Lead AI Engineer – Cybersecurity

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Fort Meade / $200000 - $225000 annum

INFO

Salary

SALARY:

$200000 - $225000

Location

LOCATION

Fort Meade

Job Type
JOB TYPE

Permanent

Lead AI Engineer - Cybersecurity

Active TS/SCI Clearance Required (Poly preferred)

Fort Meade, MD - Hybrid (2-3 days/week onsite)

$200,000 - $225,000 Base + Bonus

THE COMPANY

Harnham is partnering with a well-known government contractor which supports U.S. national security and public-interest missions across cybersecurity, AI, and defense.

This role sits within the Trustworthy & Secure AI department, a specialized group focused on advancing adversarial AI, AI assurance, and secure deployment of AI technologies in high-stakes environments. The team works directly with the U.S. government and intelligence agencies, driving innovation in AI-enabled cyber defense and mission-critical systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Conduct adversarial AI research, including threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, and red teaming of AI systems.
  • Develop mitigation strategies for adversarial attacks and improve AI system robustness and resilience.
  • Design and deploy secure AI systems for use in cyber and intelligence environments.
  • Integrate AI technologies into operational cyber defense systems and mission workflows.
  • Collaborate directly with U.S. Cyber Command and intelligence stakeholders on AI initiatives and adoption strategies.
  • Support AI workforce enablement, training, and implementation of secure AI tooling.
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives across AI, cybersecurity, and mission domains.
  • Provide technical leadership through mentoring, architecture guidance, and thought leadership contributions.
  • Present findings through briefings, whitepapers, and technical presentations to government stakeholders.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • 8+ years (BS), 6+ years (MS), or 3+ years (PhD) of experience in AI/ML or related fields.
  • Strong understanding of AI/ML fundamentals and model behavior.
  • Experience in adversarial AI, AI security, red teaming, or AI evaluation frameworks.
  • Hands-on experience with AI systems, including generative AI, reinforcement learning, computer vision, or agent-based systems.
  • Strong background in cybersecurity, cyber operations, or related domains.
  • Experience collaborating with both technical and operational stakeholders.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts into mission impact.
  • Active TS/SCI clearance required with ability to obtain Full Scope Polygraph.

PREFFERED EXPERIENCE

  • Experience supporting government, defense, or intelligence organizations.
    Exposure to offensive or defensive cyber operations.
  • Experience deploying AI systems into production or mission environments.
  • Knowledge of AI governance, assurance, and secure deployment frameworks.
  • Familiarity with intelligence data or operational cyber workflows.
  • Existing Full Scope Polygraph clearance.

BENEFITS

The compensation package includes a competitive base salary, annual bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your CV via the Apply link on this page to register your interest.

KEY TERMS

Adversarial AI | AI Security | Cybersecurity | AI Red Teaming | Machine Learning | Generative AI | Reinforcement Learning | Cyber Operations | Intelligence | Secure AI | National Security | AI Systems | Defense Technology | TS/SCI | Top Secret | Poly | Polygraph

CONTACT

Tim Jonas
He/Him

Business Manager

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JOB RESULTS

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