Senior Research Scientist - Advanced Systems

Responsibilities

Peraton Labs is seeking a poly cleared Senior Research Scientist to support cleared research and development efforts for a Maryland-based IC customer. This role will focus on designing, developing, integrating, and enhancing advanced research prototype systems across mission-focused application, analytics, real-time processing, data, and software-enabled environments.

The ideal candidate for this role is a senior hands-on software researcher or prototype engineer who can translate customer needs into working capabilities, develop complex software prototypes, integrate existing systems, and help guide technical execution across small research teams. Candidates should be comfortable working in fast-moving R&D environments where requirements evolve, technical approaches must be tested quickly, and prototypes must be built with enough rigor to demonstrate operational value.

This position requires full-time on-site work at a customer site near College Park, MD.

Key responsibilities may include

Design, develop, test, and enhance advanced software prototypes for mission-focused research programs

Analyze customer requirements and translate them into prototype architectures, performance standards, software designs, and technical implementation plans

Develop new software or modify existing software to improve functionality, performance, reliability, and usability

Build prototype applications involving analytics, real-time systems, data processing, workflow tools, mission applications, or business/operational management systems

Develop complex algorithms, database interfaces, APIs, data queries, and backend services to meet functional and performance requirements

Integrate existing software, COTS/GOTS tools, open-source components, and custom research prototypes into new or modified operating environments

Debug software, resolve defects, improve system performance, and support prototype demonstrations

Develop and execute test procedures to validate prototype components against design and mission requirements

Collaborate with system engineers, hardware engineers, researchers, subcontractors, and customer stakeholders to refine requirements and ensure operational specifications are met

Provide input on system design decisions, including hardware/software tradeoffs, software reuse, COTS/GOTS integration, scalability, maintainability, and deployment approach

Support software development workflows using tools such as GitHub/GitLab, Jenkins, CI/CD pipelines, Agile processes, issue tracking, and code review

Create and maintain technical documentation, development standards, test plans, interface documentation, and prototype user guides

Lead small technical teams, delegate tasks, monitor progress, and help ensure project objectives are met

This position may be eligible for an increased sign-on bonus. Eligibility, bonus amount, and applicable terms and conditions will be discussed during the recruiting process

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Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum of 12+ years of experience with a Bachelors degree, 10+ years of experience with a Masters degree, or 8+ years of experience with a PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field. In lieu of a Bachelors, an additional 4 years of experience is required for a total of 16+ years relevant experience.

Strong application, software, or prototype development experience in R&D, mission, defense, intelligence, or similarly complex technical environments

Programming experience in one or more languages such as Python, C, C++, Java, Go, or similar languages

Experience designing and implementing algorithms, backend services, APIs, database interfaces, or complex data queries

Experience integrating software components, data sources, COTS/GOTS tools, open-source software, or prototype systems

Experience debugging, testing, troubleshooting, and improving software prototypes

Familiarity with modern software development practices, including GitHub/GitLab, Agile methods, Jenkins or other CI/CD tools, code review, and issue tracking

Ability to work independently and collaboratively with internal teams, subcontractors, and customer teams

Ability to communicate technical concepts, prototype status, design decisions, and research outcomes to technical and non-technical stakeholders

Ability to lead or mentor small technical teams

US Citizenship is a requirement for this position

This position requires an active/current TS/SCI w/ Polygraph

Desired Additional Qualifications

Experience supporting classified research and development programs or IC/DoD mission customers

Experience developing prototypes for analytics, data processing, real-time systems, decision-support tools, cyber systems, networked systems, or operational workflow applications

Experience with modern application architecture, including microservices, REST APIs, event-driven systems, distributed systems, or cloud-native applications

Experience with databases and data technologies such as PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, Redis, Kafka, SQL/NoSQL, or graph databases

Experience with containers, virtualization, or deployment environments such as Docker, Kubernetes, VMware, KVM, OpenStack, or cloud platforms

Experience with automated testing, quality control, software assurance, performance testing, or prototype validation

Experience with requirements analysis, system design, interface definition, and hardware/software tradeoff analysis

Experience integration COTS, GOTS, open-source, and custom-built software into mission or research environments

Experience with DevOps tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Ansible, Terraform/OpenTofu, or similar tools

Experience contributing to technical proposals, whitepapers, research briefings, architecture diagrams, or customer demonstrations

Strong technical leadership, adaptability, and ability to rapidly learn new technologies in support of emerging mission needs

Peraton Overview

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.

Target Salary Range $176,000 - $282,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. EEO EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.