Autonomy Research Engineer

Apply now Job No: 503295
Work Type: Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater)
Location: Dayton, OH
Category: Research Institute Staff
Department: SPIRE - 250641
Pay Grade: R4 - Exempt
Advertised: February 10, 2026
Applications close: February 24, 2026

UDRI is looking for an Autonomy Research Engineer to join the SPIRE group. You will contribute to a growing team responsible for cutting‑edge technology and enhancing AI, autonomy and data exploitation capabilities and effectiveness. An ideal candidate will be excited at the prospect of technical research, development and implementation of state‑of‑the‑art AI/ML techniques and will enjoy a focus on the execution of these capabilities in challenging, operationally relevant environments.

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of 8 years related work experience
• Active US SECRET or higher clearance
• Successful professional experience programming in Python or other similar language
• Understanding and professional experience with current Air Force R&D efforts in the area of Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy and Machine Learning with a focus on aerial combat
• Professional experience with Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms and the CoRL software environment
• Professional experience with autonomous control systems
• Professional experience with source code version control systems such as Git
• U.S. citizenship (required because of federal research contracts)

• Master's degree (or higher) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science
• Enthusiastic, motivated, self‑starting individual with a willingness to learn new skills (e.g., evaluating new AI/ML and autonomy capabilities; finding and fostering technical connections between projects and technologies)
• Demonstrated, effective leadership and team management experience
• Demonstrated, effective ability to teach and mentor junior engineers
• Demonstrated, effective interpersonal skills

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.