AI/ML Researcher Jobs in Maryland
AI/ML Researcher jobs in Maryland are concentrated in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, Bethesda, and the College Park area, where federal agencies, defense contractors, and research universities drive sustained demand for machine learning engineers, natural language processing specialists, and computer vision researchers. Organizations like the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Northrop Grumman, and Leidos maintain large and active research teams in the state, with openings at every level from junior researcher to principal scientist. Maryland is among the most active markets in the country for AI applied to national security, biomedical informatics, and geospatial intelligence. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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About Peraton
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees solve the most daunting challenges that our customers face. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.
About The Role
Peraton seeks an AI / ML Senior Data Scientist to support Department of War Cyber Defense Command (DCDC) with defensive cyberspace operations and AI support. Location: Fort Meade, MD. In this role, you will perform advanced statistical analysis, develop machine learning (ML) models, and conduct operational research to support cyber defense decision-making and threat characterization.
Primary Responsibilities include:
- Develop and validate predictive and prescriptive analytic models
- Apply statistical and ML techniques for anomaly detection and event correlation
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify operational trends
- Collaborate with mission partners to translate requirements into analytic solutions
- Document analytic workflows and methodologies for knowledge transfer
- Mentor junior data scientists and provide technical guidance
- Analyze unstructured and semi-structured data, including latent semantic indexing (LSI), entity identification and tagging, complex event processing (CEP), and the application of analysis algorithms on distributed, clustered, and cloud-based high-performance infrastructures.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum of 12 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 10 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 7 years with Ph.D. Will consider Associates degree and 14 years of experience or HS and 16 years of experience.
- Advanced proficiency in Python, R, SQL
- Experience with machine learning model development and deployment; experience with machine learning, algorithm analysis, and data clustering.
- Strong statistical analysis and hypothesis testing skills
- Experience with data visualization and reporting
- Requires strong technical and computational skills - engineering, physics, mathematics, coupled with the ability to code design, develop, and deploy sophisticated applications using advanced unstructured and semi-structured data analysis techniques and utilizing high-performance computing environments
- U.S Citizenship required
- DoD TS Clearance with ability to obtain/maintain SCI
Preferred Qualifications:
- AWS/Azure certifications
- Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field
- Knowledge of cyber defense operations
- DoD TS SCI Clearance
Details
Target Salary Range: $176,000 - $282,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
Benefits Statement: Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.
Application Statements: The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.
EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.
See All 7 AI/ML Researcher Jobs in Maryland
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Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
AI/ML Researcher Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in AI/ML researcher jobs across Maryland.
- Master's or PhD in computer science, machine learning, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated experience building and deploying machine learning models at scale
- Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Active or obtainable U.S. government security clearance for defense-sector roles
- Published research, open-source contributions, or a portfolio of applied ML projects
- Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for ML workloads
AI/ML Researcher Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a ai/ml researcher in Maryland?
Most Maryland employers require at least a master's degree in computer science, statistics, or a related field, with a PhD preferred for research-track roles. Maryland has no state-issued license for ai/ml researchers, so the path runs through academic credentials, a strong project portfolio, and, for the large defense and intelligence employers in the region, a qualifying background investigation for a federal security clearance.
Which companies hire ai/ml researchers in Maryland?
Employers hiring ai/ml researchers in Maryland right now include Peraton, Benz Technology, and Analytica, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Maryland's concentration of federal agencies and defense primes means many of the most consistent openings sit inside large systems integrators and government-sponsored research labs.
Which Maryland cities have the most ai/ml researcher jobs?
Fort Meade, Jessup, and Laurel account for the largest share of ai/ml researcher openings in Maryland. Bethesda and the broader Washington suburbs are anchored by federal health agencies and intelligence contractors, College Park benefits from the University of Maryland research ecosystem, and Baltimore draws researchers into its academic medical centers and cybersecurity firms.
Are there remote ai/ml researcher jobs in Maryland?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 0% of ai/ml researcher openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work is software-driven and deliverable from anywhere. The exception is roles that require on-site access to classified facilities or specialized computing infrastructure, which are typically on-site or hybrid only.
How can I get hired as a ai/ml researcher in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a research assistant or junior data scientist role at one of Maryland's university-affiliated labs, such as the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies or Johns Hopkins' applied research divisions, which regularly bring on candidates completing graduate degrees. Building a public portfolio of ML projects on GitHub and targeting associate researcher or ML engineer titles at mid-size Maryland tech firms can also open doors alongside formal graduate training.
Where can I find and apply to ai/ml researcher jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to ai/ml researcher jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current Maryland openings. Search the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match your experience and interests.
See All 7 AI/ML Researcher Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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