Machine Learning Engineer - Advanced AI and Cognitive Systems at HRL Laboratories

Calabasas, California, United States

HRL Laboratories Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Artificial Intelligence, Research and DevelopmentIndustries

Requirements

  • MS or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Math, Cognitive Science, or related fields
  • 3–5 years of experience in applied ML or AI research, preferably in high-stakes or mission-critical domains
  • Research or development experience in one or more of: Software Engineering (scalable systems, APIs, containerized environments like Docker, Kubernetes); LLMs & NLP (transformer architectures, prompt engineering, fine-tuning, RAG); Human-Machine Interaction (cognitive architectures, user modeling, explainable AI); Data Analytics (data wrangling, feature engineering, statistical modeling using Python); Machine Learning & AI (supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement learning; PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX)
  • Strong interdisciplinary communication and collaboration skills
  • Ability to work in fast-paced, exploratory research environments
  • Curiosity-driven mindset with a passion for solving complex problems
  • U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Security Clearance, or permanent resident status (U.S. Person as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62)

Responsibilities

  • Lead and contribute to research, engineering, and software development in sensor data processing, system adaptation, and intelligent decision-making algorithms
  • Develop and fine-tune large language models (LLMs) and multimodal AI systems to reason over software, documentation, and human feedback
  • Apply cognitive science principles to enhance explainability, trust, and collaborative performance in human-AI systems
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to test and refine solutions in realistic operational scenarios
  • Stay current with emerging trends in ML, AI, and cognitive systems
  • Solve complex customer challenges and contribute to technical proposals
  • Author invention disclosures, research publications, and customer briefings
  • Demonstrate prototypes and support marketing of organizational capabilities

Skills

Python
Docker
Kubernetes
Transformers
Prompt Engineering
Fine-tuning
RAG
XAI
Cognitive Architectures
Data Wrangling
Feature Engineering
Statistical Modeling

HRL Laboratories

Develops cognitive systems for human-machine collaboration

About HRL Laboratories

HRL Laboratories focuses on research and development of advanced cognitive systems and human-machine collaboration, enhancing human cognitive abilities through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The company develops solutions like the ICArUS project, which improves machine interpretation of information, and the MEMES project, aimed at enhancing human memory. HRL operates on a project-based model, serving clients in defense and high-tech sectors by delivering customized solutions and licensing technologies. The goal is to lead in creating cognitive systems that improve the interaction between humans and machines.

Malibu, CaliforniaHeadquarters
1997Year Founded
$1.9MTotal Funding
GRANTCompany Stage
AI & Machine Learning, DefenseIndustries
501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Gym Membership
Paid Vacation

Risks

Competition in quantum technologies could challenge HRL's market position.
Rapid AI advancements by competitors may outpace HRL's cognitive systems projects.
Reliance on government contracts poses risks if funding priorities change.

Differentiation

HRL Laboratories excels in cognitive systems enhancing human-machine collaboration.
The company is a leader in AI-driven defense projects and autonomous systems.
HRL's MEMES project focuses on advanced memory enhancement technologies.

Upsides

Growing interest in neuromorphic computing aligns with HRL's cognitive systems focus.
Increased funding for AI-driven defense projects benefits HRL's autonomous systems work.
Energy-efficient data center trends support HRL's cooling system innovations.

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