Principal Research Scientist

At Two Six Technologies, we build, deploy, and implement innovative products that solve the world’s most complex challenges today. Through unrivaled collaboration and unwavering trust, we push the boundaries of what’s possible to empower our team and support our customers in building a safer global future.

Two Six Technologies is seeking a Principal Research Scientist to lead technical program delivery and drive business development in new R&D projects in AI/ML, applied statistics, and advanced analytics. Applications may include grey‑zone conflict, economics, cybersecurity, cognitive modeling, counter‑adversarial AI, and broader DoD challenges. Candidates will deliver technical excellence while identifying, pursuing, and winning new work for the team, and stewarding existing projects to successful delivery.

Experience and customer relations in other domains are strongly encouraged.

Onsite, Arlington, Virginia.

• Act as technical lead on interdisciplinary projects; mentor junior team members on both technical and non‑technical skills.
• Serve as a technical expert in AI, statistical, and analytics methodologies on a variety of programs and proposals.
• Identify, shape, and propose AI and advanced analytics programs, building trusted relationships with sponsors, leading technical writing, and developing innovative solutions.

• Prior experience building capabilities that could support grey‑zone conflict or economic statecraft.
• Building predictive machine learning models for time‑series data.
• Mastery of several AI/ML and statistical subfields; demonstrated ability to reason over tradeoffs when choosing modeling approaches.
• Experience innovating with foundational model tools for rapid research acceleration.
• Ability to write and review R, Python, or SQL code; fluency with git, CI/CD practices.
• Experience winning and delivering new R&D programs while growing new capabilities within a team.
• Significant relationships with key personnel in DARPA, other DoD research agencies, and broader sponsors.
• Experience developing and writing solutions for customers in a wide range of domains and applications.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and business units to bring AI and analytics solutions to support organizational capabilities and needs.
• Ten or more years of professional experience in CS, mathematics, statistics or related field.
• Experience leading AI/analytics researchers (including PhDs), practitioners, and software engineers on government contracts.
• Experience in project planning, agile development, and sprint management methods.
• Strong and flexible communication that adapts to specific audiences.
• Works well and fosters a culture of respect, curiosity, humility and excellence.
• Active Top Secret with SCI‑eligible security clearance.

• Advanced degree and/or publications in CS, mathematics, statistics or related field.
• Experience working with ISR data and maritime track data.
• Experience integrating with Maven Smart System.
• Intellectual curiosity across multiple domains and demonstrated success applying analytics to novel mission areas.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

• Active Top Secret / SCI‑eligible security clearance.

Salary range: $150,000 – $230,000 USD per year. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement plan, paid leave, tuition assistance, and professional development.

Two Six Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, or protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The company uses E‑Verify in its hiring practices.