Data Scientist - AI

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting

Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is NATO’s leading agent for change: driving, facilitating, and advocating the continuous improvement of Alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance the military relevance and effectiveness of the Alliance. The main objectives of ACT are: providing appropriate support to NATO missions and operations; leading NATO military transformation; and improving relationships, interaction and practical cooperation with partners, nations and international organisations. ACT therefore leads Alliance concept development, capability development, training and lessons-learned initiatives and provides unfettered military support to policy development within NATO.

The program 

Capability Development & Management Support (CDMS)

 DCOS Capability Development (CAPDEV) acts as the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation's Director for guidance, direction and coordination of the activities and resources of the Capability Development Directorate.

The Requirements Division will execute all tasks and activities needed to support requirements management for NATO capabilities

The Capability Requirements (CR) Branch will develop the Capability Requirements Brief and recommended courses of action to resolve issues through the life cycle management of requirements using matrixed, cross-functional project-specific Requirements Management teams.

The Requirements Forward Branch (Mons) is responsible for conducting requirements development and management representation and engagement-related functions in Europe.

The Capability Division coordinates the development of capabilities from capability planning through acceptance and then disposal with management entities, NATO Headquarters staff and the NATO Governance Structure

The Capability Forward Branch (Mons) coordinates with ACO, NCIA, NSPA, NATO HQ, territorial Host Nations, and NATO Centres of Excellence (COEs) to support the development of capabilities.

Strategic Plans and Policy (SPP) supports Allied Command Transformation in formalizing military advice to shape future military strategy, political guidance, and other policy documents supporting NATO’s strategic objectives.

Role Background

Data Exploitation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are essential elements of NATO’s digital transformation, enabling faster, data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency. These technologies are crucial for building a more adaptive and responsive NATO, ready to meet the challenges of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and a rapidly evolving security landscape. As NATO's command dedicated to future warfare, SACT leads efforts to explore, develop, and integrate latest technologies into military capabilities to transform the Alliance.

NATO has recognized wargaming as a critical enabler for future warfare development. It is essential for planning and decision-making, simulating complex military scenarios to provide strategic, operational, and tactical insights. Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is delivering the wargaming capability for NATO, and it already employs wargaming to understand military challenges and explore new technologies and strategies. ACT aims at refining NATO’s understanding and use of wargaming, specifically by integrating AI thus enhancing its capabilities and accelerating AI adoption.

The AI Integrator will be part of the Data Science and AI Team, ACT’s new cross-functional and cross-directorate hub for data science, data exploitation and Artificial Intelligence to facilitate collaboration, provide access to resources and expertise, ensuring efficient use of technologies, and seamless integration digital transformation and Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) capability development efforts.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• As a member of the Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) Team, the contractor will contribute to the integration of artificial intelligence in NATO’s warfare development efforts and capability development, in particular wargaming.
• Collaborate with wargaming experts, in particular in the Experimentation and Wargaming Branch, to identify key areas where AI can enhance wargaming activities, for example (but not limited to) wargaming design, scenario development, analysis, adjudication, support to human teams.
• Collaborate with members of the DSAI team and other stakeholders at ACT and ACO, as directed, on ongoing initiatives.
• Support development of a roadmap for the integration of AI into NATO wargaming.
• Support the integration of traditional AI methods and specifically generative AI (Large Language Models/LLMs) into wargaming, improving, for example, strategic depth, and enhanced execution of wargames.
• Support scenario development enhancement by developing supplementary pre-briefing materials such as videos and adversary modelling.
• Implement data collection and analysis methods to extract actionable insights and patterns from wargaming datasets.
• Develop real-time analytics and visualizations to support decision-making during wargaming simulations, for examples using Power BI.
• Support human-machine teaming by integrating AI tools that enhance collaboration between human participants and AI systems.
• Design and conduct experiments to test the effectiveness of AI applications in wargaming scenarios.
• Document and present findings from AI integration experiments to stakeholders, proposing continuous improvements.
• Ensure data integrity and security in all AI-related wargaming activities, considering in particular NATO’s principles of responsible use for AI and data.
• Support collaboration with relevant stakeholders to share knowledge and best practices for AI integration.
• Provide technical guidance and support to wargaming experts who lack a technical background in AI.
• Develop analytical reports summarizing the results and impact of AI-enhanced wargaming exercises.
• Explore, in collaboration with the DSAI team, using AI to automate writing of e.g. after-action reports, and other administrative tasks, using, for example, LLMs, machine learning, and robotic process automation.
• Coordinate with cross-functional and cross-directorate teams to ensure seamless integration of AI technologies.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for AI integration processes and methodologies.
• Participate in workshops, conferences, and meetings to stay updated on the latest AI technologies and their applications in wargaming.
• Support training development and provision in support of NATO personnel on the use and benefits of AI in wargaming.
• Participation in relevant workshops and conferences.
• Willingness to travel to meetings and conferences both within and outside NATO’s boundaries for up to 30 days per year.
• Support other related data science and AI requirements within ACT as needed.
• Perform additional tasks as required by the COTR related to AI integration.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years in the last 8 years working in data science, machine learning, or AI engineering in a professional environment (not including studies).
• Demonstrated experience (minimum of 3 years in the last 5 years) in integrating AI technologies into practical applications, preferably in simulation or wargaming contexts.
• Proficiency in AI and machine learning frameworks and tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, etc.
• Experience with generative AI models, in particular Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-3 or GPT-4.
• Demonstrated experience (minimum of 3 years in the last 8 years) in data collection, analysis, and visualization using tools such as Python, R, Tableau, or Power BI.
• Understanding of wargaming principles and methodologies, with a demonstrated ability to apply AI to enhance wargaming scenarios.
• Knowledge of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and military strategic, operational, and tactical planning.
• Demonstrated experience (minimum of 3 years in the last 5 years) in providing technical guidance and support to teams with varying levels of AI expertise.
• Ability to communicate effectively complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional and cross-directorate teams.
• Experience in managing AI-related projects, including planning, execution, and (analytical) reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to design and conduct experiments to test AI applications in real-world scenarios.
• Knowledge of data security principles and best practices, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of data used in AI applications

Education

• A University degree in Data Science, Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer Science, or a related field OR four years minimum professional experience in the area of Data Science, ML, AI within the last 5 years.

Language Proficiency

• Business English

Working Location

• Norfolk, VA, USA

Working Policy

• On-Site

Contract Duration

• January 2025 – December 2029

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance