AI Data Engineer

AI Data Engineer

SG2 Recruiting has partnered with MASS Group to spearhead the search for a visionary AI Data Engineer. This is a pivotal opportunity to join a dynamic team and directly influence the company's next phase of growth. If you are a strategic thinker ready to make a tangible impact, we want to hear from you.

Company Overview

MASS Group builds TME®, a mission-critical Manufacturing Operating System designed specifically for defense manufacturers operating in air-gapped, CMMC-compliant environments. Our customers run some of the nation's most demanding production operations and rely on TME to execute high-stakes production workflows with total confidence. We foster a high-output, low-ego culture grounded in integrity, humility, and transparency, where engineers ship impactful capabilities directly to customers.

Your Role

As an AI Data Engineer, you will join a high-impact engineering team at a defining moment in our product lifecycle. With the release of TME 9.0, we are introducing a data-agnostic operational layer that transitions defense manufacturing workflows from human-assisted execution to automated operations. In this role, you will balance foundational data modeling and pipeline architecture with practical AI/RAG prototyping (an approximate 50/50 split during your first six months), turning raw, complex industrial data into clean, trustworthy operational intelligence across cloud and air-gapped environments.

What You Will Be Doing

• Architect Data Orchestration: Build and extend the core data orchestration layer powering TME 9.0, transitioning customer workflows from human-assisted processes to resilient, automated operations.
• Engineer Robust Pipelines: Turn raw application data from TME and complex legacy customer systems into structured, high-performance, and reliable business models.
• Prototype and Deploy AI Solutions: Develop, evaluate, and productionize practical AI capabilities-including Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and LLM-driven workflows-to drive operational value.
• Integrate Varied Data Sources: Design and maintain resilient APIs, ETL/ELT pipelines, and integration layers that handle diverse industrial and enterprise data inputs.
• Collaborate with Domain Experts: Partner with manufacturing subject matter experts to implement critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), outcome measures, and Statistical Process Control (SPC) calculations.
• Deploy Across Hybrid Infrastructure: Ensure pipeline and AI architecture functions seamlessly across diverse environments, including AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, and localized, on-premises air-gapped deployments.
• Leverage Modern Engineering Practices: Integrate AI tools into your daily engineering workflow to accelerate boilerplate development, scaffolding, and iterative testing.

What You Will Need
Must-Haves

• U.S. Citizenship: Must be a verified U.S. Citizen (required due to handling CMMC-compliant defense manufacturing data and export control regulations).
• Core Data Engineering Competency: Advanced proficiency in SQL, data modeling, relational schema design, and production ETL/ELT pipeline development.
• Software Engineering Foundations: Strong coding background in Python (or comparable scripting languages) with proven ability to build and consume RESTful APIs and system integrations.
• Practical AI & Architecture Mindset: Demonstrated experience prototyping, testing, and hardening AI solutions (such as RAG frameworks and LLM integrations) into repeatable, enterprise-grade architecture.
• Hybrid Deployment Familiarity: Working knowledge of modern data platforms and deployment practices spanning both commercial/government cloud ecosystems and on-premises servers.

Nice-to-Haves

• Security Clearance: Active Public Trust, Secret, or Top Secret security clearance (or eligibility to obtain one in the future).
• Enterprise Stack Experience: Exposure to C#/.NET web application ecosystems or full-stack architectures.
• Defense & Manufacturing Domain: Familiarity with CMMC compliance, air-gapped systems, Industrial IoT, or manufacturing quality metrics (SPC, yield, OEE).
• Business Intelligence: Hands-on experience with modern BI tooling, data visualization libraries, and reporting infrastructure.

Logistics

• Salary Range: $150,000 - $175,000 base salary per year (commensurate with experience).
• Work Location: 100% Remote (Strong preference for candidates based in EST or CST time zones, or located near Boston, MA or Washington, DC).
• Travel Expectations: 10% to 20% travel per quarter to visit customer manufacturing sites and secure defense installations for on-site deployments and testing.
• Benefits: Competitive comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision coverage, retirement savings plans, paid time off, and professional development support.

Interview Process

Our hiring process is designed to be transparent, technical, and respectful of your time:

1. Application & Intake Survey (~10 minutes): Complete our streamlined online application and quick preliminary intake questionnaire to confirm key logistics and background alignment.
2. Initial Recruiter Screen (20 minutes): A brief introductory conversation with SG2 Recruiting to align on your background, career goals, and mutual fit.
3. Engineering Leadership Review (15 minutes): A brief phone conversation with senior management covering role architecture, technical background, and past projects.
4. Technical Validation & Use Case Presentation: An interactive presentation and technical deep dive with senior leadership to validate architectural thinking, data modeling, and practical AI problem-solving.

Mental and Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to synthesize complex technical architectures and communicate effectively across cross-functional engineering, product, and client teams.
• Ability to travel up to 20% per quarter, which may include traversing commercial manufacturing plants, industrial production floors, and secure government customer facilities.
• Must be able to operate effectively in fast-paced environments with ambiguous or evolving requirements.

Related Duties as Assigned

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice to support evolving operational objectives and customer deployment priorities.

Equal Opportunity and Disability Statement

MASS Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

MASS Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in employment practices, including the application and interview process. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please contact the recruiting team.