Job Overview OPEN TO CURRENT AFRL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ONLY. This announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 11:45 PM EST, 5 August 2026.

The salary range for this position including Dayton, OH locality is $126,495-$178,759.

AFRL/RYF seeks to hire a senior-level, DR-1550-03 Research Computer Scientist in Dayton, OH. The incumbent will lead highly specialized research, advise senior leaders, and collaborate across defense organizations to enable the seamless transition of AI-driven systems into Autonomous Collaborative Platforms.

This position is open to current DR-1550-03 (or equivalent) level candidates eligible for reassignment and current DR-1550-02 (or equivalent) candidates eligible for promotion.

Position Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

- Leads the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E;) of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance battlefield effectiveness, business processes, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
- Applies substantial depth of analysis to resolve critical, multifaceted problems, developing new theories and scientific methods that deviate from traditional approaches to advance operational and future Air Force global aerospace sensors, sensor exploitation, autonomous systems, and ground/air/space-based systems.
- Leads complex R&D; programs, manages technology partners, and directs the execution and transition of mission-critical AI capabilities.
- Actively collaborates with external agencies to leverage emerging technologies, maintaining currency in deep convolutional neural networks, machine learning, object detection, and tracking to address key capability gaps.
- Acts as authoritative expert, advises and mentors peers and senior organizational leaders, delivering highly responsive,



complex technical briefings and documenting findings in peer-reviewed journals, technical reports, and national conference presentations to directly influence strategic planning and defense decisions.

Required Qualifications

- United States citizenship.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with access to SCI and SAP.
- Applicants must have specialized experience at the DR-03 level. Examples of specialized experience includes experience in researching autonomous and artificial intelligence systems.
- Applicants must meet OPM Qualification standards for the position being filled. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF.
- This position is an Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) position requiring Level/Tier 2(Practitioner) Non-Critical certification in Engineering &Technical; Management (N); experience requirement is 4years; the selectee will have 60-months to meet APDP requirements, or a waiver must be obtained.

Desired Qualifications

- Strong technical background in artificial intelligence and autonomy technologies.
- Significant experience in leading highly technical in-house R&D; projects.
- Passion for developing creative approaches and solutions.
- Experience with facilitating and enabling internal/external collaboration and partnerships.
- Experience developing technical writing and briefing senior leaders.

Telework Yes, this position is eligible for situational telework; as determined by agency policy Eligible for a Referral Bonus? No

Series 1550

Additional Information

- This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent will be subject to random testing.
- Ability to perform TDY travel approximately 10% time.
- PCS expenses are not authorized.

Requisition Number 33277

Posting End Date 08/06/2026

📌 Senior Autonomy Research Scientist (Adelaide Lead)
🏢 Air Force Research Laboratory
📍 Adelaide Lead