Cyber AI/ML Research Scientist

Peraton Labs is seeking a self-motivated Cyber AI/ML Research Scientist with a strong foundation in cybersecurity technologies, computer networks, and AI/ML to help design and deliver next-generation network-based defensive capabilities. This role focuses on the research, prototyping, and evaluation of AI-enabled cyber detection and modeling of cyber phenomena using techniques such as DNNs, transformer-based models, and agentic AI-assisted approaches.

You will work with a small team of research scientists to investigate challenging problems, develop novel models and software prototypes, and demonstrate performance through testbed-based evaluation. The ideal candidate thrives in an environment where they can independently drive technical work while communicating results clearly through presentations and written technical documents.

Key responsibilities may include:

Conduct applied research on AI-enabled cyber defense approaches, including detection, modeling, and characterization of cyber behaviors and phenomena
• Design and implement prototypes that operationalize research into usable capabilities
• Develop and evaluate models using deep learning and transformer-based approaches, and explore agentic AI-assisted methods for analysis, workflow automation, and experimentation
• Work with network and cyber data modalities (e.g., flow, packet, host telemetry, logs)
• Build repeatable experiments and conduct rigorous evaluation in controlled testbeds, including performance measurement, ablations, and robustness testing
• Work with teammates to translate customer needs into technical approaches, balancing novelty with feasibility and deployability
• Produce high-quality technical documentation, briefings and presentations, and contribute to reports, proposals, whitepapers, and publications
• Maintain strong system hygiene: Linux-based development, version control, containers, reproducibility, and clean software practices
• Learn and integrate new tools/technologies quickly to keep pace with evolving customer needs and emerging research

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of MS with 6+ years of experience or PhD with 3+ YoE in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or closely related field, with exposure to cyber, networks, and machine learning.
• Demonstrated understanding of cyber concepts including TTPs and the cyber lifecycle (e.g., intrusion phases, detection/response considerations)
• Strong networking fundamentals: IP stack, network configuration concepts, routing/switching basics, protocol layering, and network architecture/layout
• Hands-on experience with ML tooling such a PyTorch, TensorFlow, and/or scikit-learn
• Strong software development skills in Python and/or C/C++
• Proficiency with Linux, Git, and Docker
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (technical presentations + well-structured documentation)
• Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and deliver tangible outputs in a research environment
• US Citizenship is a requirement for this position

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience applying ML to cybersecurity or network analytics, such as intrusion detection, anomaly detection, malware/behavioral modeling, or cyber deception/defense concepts
• Experience with network/security telemetry sources
• Direct experience with transformer models, representation learning, or foundation/LLM-adjacent methods applied to cyber workflows
• Familiarity with agentic workflows and safe evaluation approaches
• Knowledge of adversarial ML / robustness, data poisoning considerations, model security, or operational constraints of ML in defensive environments
• History of peer-reviewed publications, patents, open-source contributions, or evidence of research impact
• Experience working within controlled lab/testbed environments

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.