AI/ML Engineer (Tactical Networks - CANES) | Active Secret clearance

General Dynamics • San Diego, CA

69d • $108,979 - $147,443 • Hybrid

About The Position

Transform data into decisive advantage as a AI/ML Engineer with GDIT. A career in applied machine learning at GDIT means building mission-grade analytics and automation that harden and optimize Navy tactical networks. You'll be at the forefront of innovation-advancing Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) and related platforms with NIWC Pacific (Codes 55131/55132/55133) in support of PMW-160 Tactical Networks. At GDIT, people are our differentiator. Our work depends on a Senior AI/ML Engineer who can design, deploy, and sustain models at the edge-within virtualized, bandwidth-constrained, and intermittently connected environments-while meeting rigorous cybersecurity and programmatic standards.

Requirements

• Security Clearance: Active Secret clearance.
• Experience: 2+ years applying AI/ML to large-scale or mission systems (time-series/graph/NLP), including production deployments and lifecycle sustainment. 2+ years MLOps (containerization, orchestration, CI/CD, model/version management, monitoring) and secure software practices.
• Hands-on data engineering with SQL/NoSQL, stream processing (e.g., Kafka), and Python-based ML stacks (PyTorch or TensorFlow, scikit-learn, pandas).
• Demonstrated delivery in constrained/edge environments (performance tuning, model compression/quantization, resilience to disconnection).
• Familiarity with DoD cybersecurity processes (RMF, STIGs) and documentation practices.
• Education: BS in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field (equivalent experience may substitute per GDIT policy).
• Position Availability: Position is currently pending final contract award.
• Work Location: Onsite San Diego, CA (NIWC Pacific); ~10-25% CONUS/OCONUS travel to labs, shipyards, and fleet concentration areas per tasking.
• US Citizenship Required

Nice To Haves

• Prior support to PMW-160/NIWC Pacific or CANES-like programs; understanding of Navy network operations, GPON, QoS, and transport/optical basics.
• Certifications: Security+ CE (or higher 8140 baseline if privileged access assigned), CKA/CKAD, AWS/Azure/GCP ML Specialty, Splunk Core/Enterprise.
• Experience with graph ML (PyG/NetworkX), time-series platforms (Kats, Prophet), and XAI (SHAP/LIME).
• Integration with observability stacks (Prometheus/Grafana), IaC (Ansible/Terraform), and secure SBOM/supply-chain controls.
• Participation in CCRI prep, DT/OT data analysis, and performance test harness development.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement ML solutions for network assurance and cyber defense: anomaly detection, fault prediction, QoS optimization, capacity planning, and automated triage across ashore/afloat/subsurface/airborne domains.
• Build secure data pipelines (ETL/ELT) from CANES telemetry, logs, and performance counters; develop features for time-series, graph, and NLP use cases; enforce data governance and labeling quality.
• Operationalize models with MLOps: containerize (Docker), orchestrate (Kubernetes/Openshift), version (MLflow/DVC), and automate CI/CD (GitLab/Jenkins) for model build/test/deploy in disconnected and low-bandwidth scenarios.
• Optimize for edge inference using ONNX/TensorRT and CPU/GPU acceleration; implement drift monitoring, retraining triggers, A/B or canary deployments, and model explainability for operator trust.
• Integrate analytics with enterprise tooling (e.g., REST/gRPC services, message buses, dashboards such as Grafana/Splunk) and with program configuration management (CMPro) and issue workflows (Jira/Confluence).
• Align solutions to Risk Management Framework (RMF) and DISA STIGs; produce artifacts (e.g., security design, data flows, test plans) supporting IATT/ATO packages in Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service (eMASS) in coordination with IA teams.
• Support Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), and lab events in NIWC Pacific facilities; collect test data, analyze results, and author technical reports/white papers.
• Mentor engineers and analysts on ML best practices; contribute to Systems Engineering Plans (SEPs) and DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) views related to data/analytics services.

Benefits

• Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match.
• To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave.
• To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available.
• We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees