WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR (POSITION OVERVIEW):

Spry Methods is seeking a mission-driven Senior Data Scientist with deep expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support high-impact national security and intelligence efforts. This role is ideal for candidates who combine technical excellence in AI/ML, strategic thinking, and a commitment to public service. You’ll be driving the application of symbolic reasoning, machine learning, and adversarial modeling to national defense, cyber threat prediction, and decision support systems.
If you are PhD-trained in AI, bring military, defense, or FBI experience, and are passionate about applying cutting-edge AI to the most consequential challenges of our time, we want to meet you.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED (MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS):

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• Masters or PHD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related field (focus on symbolic AI, logic programming, or adversarial ML strongly preferred).

• 5+ years of experience applying AI or data science in mission-critical environments, ideally in national security, defense, or intelligence sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to apply machine learning and AI to cybersecurity, threat modeling, or decision-making under uncertainty.
• Experience working with classified environments or prior service in a government agency (e.g., DARPA, FBI, DHS) or military branch.
• Proficiency in Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, and data engineering frameworks.

IDEALLY, YOU ALSO HAVE (PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS):

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• Former U.S. military officer or direct experience supporting federal R&D efforts.

• Recognized contributions to AI safety, trustworthy ML, or national AI strategy (e.g., participation in federal commissions, publications, or policy frameworks).
• Founder or contributor to AI-focused research labs, startups, or think tanks advancing public-sector AI.
• Recipient of awards or distinctions in AI, cyber, or defense innovation.
  

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• Design, develop, and deploy advanced AI/ML models focused on national security, intelligence, and cyber operations.

• Lead research and prototyping efforts involving symbolic reasoning, logic-based AI, temporal modeling, and hybrid systems.
• Partner with investigators and mission analysts to understand operational challenges and translate them into technical AI solutions.
• Leverage large-scale datasets (including unstructured data, dark web intel, and network traffic) to forecast, detect, and mitigate security threats.
• Contribute to strategic technology roadmaps, federal AI policy discussions, and ethical deployment of AI in government settings.