Principal Network Systems Researcher

STR
Arlington, VA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at senior researchers with advanced degrees and networking expertise who can lead cross-functional teams in national security-related projects.

Best fit for

  • Senior researchers with advanced degrees in ML or CS and experience leading teams in national security projects
    — “12+ years experience with a BS, 10+ years experience with an MS, or 5+ years experience with a PhD”
  • Candidates with deep knowledge of networking theories and real-world implementation across the OSI stack
    — “Experienced with networking/communications theory per the OSI stack model”

Things to consider

  • U.S. citizenship is required to obtain and maintain a security clearance
    — “Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, for which U.S citizenship is needed by the U.S government”
  • This role likely involves long-term commitment due to the high standards of quality and reuse expected
    — “We expect the tools and techniques you develop and deliver to meet high standards of quality, maintainability, and reuse”

How to stand out

  • Emphasize experience leading teams to deliver deployable systems in high-stakes environments
    — “Work closely with and lead dedicated research and engineering teams to develop innovative solutions to complex networking problems”
  • Highlight projects that demonstrate SOTA deep learning application in real-world scenarios
    — “Experienced in using SOTA machine learning to solve real world problems across both resource-constrained edge and resource-rich network core environments”
  • Showcase work with multi-party code bases and LLM-enabled tools if applicable
    — “Experience writing software using a large multi-party code base”
  • Demonstrate knowledge of protocol layers and 5G systems through relevant project work
    — “Experience with developing software at the PHY, MAC, Network, or Application protocol layers”
  • Include examples of business development success with DoW / IC customers if available
    — “Experience with and a history of success in business development with DoW / IC customers”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Developing and delivery of novel software and hardware systems
  • Collaborating with a diverse team that includes academics and industry partners
Typical background
PhD in Machine Learning or Computer ScienceExperience with SOTA machine learning

Skills & requirements

Required

Deep LearningNetworking ExpertiseSystems EngineeringCollaboration SkillsSoftware Engineering PrinciplesVersion Control

Preferred

Llm-enabled Coding ToolsHigh-level Software Architecture Design5G System Development

Stack & domain

Deep LearningNetworkingSystems EngineeringData AnalysisStatistical TechniquesNetworking/communications TheoryUnsupervised And Semi-supervised LearningSoftware Design PatternsVersion Control (git)Collaboration Tools (jira, Confluence)CollaborationLeadershipNational SecurityMachine Learning

About the role

Original posting from STR via Greenhouse

About the Team: 

STR’s Intelligence Division researches and develops advanced analytics and machine learning-based solutions to solve challenging problems related to national security. Our team consists of passionate and motivated engineers with advanced degrees in engineering, computer science, mathematics, and data science, who are seeking opportunities to use their deep technical knowledge and creativity to tackle some of the hardest problems that our customers face. Our projects span data analysis, deep learning, and statistical techniques across networking, communications, social media, text, time series, geospatial, and imagery data. We operate under challenging constraints not typically found in the commercial world. The tools and technologies we develop have real world impact and US Government analysts use them to extract and enrich intelligence information around the globe. 

The Role: 

As a Principal Network Systems Researcher, you will utilize State of the Art (SOTA) deep learning methods, networking expertise, and systems engineering skills to work with disparate and unlabeled data sources and advanced real-time data communications and networking solutions. You will collaborate with a diverse team of people that includes software engineers, algorithm developers and academics. Your work will leverage cutting-edge learning techniques and demonstrably improve networked systems for real-life scenarios. We expect the tools and techniques you develop and deliver to meet high standards of quality, maintainability, and reuse, so sound software engineering principles and software testing methodologies is important. 

What you will do: 

Work closely with and lead dedicated research and engineering teams to develop innovative solutions to complex networking problems

Understand customer intent and efficiently decompose tasks for team execution

Developing and delivery of novel software and hardware systems that span research, development, and deployable production systems

Collaborate with a diverse team that includes academics and industry partners

Collaborate with technologists and business leaders within the organization for business development and capture 

Who you are: 

Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, for which U.S citizenship is needed by the U.S government

BS, MS, of PhD in Machine Learning or Computer Science or related Engineering discipline

12+ years experience with a BS, 10+ years experience with an MS, or 5+ years experience with a PhD

Experienced in using SOTA machine learning to solve real world problems across both resource-constrained edge and resource-rich network core environments

Experienced with networking/communications theory per the OSI stack model

Working knowledge of unsupervised and semi-supervised learning techniques

Working knowledge of software design patterns and industry best practices, including version control (Git) and collaboration tools (JIRA, Confluence, or related) 

Even Better: 

Active security clearance

Experience writing software using a large multi-party code base

Experience with developing software using LLM-enabled coding tools (e.g. Cursor, Codex)

Experience with high-level software architecture design

Experience developing software at the PHY, MAC, Network, or Application protocol layers

Experience with 5G system development, testing, and evaluation

Experience with protocol analysis

Experience with and a history of success in business development with DoW / IC customers 

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $230,000 - $280,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, Carlsbad, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.

STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at appassist@str.us and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.

Source: STR careers (Greenhouse)

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