Senior Staff AI/ML Engineer – Air Vehicle Systems
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Job Responsibilities
Description:What if the next leap in air dominance doesn’t come from a single breakthrough, but from hundreds of smarter decisions, made faster, across engineering, testing, and operations?
At Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, our Aero AI team builds trusted artificial intelligence that strengthens deterrence, accelerates engineering insight, and directly supports the warfighter. We don’t chase AI for its own sake. We apply it deliberately, where it meaningfully improves performance, survivability, and decision advantage.
This role is for a senior, self-directed AI professional who can operate with a high degree of autonomy. Someone who doesn’t wait to be handed a problem, but instead seeks out opportunity, determines where AI adds value (and where it doesn’t), and delivers end-to-end solutions with minimal oversight.
You'll work alongside air vehicle engineers to elevate how aircraft are designed, tested, sustained, and operated while also enabling intelligent onboard capabilities such as health management, autonomy support, and decision augmentation. If you're energized by ownership, trust, and real mission impact, and you’re comfortable being given the reins and expected to run, this role was built for you.
This role supports the Air Vehicle Engineering function by independently identifying, scoping, and executing AI/ML solutions that streamline engineering workflows and enable intelligent onboard capabilities. The engineer is expected to operate with limited direction, framing problems, assessing AI suitability, and delivering results across the full lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities Include:
* Independently identify, scope, and execute AI opportunities across engineering workflows and onboard systems, including determining when AI is not the appropriate solution
* Design, develop, test, and deploy AI/ML models optimized for real-time or resource-constrained environments
* Collaborate with air vehicle engineering teams to understand problem spaces and identify opportunities for efficiency, insight, or automation
* Engage across line-of-business (LOB) teams to prototype and pilot AI-enhanced workflows
* Develop AI-based approaches for anomaly detection, decision support, or health management
* Work with embedded systems, vehicle software, and autonomy-focused teams to integrate AI solutions
* Conduct experiments using flight test data, onboard telemetry, simulation environments, and engineering datasets
* Ensure algorithmic performance meets constraints related to compute, power, latency, and reliability
* Communicate technical tradeoffs, risks, and outcomes clearly to engineering and AI leadership
* Contribute to IRAD efforts, capability roadmaps, and portfolio expansion through hands-on technical delivery
* Mentor other engineers as needed and serve as technical lead for small, project-focused teams
Basic Qualifications:
* Proficiency in Python and C++ for AI/ML development
* Demonstrated experience developing and deploying AI/ML solutions end-to-end with minimal supervision
* Strong understanding of supervised and unsupervised learning techniques
* Experience with modern ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX)
* Demonstrated ability to independently assess problem spaces and determine whether AI is an appropriate solution
* Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
* Active Secret clearance (minimum)
* Strong communication skills and ability to work directly with engineers across multiple disciplines
Desired Skills:
* Experience applying AI to complex engineered systems (aerospace, robotics, autonomy, or similar domains)
* Familiarity with perception systems, sensor fusion, or data-driven anomaly detection
* Experience deploying AI to embedded or operational environments
* Understanding of air vehicle engineering lifecycle, from design through test, integration, and sustainment
* Exposure to AI verification, explainability, or safety-critical considerations
* Experience collaborating across functional organizations and LOB teams
* Familiarity with human-systems integration (HSI) concepts
* Prior contribution to IRAD, technology roadmapping, or new capability incubation
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
About
At Lockheed Martin, we apply our passion for purposeful innovation to keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges.
Pioneering Defense Technology: From aerospace to outer space to cyber space, you can innovate mission solutions alongside the best minds in the business.
United By Culture: Excellence, integrity, and collaboration define us. We accelerate change and embrace one another’s perspectives to win for our customers.
Real Impact, Real Growth: Grow your career and skills for life. Our wide array of opportunities and technology-driven learning programs enable your development and agility.
Your Health, Your Wealth, Your Life: Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and flexible schedules designed so you thrive — at work and beyond.
Empowered to Be Your Best: Use your strengths to make a difference in the lives of one another, our customers, our communities, and our planet.
Here, the possibilities are endless because we offer:
- Flexible Schedules, dependent on role
- Levels: Student, Entry, Mid, Senior, Management
- Locations: Nationwide & OCONUS Positions
Qualifications
See what it takes to be a successful Lockheed Martin employee.
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Collaborative
There is no innovation without imagination. You bring new, different and exciting ideas to the table every day. You are committed to the success of your team.
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Curious
The ability to explore and drive new ideas. You think innovatively to come up with creative solutions to complex challenges.
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Goal-oriented
From planning and organizing to decision making, goal orientation produces impactful results. You set goals and strive to make things happen quickly and efficiently.
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Proactive
The ability to anticipate, plan and prepare for what lies ahead. You act rather than react to potential situations.
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Problem Solver
You work to tackle tough problems with complex solutions.
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Strategic
You observe, reflect and analyze processes to make more informed decisions.
Quote
“Before I came to Lockheed Martin, I never thought I’d get these opportunities. The benefits available and the company’s value culture make it an incredibly supportive place to work, and I’m grateful to work somewhere that wants me to succeed. I hope to have a long career here making an impact, and I know I’ll be supported in doing that every step of the way.”
Ryan J., Enterprise Operations
Benefits
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Healthcare
Medical, Dental and Vision coverage is available for employees who opt-in.
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401(k)/Retirement Plans
Our 401(k) plan features generous matching and company contributions.
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Professional Development
We support our employees through mentoring, internal & external educational programs, networking, skills enhancement and career-building programs.
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Maternity and Paternity Leave
Our generous parental leave policies support your journey into parenthood. When you return to work, our facilities offer mother's rooms to support your transition and work/life balance.
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Paid Time Off
We offer PTO, paid holidays and paid time off for jury duty and military obligations.
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Flex-time
Depending on the position, we offer flexible work schedules.
