Summary
As an AI Researcher at NSA, you will investigate, characterize, and extend what AI systems can do for the mission. The work spans rigorous evaluation and method development (benchmarking, training approaches, model analysis) through applied prototyping that turns emerging capabilities into working tools. You may be assigned to a research organization, embedded with a mission element, or enrolled in a development program that rotates you through several.
Duties
AI Research at NSA is a specialized discipline that intersects machine learning, experimental science, and software prototyping. AI Researchers answer open questions about AI system behavior, develop the methods and adaptations that make those systems effective under Agency data and constraints, and build the prototypes that demonstrate new capabilities. Individual researchers lean toward evaluation, method development, or applied prototyping based on background and assignment; most projects draw on all three. Responsibilities include:
- Design and run experiments that characterize AI system capability, behavior, and failure modes; build benchmarks and evaluation methodology where none exist.
- Develop training, fine-tuning, retrieval, and inference techniques suited to Agency data, scale, and security constraints.
- Prototype novel AI applications and agentic systems that put emerging capabilities in analysts' hands, and iterate them based on user feedback.
- Investigate model internals, robustness, and safety, including how AI systems can be attacked, manipulated, or induced to fail.
- Assess vendor, open-source, and internally developed AI systems against government baselines and mission requirements.
- Track the external state of the art and provide critical, evidence-based assessments of new models and techniques.
- Communicate results through technical reports, briefings, prototypes, and internal publications; mentor junior researchers and interns.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.
Qualifications
ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL
Entry is with an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree and no experience, or a Master's degree and no experience. Additional experience may also include research and/or development in any technical area.
FULL PERFORMANCE
Entry is with an Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience. Additional experience may also include research and/or development in any technical area.
SENIOR
Entry is with an Associate's degree plus 8 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience. Experience must also include research and/or development in AI.
EXPERT
Entry is with an Associate's degree plus 11 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 9 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 5 years of relevant experience. Experience must also include research and/or development in AI and experience in leading people or projects.
Education
The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.
Degrees must be in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Applied Statistics, Operations Research, Engineering, Computational Linguistics, Quantitative Finance, or Physical or Biological Sciences; all degrees must include coursework in linear algebra, multivariable (vector) calculus, and programming.
Relevant experience must include one or more of the following: deep learning, neural networks, generative AI, or computer vision.
Additional information
Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.
Salary Range: $87,362 - $197,200 (Entry/Developmental, Full Performance, Senior, Expert) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.
Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience. Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
AI/ML
- Deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow)
- Transformer architectures, large language models, and multi-modal systems
- Model training, fine-tuning, and parameter-efficient adaptation; preference optimization (RLHF/DPO)
- Retrieval-augmented generation, agentic architectures, and tool use
- Inference and serving stacks (vLLM, Ollama, TGI); quantization (GGUF, AWQ, GPTQ) Research & Evaluation - Experimental design: controls, baselines, ablations, threat-to-validity analysis - Applied statistics: significance testing, confidence intervals, power analysis, effect size - Evaluation methodology: metric design, adversarial and held-out test-set construction, human evaluation protocols - Model analysis: probing, attribution, interpretability, behavior and representation analysis - AI robustness and safety: prompt injection, adversarial inputs, data leakage and memorization
- Critical reading of the ML research literature Mathematics & Computing
- Linear algebra, probability, optimization, information theory, statistical inference, numerical methods
- Python and the scientific stack; version control and collaborative development
- Containerization
- Rapid prototyping of AI applications (Python, FastAPI, Gradio/Streamlit, web fundamentals)
- Reproducible research practice: experiment tracking, environment and dependency management Communication & Domain
- Technical writing, briefing, and presenting to technical and non-technical audiences
- Domain grounding (developed on the job): NLP, speech, vision, cybersecurity, HCI, or geospatial as assignment requires
Required Documents
The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you may be asked to submit documents verifying your eligibility.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.