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Principal Scientist, Natural Language Processing

Cambridge, MA

At Charles River Analytics, we develop leading-edge solutions and technology to address the world’s most complex challenges. Our team of innovative entrepreneurs drives advancements in AI, robotics, smart sensing, and human-centered computing. Our research and development efforts not only propel government programs forward but also unlock new opportunities in the commercial sector. As a 100% employee-owned company, we foster a culture of participation, innovation, and accountability among our staff. We take immense pride in our ability to attract and retain the industry's most talented and creative problem solvers.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced researcher in natural language processing (NLP) to lead applied NLP research solving real operational problems for the US Government and commercial customers.

Example projects you may work on include designing and developing:

  • Innovative information-extraction and natural language generation systems
  • Novel methods for fine-tuning and applying large language models (LLMs)
  • Methods for training application-specific speech models
  • Methods for detecting bias and subjectivity in written communications
  • Innovative multimodal interfaces for autonomous systems that involve combinations of speech, text, and gestures

You will act as a project Principal Investigator and be supported by a strong team of scientists and software engineers. You will lead scientific research and technology innovation, and you will have the opportunity to lead and contribute to published research. At Charles River Analytics, we foster an environment where scientists work in highly collaborative teams to pursue individual and collective research challenges.

 Day to Day:  

  • Lead the design and development of innovative NLP components and systems
  • Communicate effectively with sponsors and collaborators
  • Write reports and publish papers describing your research
  • Develop new NLP business by discovering funding opportunities and writing research proposals
  • Manage research projects effectively

 What you need:  

  • Master's degree in Computer Science or Computational Linguistics (or closely related field) with emphasis on applied natural language processing
  • 5+ years of experience in applied NLP research, including machine learning, large language models (LLMs), and symbolic NLP (e.g., grammars and ontologies)
  • High interest in, and aptitude for, designing, developing, and evaluating NLP software systems
  • Candidates should have demonstrated capability to work independently as well as effectively within a team environment
  • Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form (writing samples may be requested)
  • This position requires enthusiasm and energy coupled with the ability to adapt under pressure
  • Candidates must be able to take direction and take initiative, and the knowledge of when to apply each
  • US Citizenship is required for this position

 Our ideal candidate has:

  • A NLP-related doctorate with a strong publication record
  • 10+ years of experience with applied NLP research
  • Experience with difficult NLP tasks, such as named entity extraction, named entity resolution, relationship extraction, and speech understanding
  • Experience with large language models (LLMs), including training, fine-tuning, retrieval augmented generation (RAG), and advanced prompt engineering
  • A robust record of obtaining research funding from the US Government
  • Fluency in, or experience processing, languages other than English
  • Experience with rapid prototyping of NLP technologies

Why CRA?

Charles River Analytics is a 100% employee-owned company that thrives on collaboration and values each team member. We provide competitive compensation including profit sharing, bonuses, and an attractive benefits package. Our comprehensive benefits include 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance, as well as vision, life, and disability insurance. We offer generous paid time off, paid maternity/paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, a monthly gym allowance, and a casual work environment. We have free parking on site and are conveniently accessible by public transportation. At Charles River, we prioritize and truly value work-life balance, including our offer of a flexible hybrid schedule (60% onsite / 40% remote). Join our team of employee-owners to solve important problems­­—for our military, our homeland, our society, and our planet.

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