Research Software Engineer

Company Info
University of Dayton Research Institute
Dayton, OH, United States

Phone: 9372292779
Web Site: https://udayton.edu/

Company Profile
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Title:

Research Software Engineer

Location:

Dayton, OH 

Job ID:

77964
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Job Description:

The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) is in search of motivated, innovative team members to further ongoing government artificial intelligence research applied to autonomy decision and execution services. The qualified candidate will join the Autonomy Systems Group on a hybrid schedule.

We blend the use of common programming languages like Java, Python, and C++ with lesser known logic programming solvers and our own complex event processing domain-specific language. We wrap it all into a DevSecOps framework that deploys through containers and scales from edge platform computing up to the cloud.

Our autonomy services support multiple echelons of dynamic mission planning and execution from the strategic level down through vehicle autonomy. Planners and operators at each level interact with the autonomy to define and refine their goals, preferences, and constraints. Using this intent together with context models and local information, the decision services reason over possibilities to determine the best course of action for the situation.

The role will use natural language processing (NLP) concepts and principles to connect meaning and representation between: constrained natural language sentences and phrases, semantics defined by schema and/or ontologies, and symbolic artificial intelligence knowledge models. The work will include:
* Scoping and defining grammar and semantics of constrained natural language to represent legal, ethical, and operational constraints and intent
* Applying and extending existing tooling for translation between natural language and knowledge models
* Researching application of AI common-sense reasoning across multiple phrases in a natural language interaction to improve translation

The qualified applicant will join our technically diverse team that includes computer scientists, engineers, operations research analysts, and mathematicians.


Minimum Qualifications
*BS in Computer Science, Linguistics, Engineering, Operations Research, Mathematics or similar discipline (or equivalent professional experience)
*3+ years demonstrable experience in natural language processing (NLP) concepts and tooling
*Successful experience with software development in object oriented language (e.g. Java, Python, C#, Rust)
*Effective communication skills
*Due to the nature of the work, candidate must be a *U.S. citizen and willing and able to obtain a DoD Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

*Advanced degree in Computer Science, Linguistics, Engineering, Operations Research, Mathematics, or similar discipline
*Experience with ontology development and management
*Experience with ONE OR MORE of the following:
-Logic or constraint programming (e.g. clingo, prolog, Z3, SAT solvers)
-Operations research modeling (e.g. OR-tools, CPLEX, LINGO)
-Planning domain language (e.g. PDDL)
-Game theory and optimization
-Ontology and linked data development (e.g. OWL, RDF)
*Experience with applied artificial intelligence and autonomy technologies
*Practical experience with container virtualization and management technologies (e.g. Docker, K8s)
*Experience with applied artificial intelligence and autonomy technologies
*Experience with software development processes including source control, issue tracking, continuous integration, and requirement flow


Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

A federal court on December 7, 2021, issued a ruling that suspends the COVID-19 vaccine requirement that applies to federal contractors nationwide. With this development, the University will pause any enforcement action against employees who have not complied with the requirement to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8, 2021 or to have requested an exemption to maintain their employment status.

The University will continue to monitor the state of the pandemic on campus and in the community as well as developments in federal and state requirements, and also will continue to regularly consult with public health officials and our medical panel. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, our protocols and requirements are subject to change depending on conditions on campus or in our community, and government requirements.


Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.