Full-Time

FPGA AI/ML Engineer

Posted on 5/28/2026

Deadline 5/6/27
Riverside Research

Riverside Research

501-1,000 employees

Not-for-profit defense-focused scientific research

Compensation Overview

$140k - $160k/yr

No H1B Sponsorship

Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA

In Person

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
AI & Machine Learning (1)
Required Skills
Verilog
Python
Software Testing
Git
Pytorch
VHDL
C/C++
FPGA
Requirements
  • TS/SCI clearance.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, or related field of study.
  • Five years’ experience including FPGA development.
  • Seven years' experience with computer vision and/or AI/ML R&D algorithm development.
  • Experience with Git version control, branches, and merge conflict resolution.
  • Proficient in collaborative Office 365 tools such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Ability to work closely with subject-matter experts to develop tools, algorithms, and datasets needed for developing relevant and useful AI/ML prototype algorithms.
Responsibilities
  • Design, implement, and optimize FPGA logic using AMD/Xilinx toolchains (Vivado, Vitis, HLS) development in VHDL/Verilog.
  • Integrate FPGA designs into larger systems, ensuring robust verification, documentation, and deployment across multiple platforms (Zynq, UltraScale+, Versal).
  • Develop innovative machine learning and computer vision solutions to analyze and exploit large, complex datasets from remote sensing phenomenology.
  • Develop algorithms and associated software tools using C/C++/Python and associated machine learning libraries (PyTorch, LibTorch).
  • Train AI/ML models and tune their hyperparameters for a given dataset and algorithm objectives.
  • Provide solutions for data collection and data linting that enable rapid, automated curation of training data.
  • Keep up with the SoTA practices for AI/ML.
  • Adhere to teams’ standards for reviewing source code, unit-testing, source code control, and documentation practices.
  • Utilize Python PEP8 standards.
Desired Qualifications
  • Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, a Physical Science or Engineering is strongly desired.
  • Experience with DoD intelligence production processes and workflows.
  • 3+ years operational experience in radar signal processing analysis, overhead imagery analysis, orbital mechanics, and/or electronic warfare data analysis.
  • 2+ years experience using data visualization tools and libraries in Python.
  • Experience with large (1 GB +) image data and formats such as HDF5, JSON, GEOTIFF, TFRecords, etc.
  • Experience in development of distributed, web-based systems, service-oriented architectures, front-end user interfaces, and back-end databases are a plus.
  • Experience with interpretability of deep learning computer vision models including visualization and reasoning about model latent spaces and activation maps to assess model effectiveness / weaknesses.
  • Familiarity in differences of supervised learning vs. unsupervised learning techniques.

Riverside Research is a not-for-profit scientific research organization that supports the U.S. Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. It conducts independent research and development across Centers of Excellence such as Biomedical Engineering, Cyber, Electromagnetic Sciences, and ISR, using modeling, simulation, assessment, and program management to produce mission-focused analyses and capabilities. The company differentiates itself through independent, objective, defense- and IC-aligned work without commercial product pressure, spanning multiple technical domains rather than a single product line. Its goal is to advance national security by delivering rigorous research and trusted technical solutions for defense and intelligence needs.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$8.7M

Headquarters

Lexington, Kentucky

Founded

1967

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Plexus partnership speeds secure hardware prototyping and manufacturing.
  • Raveneye supports Army operations through commercial infrastructure in denied environments.
  • Cog Systems acquisition strengthens secure virtualization for mobile and IoT devices.

What critics are saying

  • Heavy dependence on DoD and Intelligence Community programs concentrates revenue risk.
  • Hardware partnerships face certification delays and manufacturing overruns.
  • Space and AI programs depend on third-party data and rapid technical obsolescence.

What makes Riverside Research unique

  • Independent nonprofit serving U.S. defense and intelligence missions.
  • Deep technical centers span cyber, radar, ISR, and secure systems.
  • Combines IRAD with mission support and engineering for government customers.

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Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, & vision plan

403(b) Retirement Plan

Non-contributory Retirement Plan

Flexible Spending Plan

Long-term Care Plan

Generous PTO

Parental Leave

Military Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment

Identity Theft Protection

Life Insurance

Short & long-term Disability

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-6%

1 year growth

-6%

2 year growth

-6%
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Riverside Research Acquires Cog Systems to Strengthen Cyber Resilience and Secure Virtualization Capabilities

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