---
title: 'Research Scientist - Autonomous Systems at Evolver'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/research-scientist-autonomous-systems-evolver-palo-alto-8kjpd74n08k6'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-16'
---

# Research Scientist - Autonomous Systems at Evolver

- **Company:** Evolver
- **Location:** Palo Alto, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-09-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-16
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/evolver/jobs/4402412009

## Job description

## About Evolver

Evolver is an AI technology company transforming professional services. We combine deep domain expertise, advanced AI, and continuous applied learning to automate complex enterprise workflows while keeping people involved where judgment matters. Our goal is to help organizations operate more efficiently, accurately, and intelligently.

## The Role

Evolver is looking for a Research Scientist with a strong background in autonomous systems, control, mathematical system theory, optimization, or decision-making under uncertainty.

You will help develop the methodologies underlying intelligent systems that perceive changing environments, maintain and update internal state, reason under uncertainty, plan and act, observe outcomes, and adapt over time.

We welcome applications from exceptional recent graduates as well as experienced researchers. We care more about depth of thinking, mathematical maturity, and research ability than years of industry experience.

Experience in robotics or other physical autonomous systems is valuable, but this is not primarily a hardware or embedded-systems role.

## What You'll Do

- Develop methods for state and world modeling, state estimation, planning, control, and sequential decision-making.
- Design approaches for autonomous systems operating under uncertainty and incomplete information.
- Develop adaptive planning and feedback mechanisms that update decisions as new information becomes available.
- Apply optimization, control, probabilistic reasoning, reinforcement learning, or related methods to complex AI systems.
- Develop methods for evaluating the robustness, reliability, and behavior of autonomous systems.
- Translate research into algorithms, prototypes, benchmarks, evaluation methods, and product architectures.
- Collaborate with research, engineering, and product teams to bring new methodologies into real systems.

## Minimum Qualifications

- Ph.D. or thesis-based Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Control, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related quantitative field (Note: Please include the title of your thesis in your application and a brief summary of the problem, methodology, and your specific contribution).
- Strong foundation in mathematical modeling and systems thinking.
- Research experience in one or more of:
- dynamical systems and control
- state estimation
- optimization or optimal control
- stochastic systems
- sequential decision-making
- planning under uncertainty
- reinforcement learning
- autonomous systems
- Strong Python or equivalent scientific computing skills.
- Ability to translate mathematical concepts into computational methods and working prototypes.

There is no minimum number of years of industry experience. Strong candidates may demonstrate their capabilities through a thesis, publications, research projects, internships, open-source work, or relevant industry experience.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Research experience in areas such as model predictive control, stochastic control, POMDPs, Bayesian estimation, system identification, hybrid systems, multi-agent systems, or formal verification.
- Experience with robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, industrial automation, or other complex autonomous systems.
- Strong publication record or demonstrated research impact.
- Experience transferring research into production or real-world systems.
- Familiarity with modern machine learning, foundation models, or agentic AI systems.

Deep prior experience with LLMs, RAG, prompt engineering, or specific agent frameworks is not required.

Application

In your cover letter, please include the title of your thesis and a brief summary of the problem, methodology, and your specific contribution.

## About Evolver

Evolver is building intelligent enterprise systems that go beyond generating answers. Our systems must understand evolving situations, reason under uncertainty, make decisions, act, evaluate outcomes, and continuously improve.

We are looking for researchers who want to bring the foundations of systems, control, autonomy, and decision science into the next generation of AI.

## About Evolver

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Evolver is a cybersecurity and digital transformation leader that provides advanced cyber defense, secure data environments, and intelligent software solutions for federal and commercial enterprises.
- **Entity Type**: Private (no disclosed funding)
- **Headquarters**: Reston, Virginia, USA
- **Founded**: 2000
- **Founders**: Not publicly named

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation, Information Technology Services, eDiscovery & Legal Services
- **Target customers**: B2G (federal agencies such as DoD, DHS, USDA, CMS, NIH) and B2B (Fortune 500 commercial enterprises)
- **Mission statement** (from their vision): To set the standard for excellence in Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation—empowering the nation’s most critical missions and enterprises to operate with confidence in unprecedented environments.

## Products & Services
Evolver delivers integrated solutions across several domains:

- **Cybersecurity**: Advanced cyber defense, proactive threat containment, and risk management to safeguard critical systems.
- **Digital Transformation**: Modernization of IT infrastructure using AI, automation, cloud, and human-centered innovation.
- **Managed Data & Technology**: Managed IT services to keep infrastructure and legal workflows secure and optimized.
- **eDiscovery & Legal Services**: Technology-enabled legal support for eDiscovery and document management.
- **Federal Solutions**: Tailored offerings for national security, defense, and civilian agencies (e.g., CMS-HIOS, USCIS-SOC, AOC programs).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue is not publicly reported; estimated employee count of “more than 500” nationwide (as per official site)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Longstanding partnerships with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Agriculture, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Institutes of Health, and Fortune 500 customers
- **Growth Signals**:
  - 93% employee retention rate
  - Top 20% of all CPARS ratings on major federal programs
  - ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 20000-1 certified; CMMI SVC/DEV ML3 appraised
  - Operates an Innovation Center and Catalyst Programs

## Competitive Advantages
- **25+ years of mission-critical federal experience** with deep domain expertise
- **Exceptional retention and employee expertise** (93% retention, top technologists and AI experts)
- **Strong certifications and compliance** (ISO, CMMI) enabling access to sensitive government contracts
- **Proven CPARS track record** consistently in top 20% across multiple programs

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Accelerating AI integration, strengthening cybersecurity posture, expanding digital transformation offerings for both federal and commercial clients
- **Innovation engine**: Maintains an internal Innovation Center and Catalyst Programs to stay ahead of evolving threats and opportunities

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Open, collaborative, trust-based environment emphasizing innovation and “bold thinking, relentless execution”
- **Diversity & Inclusion**: Formal commitment to creating an inclusive workplace; equal opportunity employer
- **Growth & Development**: Tuition reimbursement, continuing education, paid certification support, Communities of Interest/Practice
- **Benefits**: Paid time off (vacation, sick, holidays, bereavement, civic duty), medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k) with pre-tax and Roth options, paid parental leave, military leave, HSA/FSA, pet insurance, employee recognition programs
- **Work Environment**: Not explicitly stated as remote or hybrid; typical for a federal contractor (likely hybrid with on-site requirements near Reston, VA, and client sites)
- **Community**: Evolver CARES program for volunteerism and charitable giving

## Sources
1. [evolverinc.com](https://evolverinc.com/) – Homepage
2. [evolverinc.com/about](https://evolverinc.com/about/) – About page (history, certifications, vision)
3. [evolverinc.com/careers](https://evolverinc.com/careers/) – Careers page (benefits, culture, values)
4. [linkedin.com/company/evolver](https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolver) – LinkedIn company page (employee count, revenue estimate)

## Other roles at Evolver

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- [Manager, Tax AI Product (Sales & Use Tax)](https://feeny.ai/job/manager-tax-ai-product-sales-use-tax-evolver-new-york-kvgpm630mj4p) — New York, NY
- [Strategic Engagement Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/strategic-engagement-lead-evolver-palo-alto-n6bhz3pn2hk0) — Palo Alto, CA
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