Employment Opportunities

VTNSI seeks a Research Assistant Professor, Research Associate Professor, or Research Professor in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Test & Evaluation (T&E) to play a central leadership role in a collaborative government–academia–industry research environment focused on accelerating the development, assessment, and transition of AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities for national security. This position blends responsibilities traditionally associated with technical integrators, chief engineers, and portfolio managers, requiring both deep technical expertise in AI and T&E and demonstrated leadership in managing interdisciplinary research teams, coordinating stakeholders, and shaping research direction in rapidly evolving mission contexts.

The Spectrum Dominance Division seeks a Research Assistant Professor, Research Associate Professor, or Research Professor at its office in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Spectrum Dominance Division (SDD) within VTNSI is home to 30 full-time faculty researchers with focus areas in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics. SDD’s portfolio reaches across all aspects of the radio frequency transmit/receive chain, including antenna and phased array design, baseband waveform design, and receiver design. SDD houses domain expertise in SDR development, AI/ML applied to the radio frequency (RF) spectrum (i.e., RFML), SIGINT, RADAR, cellular, electromagnetic materials, cognitive radio, and additive manufacturing. The hiring rank of this position will be based on the candidates' background and experience.

This is a research and development position based in Blacksburg, Virginia, and is part of the Institute’s Mission Systems Division (MSD). MSD brings together researchers from aerospace and ocean systems engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, computer science, AI/ML, and other fields to develop interdisciplinary solutions to cutting-edge technological challenges in platforms including satellites, UAVs, UUVs, and drone swarms. This position is for a hands-on electrical engineer who will build and integrate the electrical and RF subsystems that enable the division’s research testbeds. The successful candidate will spend much of their time in the laboratory and in the field: fabricating and assembling hardware, building cables and harnesses, laying out and populating printed circuit boards, producing design drawings, and standing up and maintaining test infrastructure. The candidate will also serve as a hands-on resource for senior researchers across the division who are developing RF hardware, design drawings, and PCB layout. The successful candidate can expect a competitive salary and benefits in a university setting.

Motivated applicants are sought to join VTNSI as Research Assistant Professor to support rapid growth in our body of programs in data strategies, test and evaluation, artificial intelligence assurance, digital engineering, and cyber analytics and operations. This position serves as a research faculty member of the Hume Center and in the Intelligent Systems Division (ISD). ISD hosts a range of dynamic research projects and the successful applicant will have the ability to contribute to these programs, lead the development of new programs, and mentor students engaged in these programs. ISD is a leader in research and development in three core capabilities: 1) secure and resilient systems, 2) engineering, test, and evaluation of AI systems, and 3) integrated data and decision systems.