AI Methodologist

ECS Tech Inc•Fairfax, VA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

ECS is seeking an AI Methodologist to work in our Fairfax, VA office. Please Note: This position is contingent upon contract award. ECS is seeking an exceptional Artificial Intelligence (AI) Methodologist to support National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) modernization initiatives in alignment with DoD AI implementation strategy and guidance. This role represents the convergence of cutting-edge artificial intelligence, operational intelligence tradecraft, and strategic impact – all within an organization that genuinely values career growth and contribution to national security. At ECS, you'll have the mandate to challenge conventional approaches and the authority to drive change. You will partner directly with analytic teams to understand their most pressing intelligence questions, and design and implement AI solutions that others said could not be done. Build the adoption roadmap. Set the strategy. Execute the vision. This is leadership disguised as a technical role, within an organization that empowers, rather than micromanages. This role demands a talented individual who can navigate the complex landscape of acquisition, security, integration, and operational deployment across both GOTS (Government Off-The-Shelf) and COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) environments. You'll assess when to leverage existing government investments, when commercial solutions offer superior capabilities, and how to architect hybrid approaches that deliver the best of both worlds while maintaining security, compliance, and operational effectiveness.

Requirements

Active TS/SCI with Counterintelligence (CI) and/or Full-scope (FS) polygraph, and the willingness / ability to obtain a Lifestyle polygraph.
Ability to work an alternate work schedule (including night shifts) as required.
Bachelor's Degree and 15+ years of experience in intelligence analysis, with deep understanding of intelligence and operations cycles in a U.S. military or Intelligence Community (IC) environment.
Demonstrated expertise and actual hands-on implementation experience applying AI/ML to real-world intelligence problems (not just theoretical knowledge).
Ability to code in PYTHON and HTML.
Mastery of NGA tools, tradecraft, and analytic methodologies – you’ll need credibility with working-level analysts who've seen every "solution" pitch before.
Experience as an imagery analyst, with expertise in analyzing and exploiting Full Motion Video (FMV).
Deep understanding of object-based production and GEOINT workflows in operational contexts.
Fluency with DoD and IC information environments and the multi-source data ecosystem NGA depends on.
Understanding of both GOTS and COTS acquisition, integration, and operational deployment challenges in classified environments.
Ability to evaluate commercial AI technologies for applicability, security implications, and integration feasibility in national security contexts.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to work independently in dynamic, high-tempo operational environments.
Excellent analytical writing and briefing skills, with experience providing planned and ad-hoc briefings for senior leadership.
Demonstrated instructional capabilities, to include developing and implementing training plans and curriculum
Self-starter mentality with a customer-focused approach to delivering technology in operational environments.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with commercial AI platforms (AWS AI/ML services, Azure AI, Google Cloud AI, commercial computer vision platforms, etc.) and their potential integration into government workflows.

Responsibilities

Support NGA modernization activities in accordance with DoD AI strategy.
Design AI integration strategies that compress multi-day analytic workflows into hours by intelligently combining GOTS / COTS capabilities.
Assess the GOTS / COTS landscape to determine optimal solutions for specific intelligence problems: when to leverage NGA's internal investments, when to integrate commercial platforms, and how to architect hybrid solutions.
Eliminate bottlenecks where automation stops and manual work begins, regardless of whether solutions come from government development or commercial acquisition.
Evaluate emerging COTS AI platforms and services for applicability to NGA missions and security requirements.
Balance the speed and innovation of commercial solutions with the security, reliability, and mission-specificity of government-developed tools.
Embed with intelligence teams to deeply understand their Priority Intelligence Questions and operational constraints.
Develop and implement comprehensive implementation plans that enable analysts to leverage AI-enhanced workflows effectively.
Conduct on the job training to accelerate adoption of best practices.
Facilitate leadership briefings and demonstrations.
Translate analyst expertise into requirements that AI can augment.
Guide teams in leveraging the full spectrum of available capabilities: government-developed tradecraft tools, enterprise AI platforms, commercial ML services, and emerging technologies.
Develop incremental AI implementation roadmaps that build confidence, demonstrate value, and accelerate toward transformation.
Champion AI integration that enhances tradecraft rather than undermining it, ensuring solutions maintain security and compliance regardless of origin.
Measure what matters: faster analysis, higher confidence assessments, greater analytic capacity, and return on investment across GOTS / COTS expenditures.
Maintain awareness of emerging COTS AI capabilities, commercial platforms, and industry trends that could benefit NGA missions.
Advise leadership on technology investment strategies: when to build GOTS, when to buy COTS, and when to partner.
Build relationships with commercial vendors, government labs, and IC technology organizations to stay at the forefront of AI innovation.