Senior Principal AI/ML Systems Engineer

SAIC • Chantilly, VA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a highly skilled AI/ML Systems Engineer to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) support to a mission critical program. In this role, the candidate will directly support the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) Office of Space Launch (OSL), which is responsible for launch system acquisitions, mission planning, integration, and on-orbit operations across the mission full lifecycle. The position is ideal for engineers who thrive at the intersection of advanced analytics, system engineering, and strategic advisory work. An active Top Secret Clearance with Polygraph is required.

Requirements

• Bachelors and nine (14) years or more experience; Masters and seven (9) years or more experience; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience. Relevant experience to be substituted in lieu of degree.
• Active Top Secret Clearance with Polygraph.
• Relevant industry experience in designing and implementing AI/ML solutions.
• Strong knowledge of ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch) and programming languages (e.g., Python, R).
• Experience with cloud computing services (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and their AI/ML offerings.
• Proficient in data modeling, data pipeline creation, and deployment of ML models in production environments.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices, including MLOps, and CI/CD pipelines for AI/ML.
• Must have SECURE Plus Certification
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work on complex issues where analysis of situations requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven record of engaging stakeholders and mentoring teams.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross functional teams to define AI/ML project goals, success criteria, and development roadmaps that align with mission priorities.
• Understand and guide the design of advanced AI/ML models and algorithms, ensuring solutions effectively address complex mission challenges and deliver measurable value.
• Translate mission and business challenges into AI/ML opportunities, clearly articulating benefits, risks, and trade offs to non technical stakeholders.
• Stay current on emerging AI/ML technologies, introducing best practices, tools, and methodologies to strengthen the customer’s technical posture.
• Provide mentorship and technical leadership to junior AI/ML practitioners, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
• Work closely with customer and vendor data engineers and architects to ensure data pipelines, infrastructure, and compute environments are optimized for model development and deployment.
• Support vendor teams in rigorous model validation and performance testing, ensuring AI/ML solutions meet mission requirements for accuracy, reliability, and robustness.

What This Job Offers

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