Lead AI/ML Engineer

This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S. Who we are: Raft ( is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting‑edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our clients include innovative federal and public agencies that leverage design thinking, cutting‑edge tech stack, and a cloud‑native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans. About the role: We are seeking a Lead AI/ML Engineer to drive the design, development, and deployment of machine learning and AI systems that operate in mission‑critical environments. You will lead the end‑to‑end lifecycle of AI solutions, from data ingestion and model development to production deployment, while guiding a cross‑functional team across engineering, data, and product. This role sits at the intersection of advanced AI capabilities and real‑world operational impact. You will work closely with customers and internal stakeholders to deliver scalable, secure, and high‑performance systems across cloud and edge environments. What You’ll Do Lead the architecture and development of AI/ML systems integrated into production‑grade data platforms. Design and implement scalable ML pipelines, including training, inference, and evaluation in distributed environments. Drive adoption of modern AI approaches—including LLMs, retrieval‑augmented generation, and agentic workflows. Design, train, fine‑tune, and deploy purpose‑built Small Language Models (SLMs) optimized for domain‑specific tasks, including quantization, distillation, and optimization techniques that enable low‑latency inference in resource‑constrained, edge, and air‑gapped environments. Partner with Data Engineers and DevSecOps to operationalize models in secure, containerized environments including Kubernetes and CI/CD pipelines. Translate mission needs into technical solutions while working directly with customers and stakeholders. Mentor and guide engineers while setting technical direction and best practices for AI/ML development. Ensure models are reliable, observable, and performant in real‑world operational conditions. Own the enterprise‑wide AI/ML strategy and multi‑year technical roadmap, aligning research, engineering, and product investments with mission outcomes and commercial objectives. Build, scale, and lead a multi‑team AI/ML organization, including hiring, performance management, and developing senior technical leaders across applied research, ML engineering, and MLOps. Establish and steward the technical vision for agentic systems, foundation models, and emerging AI paradigms, identifying strategic bets and guiding applied research investments that create long‑term competitive advantage. What we are looking for: Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related STEM field. 8+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, software engineering, or related field. Strong background in building and deploying machine learning models in production environments. Experience designing and maintaining ML pipelines and platforms—including training, inference, and monitoring. Proficiency in Python and modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Scikit‑learn. Strong software engineering fundamentals including APIs, microservices, testing, and version control. Experience working in cloud‑native environments such as AWS, Kubernetes, and containerization. Ability to lead technical initiatives and collaborate across interdisciplinary teams. Track record of setting multi‑year technical strategy and delivering AI/ML capabilities that directly drove revenue growth, customer acquisition, or measurable mission impact. Experience establishing AI governance, model risk management, and responsible AI practices at an enterprise scale. Highly preferred: Experience with LLMs, RAG architectures, and agent‑based systems. Experience deploying AI systems in edge, air‑gapped, or secure environments. Familiarity with event‑driven and data streaming architectures such as Kafka. Experience with MLOps tooling and workflows, including CI/CD for ML, model versioning, and observability. Contributions to open‑source projects, publications, or a strong GitHub portfolio. Experience with TypeScript or full‑stack integration of AI systems. Clearance Requirements: Minimum Secret security clearance with ability to obtain and maintain an active TS SCI clearance. Salary Range: $175,000.00 – $225,000.00 Work Type: Hybrid role: must be local to the Washington, DC metro area and come into Raft HQ in Tysons, VA or Chantilly 2‑3 days per week. Foreign and domestic travel up to 35% to customer sites. What we will offer you: Highly competitive salary. Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage. 401(k) and company match. Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays. And more. We’re an equal‑opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. #J-18808-Ljbffr