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United States
Onsite
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an AI/ML Modeling Team Lead based in the United States.
The AI/ML Modeling Team Lead will guide the development and delivery of advanced predictive modeling solutions supporting critical U.S. Air Force maintenance operations. Working within the Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) program, you will lead a team responsible for transforming aircraft maintenance records and real-time sensor data into actionable intelligence. Your work will help forecast component failures, optimize maintenance schedules, improve aircraft availability, and reduce operational downtime. Operating within the Advana environment, you will ensure that AI/ML solutions are scalable, explainable, well-governed, and aligned with mission requirements. This role combines technical leadership, agile delivery management, and close collaboration with data engineers, software developers, and military stakeholders. It offers an opportunity to apply advanced analytics to high-impact national defense missions.
As the AI/ML Modeling Team Lead, you will oversee the modeling team's technical execution, establish consistent development practices, and ensure that predictive solutions meet operational objectives and enterprise standards.
Lead day-to-day modeling team activities, including task prioritization, sprint planning, peer reviews, and coordination across technical and operational teams.
Translate strategic mission objectives, operational challenges, and stakeholder requirements into clearly defined modeling specifications, assumptions, and acceptance criteria.
Provide technical and architectural guidance on modeling methodologies, feature engineering, data inputs, validation approaches, and performance tradeoffs.
Ensure that developed models are reliable, explainable, scalable, and appropriate for their intended operational applications.
Review modeling pipelines, technical documentation, and analytical deliverables to maintain quality, consistency, and compliance with enterprise data governance standards.
Collaborate with data engineers, software developers, product owners, and U.S. Air Force stakeholders to integrate models into scalable production pipelines and enterprise platforms.
Identify technical dependencies, resource constraints, delivery risks, and potential blockers, developing mitigation strategies and communicating them to program leadership.
Mentor data scientists and analysts, promoting engineering best practices and establishing repeatable modeling frameworks.
Champion disciplined version control, technical documentation, model validation, and consistent development standards.
Support the integration of historical aircraft maintenance records with real-time sensor telematics to develop predictive insights into component failures and fleet readiness.
Requirements
The ideal candidate combines strong machine learning and data science expertise with proven technical leadership and the ability to translate complex analytical concepts into practical solutions for mission-driven environments.
Active security clearance: Current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance is mandatory. Applicants without an active Secret clearance will not be considered.
Professional experience: At least 6 years of progressive experience in data science, advanced analytics, or machine learning, including leadership of technical projects or multidisciplinary teams.
Data strategy: Demonstrated experience using data products and analytical solutions to inform operational strategies and deliver measurable business or mission outcomes.
Agile leadership: Proven ability to manage technical workflows in collaborative agile development environments, such as Scrum or Kanban.
Stakeholder communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex AI/ML methodologies, validation results, and technical concepts to non-technical operational leaders.
Technical platforms: Solid working knowledge of modern data platforms, cloud architectures, and analytics visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
Education: Master's degree in a quantitative discipline, such as Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or Business Analytics, or equivalent practical experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Direct experience with the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) War Data Platform (WDP), Advana, or the U.S. Air Force BLADE analytics environment.
Knowledge of Department of Defense maintenance operations, defense logistics, supply chain management, aviation telemetry, or Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+).
Hands-on experience managing the complete modeling lifecycle, including data cleaning, model design, validation, calibration, hyperparameter tuning, and production documentation.
Strong understanding of enterprise data governance, data lineage, and automated data quality validation frameworks.
Relevant professional certifications, such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), or cloud and data architecture certifications.
Benefits
Annual base salary: $140,000–$170,000, depending on relevant experience, education, certifications, skills, security clearance level, geographic location, market conditions, and internal equity.
Eligibility for a comprehensive employee benefits package.
Potential eligibility for performance-based or other incentive compensation, where applicable.
Opportunity to lead advanced AI/ML initiatives supporting critical U.S. national defense missions.
Professional development opportunities through collaboration with multidisciplinary technical and operational teams.
