Senior AI Engineer/Software Developer - TS/SCI with Polygraph

General Dynamics Information Technology • Chantilly, VA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a senior AI Engineer to lead the design, development, and secure integration of AI and machine learning capabilities into mission systems operating on classified networks. This is a hands-on technical leadership role: you will establish the architectural patterns, governance alignment, and engineering standards for AI-enabled features across the program, and grow a small team over time. You will work directly with program leadership, government stakeholders, and security/accreditation authorities to deliver AI capabilities that are effective, auditable, and compliant within a high-side environment.

Requirements

• Active TS/SCI with polygraph
• 8+ years of professional software development experience (or 6+ with a relevant advanced degree), including 3+ years building or integrating ML/AI capabilities
• Expert-level Python; working proficiency in at least one additional language (JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, or similar)
• Demonstrated experience deploying or serving LLMs or ML models in disconnected, on-premises, or government cloud environments (Azure Government, AWS GovCloud, or equivalent)
• Practical experience with model inference, embeddings, vector search, and prompt engineering in production systems
• Experience with containerization (Docker/Kubernetes or equivalent) and CI/CD in restricted environments
• Strong understanding of data security, classification handling, and responsible AI practices
• Proven ability to work directly with government customers and translate mission requirements into technical solutions

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting RMF accreditation or AO engagement for AI/ML systems
• Familiarity with open-weight model deployment (Llama, Mistral, or similar) and model quantization/optimization for constrained hardware
• Experience with ML frameworks (PyTorch preferred)
• Prior work on IC or DoD programs; NRO experience a significant plus
• Experience standing up or leading a small engineering team

Responsibilities

• Architect, build, and maintain AI-enabled applications and services within air-gapped and government cloud environments
• Deploy, serve, and tune large language models and ML models on-premises or in accredited cloud enclaves (no external API dependency)
• Design retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines and embedding workflows over controlled data sets, with appropriate data handling and classification controls
• Operationalize the program's AI governance framework: model capability tiering, use-case approval workflow, rules of engagement, and audit/logging requirements
• Support security accreditation activities, including AO engagement, RMF documentation inputs, and responsible AI evidence
• Build and optimize data pipelines feeding AI-driven features; integrate with existing program systems and workflows
• Establish code quality, testing, and documentation standards for the AI engineering function; mentor mid-level developers as the team grows
• Brief technical approach and results to program leadership and government customers

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages
• 401K with company match
• Competitive pay
• Paid time off
• Full flex work weeks where possible
• Variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave
• Short and long-term disability benefits
• Life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance

What This Job Offers

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