Job ID: 720761BR Date posted: Mar. 24, 2026
Description:What happens when artificial intelligence is expected to perform flawlessly - when failure isn’t a bug, but a mission risk?

At Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, the Aero AI team delivers AI into environments where decisions are irreversible, timelines are compressed, and trust must be earned long before the aircraft ever flies. As the Embedded AI Manager, you will lead the functional discipline responsible for on-aircraft AI, the place where AI credibility is proven or lost.

This role exists because the cost of getting AI wrong in flight-critical systems is simply too high. Without strong AI leadership, standards erode, shortcuts creep in, and trust is compromised. Your job is to prevent that. You will set the bar for how AI is developed, evaluated, and relied upon by leading elite AI professionals, establishing clear technical standards, and exercising sound judgment in high-stakes environments.

You are not stepping into a role to build models. You are stepping into a role to define what "good" looks like when AI must work every time. Your leadership will directly influence mission readiness, aircraft survivability, and whether AI is trusted when it matters most.

This is a people-leadership role for an experienced AI professional who operates independently, leads through credibility, and understands that the most meaningful AI impact comes not from writing code, but from shaping decisions, developing people, and protecting the integrity of the system. If you’re ready to move beyond implementation and leave a lasting mark on how AI is responsibly deployed where failure is not an option, this role was built for you.

As the Embedded AI Manager, you will lead the functional organization responsible for embedded, on-aircraft AI capabilities supporting mission-critical aircraft systems. You will manage AI engineers and technical project leads, establish functional technical standards, guide AI technical judgment, and ensure AI solutions meet the rigor required for embedded, flight-critical environments.

This role operates across multiple programs, engineering disciplines, and enterprise stakeholders. AI engineers are functionally managed within Aero AI but are often deployed in support of program objectives. Success requires the ability to lead through influence, establish technical credibility, and navigate competing priorities while maintaining clear functional standards.

This is primarily a people-leadership and functional authority role. There may be select, exception-based situations where direct technical engagement is appropriate for high-risk, novel, or strategically critical AI challenges, but hands-on development is not the norm. On-site presence and active engagement with the development team are required.

Key Responsibilities
* Provide functional leadership for embedded AI efforts supporting flight-critical aircraft systems
* Lead, mentor, and develop AI engineers and technical project leads, including deployed personnel
* Set, maintain, and enforce AI technical standards and judgment within the function
* Guide AI technical direction to ensure stability, performance, and platform suitability
* Partner with program teams to support successful integration without owning program execution
* Exercise sound AI technical judgment in complex trade spaces involving performance, risk, and rigor
* Maintain alignment with enterprise AI ethics, safety, and responsible AI principles
* Own staffing decisions, tooling direction, and functional capability development for embedded AI
* Represent the embedded AI function in enterprise planning, technical reviews, and strategy forums
* Support IRAD and forward-looking investment planning related to on-aircraft AI capabilities
* Coordinate with avionics, mission systems, and engineering stakeholders to ensure integration rigor
* Lead AI teams through the specialized lifecycle of deploying AI in embedded, flight-critical environments
Basic Qualifications:
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field (Master’s degree preferred)
* Demonstrated experience leading AI or machine learning teams with responsibility for technical direction and standards
* Strong foundation in AI/ML systems, including model development, evaluation, and deployment considerations
* Experience applying AI/ML in constrained, real-time, embedded, or safety-critical environments
* Proven people-leadership experience, including mentoring, staffing, and performance development
* Ability to operate independently as a senior AI leader without technical handholding
* Strong cross-functional communication skills in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
Desired Skills:
* Understanding of airworthiness or safety-critical compliance frameworks (e.g., DO-178C, MIL-STD)
* Experience with sensor fusion or onboard decision logic
* Background in AI/ML techniques optimized for constrained or edge environments
* Experience deploying AI on embedded or real-time platforms
* Familiarity with embedded AI toolchains (e.g., TensorRT, ONNX, ROS2 for embedded)
* Exposure to simulation, test, or verification environments (HIL/SIL)
* Experience contributing to IRAD or advanced technology strategy
* Familiarity with secure or cyber-resilient AI architectures
* Systems engineering experience supporting cross-domain integration
* Participation in flight test or verification activities
Security Clearance Statement: This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.
Clearance Level: Secret
Other Important Information You Should Know
Expression of Interest: By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.
Ability to Work Remotely: Onsite Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.
Work Schedules: Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.
Schedule for this Position: 4x10 hour day, 3 days off per week
Lockheed Martin is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.
The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5 - 30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.
At Lockheed Martin, we use our passion for purposeful innovation to help keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work.

With our employees as our priority, we provide diverse career opportunities designed to propel, develop, and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. We place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering an inclusive environment built upon integrity and corporate responsibility.

If this sounds like a culture you connect with, you’re invited to apply for this role. Or, if you are unsure whether your experience aligns with the requirements of this position, we encourage you to search on Lockheed Martin Jobs, and apply for roles that align with your qualifications.
Experience Level: Experienced Professional
Business Unit: AERONAUTICS COMPANY
Relocation Available: Possible
Career Area: Artificial Intelligence
Type: Full-Time
Shift: First