Cyber Operations AI/ML Lead

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Job Description:

Parsons is seeking a Cyber Operations AI Lead to identify, develop, and deploy practical artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities that strengthen a large-scale Government cybersecurity program. This role offers the opportunity to lead a focused AI team, work directly with experienced cyber operations professionals, and turn emerging technology into mission-ready solutions.

As the AI Lead, you will guide the application of AI and machine learning across cybersecurity operations, including threat detection, anomaly analysis, vulnerability management, knowledge management, records management, automation, and operational decision support. You will work closely with cybersecurity subject matter experts to understand mission needs, evaluate AI use cases, assess data readiness, and deliver secure, measurable, and usable capabilities.

You will help shape the program’s AI roadmap while ensuring that models and supporting solutions are developed in accordance with Government-approved data governance, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and DevSecOps requirements. The ideal candidate is both technically capable and mission focused—someone who can translate operational challenges into viable AI solutions and communicate complex technical concepts to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

You’ll be joining Parsons’ local Analytics & Engineering team, a community known for its strong culture of defensive cyber operations, technical excellence, and collaboration. We invest in both mission success and team connection through regular social events, technical talks, training opportunities, and hands-on innovation activities at our Cybersecurity Center of Excellence Lab in Columbia, MD. From team lunches and ice cream socials to family-friendly seasonal events and technical learning sessions, we work hard to create an environment where people can do meaningful work and enjoy being part of the team.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Lead a small team of AI and machine learning professionals supporting cybersecurity operations.

• Partner with cybersecurity, infrastructure, data, and program leadership to identify high-value AI and ML use cases.

• Translate mission and operational problems into clearly defined AI objectives, requirements, success criteria, and performance metrics.

• Evaluate the feasibility, risks, benefits, and expected mission value of proposed AI capabilities.

• Assess data readiness, including data availability, quality, accessibility, security, labeling, and governance.

• Recommend data remediation and preparation activities needed to support model development.

• Research, compare, and recommend appropriate AI and ML techniques, tools, frameworks, and architectures.

• Support data preparation activities, including data cleaning, transformation, feature engineering, and labeling.

• Lead the development, testing, tuning, validation, and documentation of AI and ML models.

• Ensure AI solutions comply with approved data governance policies, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity controls, and applicable Government requirements.

• Integrate AI and ML capabilities into secure DevSecOps and MLOps workflows, including version control, automated testing, traceability, and auditability.

• Coordinate model deployment following Government review and formal acceptance.

• Monitor model performance, health, reliability, drift, security, and operational effectiveness after deployment.

• Develop technical documentation, performance reports, recommendations, and briefings for Government stakeholders.

• Research emerging AI capabilities, including generative AI and agentic AI, and evaluate their suitability for cybersecurity operations.

• Identify and communicate risks associated with AI use, including data quality, model bias, explainability, security, privacy, adversarial manipulation, and unauthorized use.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to AI team members and collaborate with cybersecurity subject matter experts.

• Support the integration of AI capabilities with existing cybersecurity, data, cloud, and operational systems.

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

• TS/SCI clearance active/current

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, engineering, cybersecurity, mathematics, or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience may be considered.

• Seven or more years of experience in cybersecurity, systems engineering, software development, data science, machine learning, or a related technical field.

• One or more years of professional AI or machine learning experience, including experience developing, evaluating, integrating, or applying AI/ML capabilities.

• Experience working with technical teams and translating operational or business requirements into technical solutions.

• Experience with software development, data analysis, systems engineering, or cybersecurity concepts.

• Strong written, verbal, analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder-communication skills.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:

• Three or more years of hands-on AI/ML development or applied AI experience.

• Experience applying AI or ML to cybersecurity, threat detection, anomaly analysis, vulnerability management, incident response, cyber intelligence, digital forensics, or security operations.

• Experience with machine learning model development, validation, deployment, and performance monitoring.

• Experience with Python and commonly used AI/ML frameworks and libraries.

• Experience with data engineering, data pipelines, APIs, data lakes, data warehouses, or cloud-based analytics platforms.

• Experience with MLOps, DevSecOps, CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, or Configuration as Code.

• Experience working in Department of Defense, federal, classified, or other highly regulated environments.

• Familiarity with Federal cybersecurity requirements, Risk Management Framework, Authority to Operate processes, CUI handling, and Government data governance.

• Experience with generative AI, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, natural language processing, computer vision, or agentic AI.

• Experience evaluating AI model security, explainability, bias, privacy, data poisoning, adversarial attacks, or model robustness.

Security Clearance Requirement:

An active Top Secret SCI security clearance is required for this position.

This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.

The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what’s next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.

Salary Range: $112,200.00 - $196,400.00

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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