AI-Native Software Engineering Researcher
At a glance
Mid-level AI Research role at Cmu (SEI). Pittsburgh · full-time · no salary stated · we estimate $135,000–$232,000 across the United States.
Cmu (SEI) has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
aimlroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Research how AI can address software engineering challenges at industry and government scale, then apply the findings with those teams
- Assess AI models and coding agents, and develop measures organizations can use to track and improve AI use in development
- Find workflow gaps behind technical debt, weak architecture choices or repeated rework, then develop better practices
- Create agents or agent-based workflows and study ways to manage AI costs, including context and token use
- Share research with engineering teams and the wider software engineering community, including through peer-reviewed publications
What you bring
- A PhD and at least two years of experience
- A record of using research methods to tackle difficult problems and publishing in leading peer-reviewed venues
- Strong software engineering fundamentals and the ability to explain complex technical ideas clearly
- Experience proposing research projects through funding proposals or pitches, and collaborating with colleagues and sponsors
Who this fits
This role suits a researcher who can apply AI to large-scale software engineering work and help shape technical direction. You’ll mentor junior colleagues and work with engineering teams, researchers, sponsors and data scientists. The position is based in Pittsburgh, requires travel of up to twenty-five percent, and requires obtaining and maintaining a Department of War security clearance after a background investigation.
From the employer
The future of software engineering is AI-native. Our team works to shape that future through pioneering research, practical engineering methods, and close collaboration with government, industry, and academia.
At the AI-Native Software Engineering Directorate, we focus on how today's engineering teams can quickly exploit emerging technologies and harness AI capabilities to create and evolve software quickly without losing fundamental software qualities.
To address this new world, we :
- study and guide industry and government teams’ use of AI in software engineering
- distill best practices and lessons from experiments and experience to shape AI-native software engineering
- pilot and transition improvements with organizations and measure their success
- create novel agents and agentic workflows to support software engineering
- apply AI to accelerate architecture-scale modernization
- help organizations establish AI-native software engineering practices
- guide organizations in evolving their software with architecture and AI-native approaches
Our overarching goal is to create new workflows and tools that enable AI-paced delivery of software without loss of quality. We're seeking candidates with a demonstrated track record who are motivated to shape AI-native software engineering.
AI-Native Software Engineering Researcher
As an AI-Native Software Engineering Researcher, you will focus on conducting research in application of AI to industry and government scale software engineering problems, applying your research in government and industry settings, and disseminating results to engineering teams and the broader research and software engineering community. You will help shape our AI-Native Software Engineering strategy through exploration of challenges such as:
- assessing the rapidly changing capabilities of AI models and coding agents
- establishing metrics that help organizations understand their use of AI in development and guiding them through improvements
- identifying gaps in AI workflows that result in unnecessarily poor outcomes (e.g., excessive technical debt, bad architecture decisions, or frequent rework loops)
- creating novel agents or agentic workflows
- creating or adapting practices and workflows to embed software engineering discipline
- studying the cost implications of AI and developing strategies for more efficient use of AI (e.g., context management, token management, and balancing use of AI with non-AI approaches)
You will have the opportunity to work with world class software engineers, researchers, and data scientists working on national and global scale problems.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Comprehensive knowledge of software engineering fundamentals
- Ability to keep up with and adapt to rapidly changing technical advances
- A track record of conducting research and applying scientific methods to solve difficult problems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to convey complex technical ideas in a layperson’s terms
- Demonstrated track record publishing in top tier peer-reviewed venues
- Strong collaboration skills for working with colleagues and sponsors
- Proficiency in writing funding proposals or pitching ideas for new research projects
- Willingness and ability to guide and mentor junior team members
Requirements
- A PhD with at least two (2) years of experience.
- You will be subject to a background investigation and you must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance.
- Willing to travel up to 25% of the time to locations outside of your home location. Travel sites include SEI offices in Washington, D.C., sponsor sites, and conferences.
Desired Experience
- Experience leading research projects in novel areas
- Successful application of AI to improve research or software engineering progress
- Experience working with software engineering teams on large industry or government projects
- Experience working with leadership to plan, develop, and deliver an overall technical strategy
Location
Pittsburgh, PAJob Function
Software/Applications Development/EngineeringPosition Type
Staff – RegularFull time/Part time
Full timePay Basis
SalaryMore Information:
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