Jr. AI Developer

iCatalyst•Mclean, VA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Jr. AI Developer to join our growing team in support of our federal program. This is an exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies and contribute to impactful, mission-critical initiatives.

Requirements

Experience contributing to AI/ML or LLM-based solutions across data ingestion, model development, deployment, and production integration.
Strong programming experience in Python, with a focus on building AI/ML applications.
Experience building LLM-based applications using Azure AI services, such as Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Studio, or Azure AI Search.
Experience developing REST APIs and backend services using frameworks such as FastAPI, Flask, or similar.
Experience in data processing and manipulation using tools such as Pandas and NumPy or similar.
Experience integrating AI capabilities into production applications.
Familiarity with cloud-native development practices and CI/CD pipelines.
Understanding of secure development practices and enterprise environments; NIST/FedRAMP awareness is preferred.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and deliver high-quality work in fast-paced environments.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently on assigned tasks while collaborating effectively and seeking guidance when needed.
Strong attention to detail, with a focus on accuracy and quality.
Effective communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
Adaptable and flexible, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively across cross-functional teams.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
1+ years of software development experience, including experience with AI/ML solutions.
Experience building and deploying AI/ML or LLM-based applications.
Experience integrating AI capabilities into enterprise applications or systems.
Proven ability to work in fast-paced, client-focused environments.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related STEM field from an accredited university with 1 year of experience.
U.S. Citizenship required.
Ability to successfully pass a federal background check.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with supporting APIs, orchestration frameworks, and model libraries, such as OpenAI APIs, LangChain, LlamaIndex, or Hugging Face, is a plus.
Familiarity with low-code/no-code platforms (Appian, UiPath, Pega) is a plus.
Experience with .NET/C# environments is a plus, particularly for integrating AI services into existing applications.
Preferred certifications include: Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate, Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate, Other relevant AI/ML or cloud certifications, such as Appian, Pega, or UiPath Developer; AWS Certified Solutions Architect; Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert; or Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect.
Experience supporting federal programs preferred.

Responsibilities

Support the design, development, testing, and deployment of AI-powered applications using Azure AI services, including: Azure OpenAI Service, Azure AI Studio, Azure AI Search (vector search), Cognitive Services (as applicable).
Contribute across the development lifecycle for AI solutions, from prototyping and model development through deployment and production integration, with guidance from senior team members as needed.
Design, develop, and integrate AI-powered capabilities using or in conjunction with low-code/no-code platforms (e.g., Appian, UiPath, Pega) to enable scalable automation and workflow solutions.
Build and implement LLM-based solutions, including: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Intelligent chatbots/copilots, AI-driven automation tools.
Develop scalable backend services and APIs to support AI functionality using technologies such as Python.
Build and maintain data pipelines for ingestion, transformation, and inference using Azure data services (e.g., Blob Storage, Data Lake).
Apply prompt engineering, model evaluation, and optimization techniques to improve the performance, accuracy, and usability of AI solutions.
Integrate AI capabilities into existing enterprise applications, including .NET-based systems where applicable.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, product, DevOps, UX) to implement and support AI features in production environments.
Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and deployment workflows using Azure DevOps or similar tools.
Maintain lightweight technical documentation (e.g., architecture overviews, API documentation, key design decisions) to support development and knowledge sharing.
Ensure solutions follow secure coding practices and align with applicable enterprise security guidelines (e.g., NIST and FedRAMP awareness).
Provide support and expertise in assigned domain.
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver solutions.
Ensure adherence to security, compliance, and quality standards.
Support continuous improvement and innovation initiatives.
Special projects as needed.

Benefits

Variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts
Dental plan option
Vision plan
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
Paid time off plans, including vacation, sick, 11 Federal holidays, military, bereavement and jury duty leave
Short and long-term disability benefits
Life, accidental death and dismemberment, insurance
Phone and internet Reimbursement for eligible employees
Transportation Support (Uber rides to & from HQ to select locations)
Training & Education Assistance (per eligibility)
Annual Wellness Benefit
Social and Community giveback