Lead Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer

General Dynamics Information Technology • Chantilly, VA

3d • $169,604 - $229,464 • Onsite

About The Position

Are you ready to be a part of an elite team at GDIT, working on a large-scale, pioneering National Intelligence program? This is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself into an environment that fuses innovation, speed, and security to safeguard our Nation. At GDIT, you'll thrive in a dynamic and collaborative setting, where your technical skills will be both challenged and expanded. This program offers the chance to engage with cutting-edge technologies and contemporary development practices in support of a vital mission. You'll play a critical role in addressing some of the most intricate security and operational challenges facing Intelligence and Homeland Security today. Come join us and contribute to a mission that truly matters, while advancing your career alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Data Science, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience in software engineering and/or AI/ML engineering.
• Proven experience designing, developing, and deploying AI/ML solutions in production environments.
• Hands-on experience with common AI/ML frameworks and tools (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, Transformers, spaCy, Hugging Face, etc.).
• Strong proficiency in at least one modern programming language (e.g., Python, Java, C#, or similar).
• Experience with cloud platforms and services (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and data pipelines for AI/ML workloads.
• Demonstrated experience working in multi-project or portfolio environments (e.g., IDIQ, multi-TO, or large-scale programs).
• Familiarity with DevSecOps/CI/CD practices and tools (e.g., GitLab, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, containers, Kubernetes).
• Experience transitioning legacy applications or data systems to modern architectures.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex AI concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to balance innovation with delivery discipline in meeting cost, schedule, and performance goals.
• Top Secret SCI + Polygraph clearance must be currently possessed.
• Top Secret SCI + Polygraph clearance must be obtainable.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant technical field.
• Experience supporting government or regulated industry customers under IDIQ or similar contract vehicles.
• Background in MLOps and observability for AI systems (model monitoring, drift detection, logging, metrics).
• Experience with data governance, responsible AI, and explainable AI (XAI) practices.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks and portfolio management.
• Experience leading or mentoring AI/ML teams across multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the innovation and technical AI lead across a six–Task Order (TO) software-development IDIQ portfolio.
• Operate within the Program Management Office (PMO) and report directly to the Solution Architect.
• Rationalize and optimize the solution portfolio.
• Guide AI/ML and automation insertion across multiple TOs.
• Drive continuous improvement in delivery processes and technical solutions.
• Lead selection of AI models based on use case and performance requirements, including model optimization and tuning.
• Explore use of open-weight/open-source models to reduce token consumption across the program and TOs.
• Collaborate with customer on adoption of new and emerging AI capabilities.
• Ensure cost, schedule, and performance objectives are met across completion-based task orders.
• Develop and maintain an AI/ML strategy for the six–Task Order IDIQ portfolio, aligned with enterprise architecture and program objectives.
• Assess current systems and capabilities to identify opportunities for AI-driven enhancements, cost savings, and performance improvements.
• Rationalize overlapping solutions and tools across task orders, driving reuse, common services, and standardized approaches to AI/ML.
• Architect and guide the design, development, integration, and deployment of AI/ML solutions (e.g., predictive analytics, NLP, recommendation engines, intelligent automation) into existing and new applications.
• Leverage GDIT enterprise accelerators—including ALAMO, Coral, and SDAF—to rapidly design, prototype, and operationalize AI capabilities across the portfolio.
• Coordinate with corporate reach-back and centralized GDIT accelerator teams to ensure effective adoption, configuration, and continuous enhancement of ALAMO, Coral, and SDAF within program solutions.
• Partner with individual TO technical leads to define use cases, data requirements, model selection, training pipelines, and MLOps practices.
• Establish and enforce best practices for AI model lifecycle: experimentation, evaluation, deployment, monitoring, retraining, and retirement.
• Ensure AI solutions are secure, auditable, explainable, and compliant with applicable regulations and customer policies.
• Drive continuous improvement across the portfolio by introducing modern engineering practices (MLOps, DevSecOps, CI/CD, infrastructure as code, automated testing, observability).
• Lead proof-of-concept and rapid prototyping efforts to validate new AI capabilities before scaling.
• Track industry trends and emerging AI technologies, and evaluate their applicability to the program.
• Define metrics and KPIs to measure the impact of AI initiatives on mission outcomes, user experience, and operational efficiency.
• Lead technical planning and execution for transitioning legacy systems and workflows to modern architectures, including cloud-native and AI-enabled platforms.
• Perform technical and architectural assessments of legacy applications and data sources to inform migration and modernization strategies.
• Collaborate with PMO and TO leadership to sequence and manage transitions to minimize risk and disruption to operations.
• Support PMO and Solution Architect in estimating AI-related work, defining scope, and planning for cost-effective delivery.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks impacting schedule and performance across completion-based task orders.
• Provide regular status updates, technical roadmaps, and decision support to PMO leadership and customer stakeholders.
• Ensure AI initiatives are aligned with contractual requirements, performance objectives, and quality standards.
• Work closely with TO leads, software engineers, data engineers, business analysts, and UX teams to integrate AI into end-to-end solutions.
• Engage customer stakeholders to refine requirements, demonstrate AI capabilities, and support change management and adoption.
• Mentor and guide engineering teams on AI/ML concepts, tools, and best practices, building a strong internal AI capability.

Benefits

• Variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts
• Dental plan options
• 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
• Full flex work weeks where possible
• Variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time
• Holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Military leave
• Bereavement leave
• Jury duty leave
• Short and long-term disability benefits
• Life insurance
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Personal accident insurance
• Critical illness insurance
• Business travel and accident insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior