Leidos

Data Scientist SME AI/ML

Leidos  •  $154k - $278k/yr  •  United States (Onsite)  •  10 days ago
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Job Description

Leidos Cyber & Information Sciences Division of the Cyber & Analytics Business Area is seeking an AI & Analytic Systems SME to serve as a Technical Closer for our COSS 3.0 program. You will architect the frameworks that achieve analytic superiority and actively perform the engineering required to push AI capabilities into production. You are expected to mentor senior technologists by example—working "fingers-on-keyboard" to solve the command's most complex technical roadblocks.

Core Technical Requirements

  • Agentic AI Frameworks: Expertise in deploying LangGraph, CrewAI, or AutoGPT to scale network defense at "wire speed."
  • Model Engineering: Hands-on fine-tuning of open-source models (Llama 3, Mistral) in air-gapped enclaves using PyTorch or TensorFlow.
  • Technical Closing: Direct engineering of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) stacks using LangChain and vector databases (Milvus or Pinecone).
  • Mission Orchestration: Proficiency in unified mission systems (e.g., Kudu Dynamic, TACMS, Maven Support Systems) with custom API integration skills.
  • Scripting: Mastery of Python, Go, and Bash.

Preferred Certifications & Experience

  • Google Professional ML Engineer, AWS Machine Learning Specialty, or NVIDIA Generative AI/LLM Associate.
  • Military Equivalency: CMF Work Role Certification (Exploitation/Network Analyst) or experience as a 170A/17A.

Years of Experience

  • Total Experience: 12–15+ years in technical roles.
  • AI/ML Focus: 5+ years specifically in Machine Learning Engineering or Data Science. The "Technical Closer" label implies you aren't just managing the project; you are the person who steps in to fix the code when the senior engineers get stuck.
  • Domain Expertise: 3–5 years working within the IC/DoD (Intelligence Community/Dept. of Defense) ecosystem, specifically with systems like Maven or TACMS

Educational Background

  • Master’s Degree or PhD in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, or Mathematics.
    • The requirement to fine-tune models (Llama 3, Mistral) using PyTorch/TensorFlow in air-gapped enclaves requires a deep understanding of hardware constraints and model weights that usually comes from advanced academic or specialized research backgrounds.
  • Experience Substitution: A Bachelor’s degree with an additional 5+ years (totaling 15-20) of high-level engineering experience can often substitute for a Master's, especially if backed by the "Military Equivalency" noted in the description.

Clearance Requirement

  • TS/SCI with CI Poly required

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

May 8, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023.

Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®.

Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos.

Your most important work is ahead, visit careers.leidos.com for our latest opportunities.

Industry
Aviation & Aerospace
Company Size
10,000+ employees
Headquarters
Reston, Virginia
Year Founded
1969
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