Research Engineer, AI

Company Overview Orbis is a technology company that delivers sovereign intelligence and decision capabilities to the United States Government and its allies. We convert complex information and operational systems into decisive outcomes, giving public institutions and critical enterprises the tools to move faster, see clearer, and act first in an increasingly contested world. We are not a consulting firm and not a systems integrator. Every Orbis team is built around practitioners who have operated at the mission edge, and every engagement is judged on one thing: whether it produces working capability, not slide decks. Solutions forged from experience; that is how we build, and it is how we hire. Job Summary Lead applied research in one or more Orbis AI focus areas — agentic AI, knowledge representation, dynamic ontologies, autonomous analysis, and high-performance analytics — and carry the results into the product. You will frame the problem, survey what already exists, build prototypes that test a real hypothesis, and measure honestly enough to act on the answer. The role exists because our advantage comes from turning advanced research into dependable mission capability. Travel : Up to 20% for conferences, customer engagement, and team collaboration. Key Responsibilities Frame research problems drawn from real product and mission gaps, define what a result must show to be worth productizing, and survey existing work before building. Build prototypes that isolate the question