We are seeking an experienced Lead AI Research Engineer to join a high-impact research and technology program focused on developing advanced AI capabilities to support operational decision-making in a sensitive and highly regulated environment. This opportunity combines cutting-edge machine learning research with real-world deployment, offering the chance to design, build and evaluate AI solutions that address complex operational challenges.
About the Role
As the Lead AI Research Engineer, you will lead the design, development and operational evaluation of a secure human-in-the-loop AI system. Working closely with researchers, technical specialists and key stakeholders, you will translate complex operational requirements into practical and deployable AI solutions. The role combines technical leadership, applied research, software engineering and stakeholder engagement within a mission-critical environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the design and development of AI and machine learning solutions supporting complex operational requirements
Develop and implement multimodal AI capabilities leveraging computer vision, natural language processing, audio analysis and similarity detection techniques
Design, build and maintain secure, reproducible data processing, model training and evaluation pipelines
Develop deployable software components suitable for secure and restricted environments
Work closely with stakeholders to translate business and operational requirements into technical solutions and delivery outcomes
Establish evaluation frameworks and testing methodologies to validate model performance, reliability and usability
Conduct model assurance, adversarial testing and risk assessments
Ensure solutions align with privacy,



security, governance and responsible AI principles
Prepare technical documentation, evaluation reports and deployment recommendations
Provide technical leadership, mentoring and guidance across project teams and stakeholders
Skills & Experience:
Proven experience designing, developing and delivering AI and machine learning solutions beyond proof-of-concept into operational environments
Strong expertise in at least two of the following: computer vision, image/video classification, natural language processing, multimodal AI, similarity search, perceptual hashing or audio analysis
Advanced Python development skills and hands‐on experience with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch
Experience building reproducible data pipelines, model training workflows, evaluation frameworks and deployable software solutions
Solid understanding of machine learning performance metrics, including precision, recall, calibration, uncertainty management and class imbalance challenges
Experience developing AI solutions within sensitive, regulated or security‐conscious environments
Demonstrated ability to translate complex operational requirements into scalable technical outcomes
Strong knowledge of responsible AI, security, privacy, human oversight and governance frameworks
Excellent stakeholder engagement,



communication and technical leadership skills
Proven ability to independently lead complex technical projects and deliver outcomes against agreed milestones
Active NV1 (or higher) security clearance
Highly Desirable:
PhD or equivalent research experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science or related disciplines
Experience within law enforcement, defence, national security, digital forensics or other high-trust operational environments
Experience deploying AI solutions within on‐premises, isolated or restricted‐network environments
Experience with human-in-the-loop systems, decision‐support tools or safety‐critical AI applications
Published research, technical papers, patents or significant AI product delivery experience
What's on Offer?
12-month contract with extension options
Opportunity to work on innovative AI and machine learning initiatives with real‐world impact
Exposure to advanced computer vision, NLP and multimodal AI technologies
Collaborative environment involving researchers, technical specialists and senior stakeholders
Significant autonomy and ownership across the full AI solution lifecycle
Opportunity to contribute to applied research, capability development and emerging technologies
Due to the nature of this role, this job is open to Australian Citizens only, you must hold a current NV1/NV2Security clearance.
Calleo is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applications from all people including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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📌 Lead Ai Research Engineer (Melbourne)
🏢 Calleo
📍 Melbourne