AI Model Engineering

Location: Northern Virginia Experience: 5+ years Job Type: Permanent Compensation: $160K - $220K

### Top Skills & Technologies Python | RAG | LLM | Azure | AWS | PyTorch | Docker | Kubernetes

### Job Summary Thinking Minds' client is seeking a senior AI engineer to lead the design, development, and secure integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities into mission systems. This hands-on technical leadership role establishes architectural patterns, governance practices, and engineering standards for reliable AI-enabled applications. Working onsite with program leadership, government stakeholders, and security authorities, the engineer will deliver auditable solutions across disconnected, on-premises, and government cloud environments while helping develop the engineering team.

### Ideal Candidate Should Have
Strong technical judgment and ownership of production AI systems, from architecture through deployment and ongoing optimization.

The ability to translate mission requirements into practical solutions and communicate technical approaches clearly to government customers.

A collaborative leadership style, with experience mentoring developers and establishing maintainable engineering practices.

### Key Responsibilities
Architect, build, and maintain AI-enabled services in air-gapped environments and accredited cloud enclaves without external API dependencies.

Deploy, serve, and tune LLM and ML models; design RAG pipelines and Embedding workflows over controlled datasets.

Build data pipelines and integrate AI capabilities with existing systems, applying appropriate data security and handling controls.

Operationalize AI governance through capability tiering, use-case approval, rules of engagement, audit logging, and responsible AI evidence.

Support RMF documentation and AO engagement; establish code quality, testing, documentation, and delivery standards.

### Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, with professional software development experience that includes building or integrating AI/ML capabilities.

Expert Python skills and working proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript , Java , or a comparable language.

Experience deploying models in disconnected or government cloud environments, including Azure Government or AWS GovCloud .

Practical production experience with model inference, embeddings , vector search, and Prompt Engineering .

Experience with Docker/Kubernetes and CI/CD in restricted environments, plus strong responsible AI and data security practices.

Security+CE or another IAT Level II or higher certification.

### Preferred Qualifications
Experience with PyTorch , open-weight models such as Llama or Mistral , and model quantization or optimization for constrained hardware.

Experience supporting AI/ML accreditation activities, government mission programs, or establishing a small engineering team.

Thinking Minds' client offers professional growth opportunities, collaborative mission-focused work, comprehensive benefits, retirement matching, and paid time off.