Research Associate - Natural Language Processing (AI)

Overview The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) supporting the Department of War (DoW), the U.S. Intelligence Community, and other federal agencies. IDA’s mission is to provide objective analyses of national security issues and related national challenges, particularly those requiring extraordinary scientific and technical expertise. IDA takes great pride in the high caliber and timeliness of its analyses, which are produced in an inclusive atmosphere that encourages collaboration, independent thinking, and objective results. IDA seeks to hire a natural language processing (NLP) research associate to develop and apply novel research methods that operationalize text mining and AI to accelerate expert analysis on national security challenges. In this role, you will develop and operationalize analytic computational methods that answer multilingual research questions in English and Chinese. You will work closely with PhD-level researchers, former government officials, and retired military officers to identify research needs, prototype technical approaches, and build sustained capabilities that transform how qualitative analysis is conducted at scale. This position, which is at the Research Associate level, is part of IDA's Global Dynamics and Intelligence Division (GDI). IDA is located in Alexandria, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Responsibilities The candidate will directly contribute to IDA research efforts as part of diverse and interdisciplinary research teams, working closely with qualitative researchers and analysts. They will support various analyses within GDI and will also work with analysts from other divisions at IDA. • Work as a member of research teams under the direction of project leaders and other analysts, contributing technical and analytical expertise to collaborative exploration of complex problems • Design, prototype, and sustain multilingual NLP systems combining modern transformer-based approaches (LLMs, BERT, embeddings) and classical NLP methods to investigate research questions • Develop and explore bibliometric analysis methods and research landscape mapping tools; design information collection and analysis approaches tailored to emerging analytical needs • Develop and sustain SQL-based data pipelines, embedding generation workflows, and translation tools that enable experimental querying and discovery across datasets • Administer and deploy prototype and production systems on Linux across classified environments including cloud and air-gapped settings • Build backend services in Python and internal web interfaces using JavaScript, Node.js, and/or TypeScript to make these experimental research methods accessible and testable by non-technical analysts • Engage with sponsors to understand requirements, explore feasibility of technical approaches, and deliver research that addresses their evolving needs • Communicate methods, preliminary findings, and technical insights clearly through written reports, briefings, and discussions with colleagues, sponsors, and stakeholders Qualifications Required: • Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Linguistics, Data Science, or related field. • 6+ years of hands-on experience in NLP and software development, including professional work, military technical roles, or open-source work. • Candidates must have U.S. citizenship • Strong experience with natural language processing, including: • Modern transformer-based models (BERT, sentence embeddings) • Classical NLP techniques (dimensionality reduction, TF-IDF, NMF, etc.) • Embedding generation and semantic similarity methods • Proven proficiency in Python for data analysis and backend development • Strong SQL skills for data storage, retrieval, and analysis • Proven experience deploying and operating systems in Linux environments • Experience building web-based user interfaces using JavaScript, Node.js, and/or TypeScript • Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of project teams • Ability to maintain security clearance once acquired Preferred: • Chinese Language Proficiency • Active Top Secret clearance with current or recent SCI About IDA The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a private, nonprofit corporation headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC. IDA’s mission is to answer the most challenging U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise. IDA supports an inclusive work environment. Working here requires energy, commitment, flexibility, and teamwork. Whether you’re a graduate student ready to start your career, a professional looking for your next challenge, or a member of the military transitioning to the private sector, IDA offers exciting opportunities to learn and grow while contributing to U.S. national security. Sponsors rely on IDA for dispassionate, fact-based, and rigorous high-quality research and advice that emphasize objectivity and the public interest. IDA’s status as an FFRDC facilitates strong partnerships with our U.S. Government sponsors and provides IDA trusted access to classified government information and sensitive corporate proprietary information. Why work at IDA? IDA, as a non-profit, is uniquely positioned to answer the most challenging U.S. security and science questions with objective and rigorous analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise. This position is located in Alexandria, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. IDA offers the following benefits and resources to their employees: • Comprehensive benefits including diverse health insurance options, generous 10% contribution to retirement, maternity/paternity leave, 20 days paid time off, and relocation reimbursement. • Mission-oriented work at a non-profit that supports and protects our warfighters • Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL) due to IDA's non-profit status. • Professional development including tuition reimbursement, internal and external trainings, and funding for researcher-pitched projects and publications. • A strong employee and corporate work-life balance, including options for flex time. • A brand-new facility located in Alexandria’s high-tech corridor in Potomac Yard; and close proximity to local dining and shopping. • Easy access to Potomac Yard Metro stop and Potomac Yard DASH bus stop. Employer contributes $315/month (IRS max) to commuter benefits. Compensation We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation program and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range based on data-driven market analysis for each position. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $68,681 - $194,054. Individual salary within this range will be commensurate with the incumbent’s experience, unique skills and qualifications, and other relevant factors. U.S. Citizenship is required Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required IDA is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a fair recruiting process and working environment free from discrimination. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. IDA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to employment@ida.org and let us know the nature of your request and contact information. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/compliance-assistance/self-id-forms-video