisition Management, Performance Improvement, Assurance, and/or Security
• Knowledge of how to apply system engineering principles to system software development
• Understanding of security concerns for computer systems, networks, and services, such as databases.
• Ability to execute network security assessments, report results, and write documentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively and manage time without supervision
• Ability to attend customer meetings and respond to customer requirements
• Highly-motivated self-starter with an ability to multi-task, prioritize, and be actionable
• Ability to review the implemented system, understand and interpret the error reports from internal staff and external clients, troubleshoot and debug them in the embedded environment and provide instant fixtures for the same

Other: The candidate will be subject to a background check and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense security clearance.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Full time/Part time

Part time

Pay Basis

Hourly

More Information: 

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. 

• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. 

• Statement of Assurance