Principal Investigator, Applied AI and Data (SBIR / STTR / NIH)

About Precision Federal

Precision Federal is a Christian-owned small business building AI and software systems for federal agencies through the SBIR program. The founder is a Christian, and the company is run on Christian principles: every number we publish is real, every claim we make is verifiable, and the work is done with excellence as service to God. Every proposal we submit is backed by working prototypes built before we ask for a dollar.

How this role works

1. You join the bench. We name you (with a short bio) as a proposed consultant on proposals that match this role. Consent costs you nothing and commits you to nothing until an award funds.
2. A contract is awarded. Federal SBIR awards fund the team named in the proposal. Your engagement begins, at an hourly rate agreed before you were ever named.
3. You work remote, paid from the contract. ~40–80 hrs per funded award — and if no award ever funds, you owe nothing and lose nothing.

What you'll do

• Serve as PI or co-PI of record on a DoD SBIR/STTR, NIH, NSF or DOE award we win, with the required time commitment
• Turn the topic into a feasibility plan with measurable Phase I outcomes and a credible Phase II path
• Run the technical work with our engineers and the partner institution and write the technical reports
• Represent the project to the Government program manager and technical point of contact

Required qualifications

• A record of leading funded R&D (federal, industry or academic) with publications or deliverables you can show
• Applied machine learning, data science or software research background matched to the topic
• U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (U.S. person)
• Willing to be named on a federal proposal with a one-page resume, and to sign a short letter of commitment

Preferred qualifications

• Prior SBIR, STTR or NIH principal-investigator role
• A current university appointment eligible for STTR research-institution work
• Experience commercialising research results

Compensation & structure

1099 consulting engagement. $60–$100 per hour, confirmed in writing before you are named on any proposal. Hours are funded by federal contract awards — engagements on this bench have ranged from roughly 130 to 710 hours across a period of performance, fully remote. Work and pay begin only if the contract is awarded — no award, no hours, no obligation.

Apply — Principal Investigator, Applied AI and Data (SBIR / STTR / NIH)

Every application is read personally by the founder. We respond to every serious one.

First name *

Last name *

Email *

Phone

City & state

Years of relevant experience * Select Under 5 5–10 10–15 15–20 20+

Work authorization * Select U.S. citizen U.S. lawful permanent resident Other

Security clearance Select (optional) None Prior (inactive) Active

Military service Select (optional) None Veteran Retired military Currently serving (Guard/Reserve)

LinkedIn or portfolio link

Resume (PDF or Word) *

How did you hear about us?

Five questions

These are the substance of the application. Answer from your own experience — a few sentences each is plenty, and “this never came up” is a real answer we want.

1. How often did a research plan that promised more than the team could measure by the end of the period of performance come up in your work, and roughly what did it cost — in hours, in people, or in rework? *

2. What tool or process does your organization use today for leading applied AI and data research as a principal investigator, and where does it fall short? *

3. If a better way to handle leading applied AI and data research as a principal investigator existed, which office or role would decide whether to adopt it? *

4. Do you have any role in deciding what tools or systems your organization adopts — approving, evaluating, or recommending a purchase? *

5. Do you own, or hold signing authority for, a company or consultancy of your own? *

May we name you, by name and title, as a proposed consultant on our team in federal proposals, and quote your answers above? * Please choose… Yes No

Submit application

Questions before applying? contact@precisionfederal.com · See all open roles