Technical Lead - Serving & Pipelines SME

ECS Tech Inc•Fairfax, VA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The War Data Platform (WDP) is a key initiative within the U.S. Department of War's (DoW) AI-First strategy introduced in early 2026. The WDP focuses on operational warfighting data and aims to accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) on the battlefield. The WDP extends to Unclassified, Secret, and Top Secret environments, and supports collaboration between Combatant Commands, Joint Staff directorates, Senior Executive Service leaders, and operational analysts. This role designs, architects, and leads end-to-end AI and machine-learning model serving operations across all WDP classification enclaves, owning the full lifecycle of automated model pipelines—from scan and validation through cross-domain promotion and production release—to ensure scalable, secure, and mission-ready AI capability delivery across NIPRNet, SIPRNet, and JWICS.

Requirements

Current Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (TS) security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
Minimum 12 years of experience designing, operating, and leading AI/ML model serving operations and automated deployment pipelines within classified or federal multi‑enclave environments.
Demonstrated hands‑on expertise with container orchestration and pipeline tooling—including Kubernetes, Argo Workflows, GitLab CI, and Sonatype—with a proven ability to build automated scan, validate, and deploy workflows for model artifacts at enterprise scale.
Proven experience engineering and governing cross‑domain model promotion workflows, including coordination of synchronized multi‑enclave releases across NIPRNet, SIPRNet, and JWICS at high release cadence.
Demonstrated ability to design and implement AI/ML model serving endpoints, API proxy configurations, and access control frameworks that support scalable and auditable model consumption across classification boundaries.
Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making capabilities, with a proven ability to weigh the relative costs and benefits of potential actions and identify the most appropriate solution.
Highly developed interpersonal and oral/written communication skills, with the ability to effectively and professionally interact with a diverse set of stakeholders (from peers to end‑users to executive management).

Responsibilities

Designs, architects, and leads end-to-end AI and machine-learning model serving operations across Unclassified, Secret, and Top Secret enclaves supporting mission analysts, operational planners, and senior decision makers.
Builds and maintains automated data and model pipelines that scan, validate, package, and deploy model artifacts into production environments using enterprise tools such as Kubernetes, Argo Workflows, GitLab CI, Sonatype, and automated security scanning suites.
Integrates test and evaluation checkpoints into deployment pathways to validate mission readiness, performance reliability, and adherence to engineering and cybersecurity best practices before models enter operational use.
Implements serving endpoint configurations, proxy patterns, and access control integrations for scalable, secure, and auditable model consumption across the War Data Platform (WDP) Core Integration Platform.
Maintains an enterprise model catalog and model-zoo interface providing users with structured discovery, metadata access, and controlled onboarding workflows.
Coordinates cross-domain model promotions using approved transfer mechanisms to deliver synchronized releases across NIPRNet, SIPRNet, and JWICS.
Establishes standardized release processes for multi-enclave deployments supporting ten to thirty model and service releases per month.
Integrates external model provider services—including commercial foundation model platforms—to expand mission-aligned model availability via secure application programming interfaces.
Leads troubleshooting and Tier-4 support activities for model serving, deployment infrastructure, and production pipelines.
Produces engineering artifacts, architecture diagrams, and operational reports that advance reliability, accelerate release velocity, strengthen mission assurance, and increase adoption of enterprise artificial intelligence capabilities.
Performs other duties as assigned.