Careers at Covar

About CoVar CoVar is a small, mission-driven AI/ML R&D software company based in Durham, NC and McLean, VA. We build advanced software and machine learning systems that help the DoW detect threats in high-stakes environments and enable biomedical researchers to accelerate discoveries that save lives. Our team is composed of curious, passionate engineers who care deeply about using AI to solve real-world problems that matter. Internship Overview 8-12 weeks – flexible, depending on your schedule In-person in Durham, NC Competitively paid internship Matched with one project based on your current expertise and interests Paired with an advisor or project lead who will guide you and help you set and meet your goals Concludes with you presenting your work either internally to CoVar or externally to the customer Interview Timeline Accepting applications online from now to mid-November 2026 Interviews starting in September 2026 Interview steps consist of a video screening and a code screening Offers out by end of November 2026 About the position You will help CoVar develop software and machine learning algorithms to solve real-world customer problems. You will work with data, develop algorithms, evaluate results, and write the production code that goes onto real-world systems. You may have the opportunity to present your work to high-level customer s in the Do W and in the industry. Qualifications Applicants should have e xpertise in P ython (including NumPy , pandas , and other packages) and P y T orch . Deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals (gradient descent, cross-validation, ROC curves, confusion matrices) are necessary. Knowledge of classical machine learning (e.g., support-vector-machines, logistic regression) are valued . Applicants are ideally familiar with some computer vision algorithms (e.g., for object classification ( ResNet , ResNext ) , object detection (e.g., YOLO, CenterNet ) , or image segmentatio n ) and /or other modern image processing AI/ML techniques (vision image transformers, vision language models, etc.) . Previous experience with Do W customers is a plus. Minimum qualifications Software expertise: Python and associated numerical and analytics packages ( NumPy , pandas , etc.) ; git ; PyTorch . AI/ML expertise: Machine learning fundamentals ; D eep knowledge of state - of - the - art in any of the following : computer vision (preferred) , natural language processing, classical machine learning, Bayesian models, etc. Pursuing B.S., preferably M.S. or Ph.D in engineering, math, computer science, or related field Excellent technical communication skills Ability to work in Durham, NC (relocation assistance available) Work authorization: US citizen Bonus skills Department of War project experience Benefits Competitive hourly wages Flexible work schedule Hybrid policy (in office at least 3x per week) Email us: careers@covar.com Visit us: www.covar.com

Machine Learning Engineer Location: McLean, VA (hybrid); occasional travel to Durham, NC and customer sites About CoVar CoVar is a small AI/ML R&D software company with offices in Durham, NC and McLean, VA, that uses artificial intelligence to solve problems that matter. Our teams build AI/ML solutions that help the DoD detect enemies and threats, help biomedical researchers find new cures , and help monitor machinery to prevent injuries and environmental catastrophes. We are passionate engineers dedicated to pushing the bounds of what AI/ML can do in the real world. About the Role We’re seeking a Senior ML Engineer (Technical Lead) with deep hands-on expertise in machine learning and computer vision, who can also lead DoD-focused programs, own customer engagement, contribute to business development, and help grow and manage a local engineering team in McLean over time. You’ll lead end-to-end technical delivery – from data to deployment – while serving as the primary technical point of contact for our customers. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building production-grade ML systems, mentoring engineers, and translating complex technical work into compelling customer outcomes. What You’ll Do Lead programs end-to-end: Scope requirements, set technical strategy and milestones, plan resourcing, manage risks, and deliver results for DoD-focused ML/CV projects. Own customer relationships: Run technical discussions, requirement discovery, demos, standing meetings, and briefings with senior stakeholders; turn feedback into clear roadmaps. Stay deeply hands-on (50 – 70%): Build data pipelines, train/evaluate CV models, and write production code. Design, train, and optimize detection/segmentation/tracking models and custom computer-vision pipelines; handle imbalanced data, domain shift, and real-world constraints. Deploy models to production (typically on the edge), instrument for monitoring, and iterate with CI/CD. Contribute to business development: Write technical sections of proposals/white papers, help shape capture strategy, provide level-of-effort estimates, and present prototypes. Communicate and publish: Present results to high-level DoD and industry customers; author technical reports; publish novel work in classified/unclassified settings when applicable. Minimum Qualifications Experience: 5+ years designing, building, and deploying machine learning systems in production (8+ preferred). Strong track record leading technical delivery for complex projects. ML/CV expertise : Deep understanding of ML fundamentals (e.g., gradient descent, cross-validation, ROC/PR curves, confusion matrices, mAP). Computer vision experience with modern architectures (e.g., YOLO family, CenterNet, RetinaNet, Detectron2, ViTs, segmentation networks), augmentation strategies, and evaluation. Experience with data curation/annotation workflows and dataset quality control. Software engineering: Python (NumPy, scipy, pandas/polars), PyTorch (preferred) or TensorFlow, git, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and code quality practices. MLOps & deployment: Experiment tracking, Docker, ONNX/TensorRT, deploying inference services to the edge (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson). Communication & leadership: Excellent technical communication, customer-facing experience, and proven ability to lead cross-functional efforts. Education: B.S. in engineering, math, computer science, or related field; M.S./Ph.D. preferred. Clearance: Eligibility for U.S. security clearance. This requires U.S. citizenship. Preferred Qualifications (Bonus) Prior Department of Defense project experience, including briefing senior stakeholders and navigating DoD acquisition processes. Active Secret or TS/SCI clearance; experience working in classified environments. Experience managing or mentoring engineers; contributing to hiring and performance development. Experience with proposal writing (SBIR/STTR, RFPs), technical volume authorship, and live demos. Experience with multi-sensor fusion, signal-processing, tracking, synthetic data generation, domain adaptation, or semi/active learning for data-limited environments. Familiarity with edge hardware optimization, and performance profiling. Open-source contributions, publications, or patents in ML/CV. Why This Role Matters You’ll be a key technical leader in our McLean office – setting technical direction, building a local team, and ensuring our DoD partners see tangible mission impact from AI/ML solutions. If you thrive in high-impact environments where you can both build and lead , we’d love to talk. Benefits Competitive salary, cash bonus, equity structure, and 401k with employer contributions Excellent health care coverage, including dental and vision plans Parental leave Short-term and long-term disability insurance Life insurance Flexible work schedule Tuition support PTO and paid holidays Visit us: www.covar.com