Human-Centered AI Researcher

What We Do:  

At the SEI AI Division, we conduct research in applied artificial intelligence and the engineering questions related to the practical design and implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and systems. We currently lead a community-wide movement to mature the discipline of AI Engineering for Defense and National Security. 

As our government customers adopt AI and machine learning (ML) to provide leap-ahead mission capabilities, we:  

• build real-world, mission-scale AI capabilities through solving practical engineering problems. 

• discover and define the processes, practices, and tools to support operationalizing AI for robust, secure, scalable, and human-centered mission capabilities. 

• prepare our customers to be ready for the unique challenges of adopting, deploying, using, and maintaining AI capabilities. 

• identify and investigate emerging AI and AI-adjacent technologies that are rapidly transforming the technology landscape. 

 

Are you creative, curious, and collaborative? Do you enjoy doing meaningful and complex work? Are you interested in making a difference by bringing innovation to government organizations and beyond? Apply to join our team today!  
 

Position Summary: 

As a Human-Centered AI Researcher in the Trust Lab, you will contribute to research to support the operationalization of trustworthy, human-centered, and responsible AI (RAI) systems. You will collaborate with technical staff and government customers and help shape the AI Division’s approach to current national initiatives and make a difference for our government customers. You will apply your user experience (UX) expertise to contribute directly to government projects on important and challenging problems. The work environment in the AI Division is dynamic and flexible, with opportunities to develop new skills, learn about new frameworks and techniques, and collaborate with other human-centered researchers in the Trust Lab and across CMU. 

 

Duties: 

• Conduct Research: You will conduct human-centered research processes to understand contexts and yield actionable insights. You will identify, plan, conduct, and analyze research studies that meet the goals of the effort. You will utilize diverse research methods (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) to understand and articulate the goals, needs, attitudes, and behaviors of users. Research may include human-computer interaction (HCI) studies such as interviews, observations, usability studies, card sorting, heuristic evaluations, surveys, and others as appropriate. You will lead secondary research efforts reviewing resources from industry, government agencies, academia, and other sources on topics such as RAI, UX, and human-centered design. You will assist in the creation of new research methods and practices that support the efforts of teams developing advanced technologies such as AI systems, robots, and augmented and/or virtual reality systems. 

• Transition Knowledge: You will translate quantitative and qualitative research data into actionable insights, tangible artifacts, and useful recommendations. You will communicate concepts and ideas through storytelling and useful visualizations such as journey maps, workflows, diagrams, and other artifacts. You will create interactive prototypes that represent the needs identified during research, to instantiate recommendations, and/or as experiments to build understanding. You will present research in compelling ways and craft impactful experiences and presentations that showcase our work. 

• Community Engagement and Publishing: You will contribute to white papers, articles, training materials, blogs, and other artifacts to transition knowledge to our customers. You will communicate and share research findings internally and externally through conference presentations, published papers, blogs, podcasts, and more.  

• Collaboration and Facilitation: You will collaborate with your colleagues in the Trust Lab who have HCI-related backgrounds; with AI Division researchers who have expertise in machine learning, engineering, mathematics, product management, and other subjects; as well as with colleagues across the SEI, CMU, and our government customer organizations. You will design and facilitate working sessions and workshops with various audiences to prioritize research, collect technical information and define requirements, explore problems, generate ideas, create alignment and engagement, and define impactful strategies. 
   

Requirements: 

• Experience: You have significant experience conducting human-centered research studies and have conducted research for highly complex and/or advanced technologies such as AI. You have broad knowledge of human-centered methods and are comfortable explaining the rationale for their selection. You have experience conducting research for advanced technologies with software engineers and other experts, and experience working as a researcher in an industry with a specialized audience (e.g., scientists, military). You have experience facilitating workshops and sessions with multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders, and translating research, rough concepts, and ideas into useful artifacts. 

• Research Examples: If you are selected for an interview, we will ask you to present evidence of your work and any publications and discuss them. Showcase your storytelling ability by sharing as much as you can about the research you have conducted to understand users, their context, and the advanced technologies being implemented. You will be expected to explain the rationale for the methodology and analysis choices, describe the considerations made for protecting the users and people affected by the technology (RAI-related efforts), and discuss and/or show the evolution of prototypes and other artifacts. 

 

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Communication and Collaboration: Your communication style is assertive and kind, and you enjoy collaborative work. You have experience communicating complex concepts clearly across different audiences. You have strong attention for detail in thinking, implementation, and deliverables. You have a proven ability to work both independently and with a diverse cross-functional team (such as with engineers and mathematicians).  

• Versatility and Motivation: You have experience working in situations where priorities shift frequently, and you are self-motivated and persistent in finding answers. You can work toward a common vision and can quickly adapt to new types of projects—ranging in time and scope from a few weeks to months. 

• Embracing Complexity: You are curious, and you have knowledge of leading-edge technologies such as those that incorporate AI, machine learning, robotics, computer vision, chatbots, augmented or virtual reality, and/or other advanced technologies.  

 

Other Requirements:  

• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline relevant to human-centered research such as human-computer interaction (HCI), user experience (UX), psychology, anthropology, or a related field.  

• A Bachelor's level candidate should have 8 years of professional experience doing human-centered research and translating research into actions alongside development teams. Experience conducting research to improve highly complex and/or AI systems. A Master's level candidate should have 5 years of relevant experience.

• Flexible to travel to SEI offices in Washington, DC, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings on occasion. Moderate (25%) travel outside of your home location. 

• You will be subject to a background investigation and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense security clearance.  

• Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.

 

Preferred Experience: 

• Experience working with the U.S. Government is a plus.  

 

 

 

Location

Arlington, VA, Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary
More Information: 

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon ” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. 

• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. 

• Statement of Assurance