Perplexity/AI Integration Lead (Hybrid)

VIATEQ is looking for a Perplexity/AI Integration Lead to support our Prime contractor and government customer in Washington, DC. The position is hybrid and requires 3 days on-site. This position requires the candidate to be able to obtain a Public Trust.

We are seeking an experienced and innovative AI Integration Lead to join a forward-thinking technology team supporting the adoption and operationalization of artificial intelligence tools and platforms across enterprise environments. The ideal candidate is a technically proficient and strategically minded professional with hands-on experience implementing AI-powered solutions, including large language model (LLM) platforms such as Perplexity AI, and a passion for leveraging emerging technologies to solve complex, real-world problems. This individual will serve as the primary subject matter expert and integration lead for AI tooling initiatives, driving adoption, governance, and optimization of AI capabilities across client environments.

The AI Integration Lead will serve as the primary technical and strategic lead responsible for the evaluation, integration, deployment, and ongoing optimization of AI platforms and tools — including Perplexity AI and related large language model (LLM) technologies — within the client's enterprise environment. This individual will work closely with IT leadership, business stakeholders, and development teams to identify high-value AI use cases, architect integration solutions, and ensure responsible and effective adoption of AI capabilities in alignment with organizational goals and federal compliance requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the subject matter expert and technical lead for AI platform integration initiatives, with a focus on Perplexity AI and other enterprise-grade LLM and generative AI tools.

• Lead the end-to-end evaluation, piloting, deployment, and scaling of AI solutions across client environments, ensuring alignment with mission objectives, security requirements, and IT governance standards.

• Collaborate with business analysts, IT architects, and end users to identify, prioritize, and document AI use cases that drive operational efficiency, knowledge management, and decision support.

• Design and oversee integration architectures that connect AI platforms with existing enterprise systems, data sources, APIs, and workflows.

• Develop and maintain AI integration documentation, including solution architectures, data flow diagrams, API integration guides, and standard operating procedures.

• Establish and enforce AI governance frameworks, responsible use policies, and data privacy guidelines to ensure compliant and ethical deployment of AI tools within government or regulated environments.

• Monitor AI platform performance, usage metrics, and output quality, implementing continuous improvement measures to optimize AI tool effectiveness.

• Coordinate with cybersecurity and compliance teams to assess and address risks associated with AI platform integrations, including data handling, access controls, and model transparency.

• Provide training, enablement, and change management support to end users and stakeholders adopting AI tools, building organizational AI literacy and confidence.

• Stay current with the rapidly evolving AI technology landscape, evaluating emerging tools, platforms, and methodologies and providing actionable recommendations to leadership.

• Collaborate with development teams to support the integration of AI capabilities into existing applications, portals, and enterprise workflows via APIs and SDKs.

• Support the development of AI-related procurement documentation, including requirements gathering, vendor assessments, and statements of work.

• Produce regular reports and briefings for IT leadership and executive stakeholders on AI integration progress, outcomes, risks, and opportunities.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field from an accredited college or university, or equivalent work experience.

• 8+ years of experience in IT systems integration, software development, data engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 5+ years of hands-on experience deploying, configuring, or integrating AI/ML platforms, large language models, or generative AI tools in an enterprise environment.

• Demonstrated experience working with REST APIs, cloud platforms, and enterprise integration frameworks.

• Experience developing or contributing to AI governance, responsible AI, or data privacy frameworks within an organizational context.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.

• Experience supporting federal government IT or AI initiatives.

• Familiarity with FedRAMP-authorized AI platforms and federal AI policy guidance, including the Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Exceptional communication skills in English – both written and oral – with the ability to translate complex AI concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences, including executive stakeholders.

• Hands-on experience with AI and LLM platforms, including Perplexity AI, OpenAI, Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, Google Vertex AI, or equivalent enterprise AI tools.

• Strong understanding of large language model (LLM) capabilities, limitations, prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures, and AI output evaluation methodologies.

• Proficiency in integrating AI platforms with enterprise systems via REST APIs, webhooks, SDKs, and middleware solutions.

• Experience with cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and their native AI/ML service offerings.

• Knowledge of data governance, data privacy, and responsible AI principles, including bias mitigation, explainability, and compliance with applicable regulations.

• Familiarity with enterprise knowledge management, search, and information retrieval systems and the application of AI to enhance these capabilities.

• Ability to develop clear and comprehensive technical documentation, integration guides, and governance policies.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess complex technical challenges and develop practical, scalable AI-driven solutions.

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.

• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and the ability to operate effectively within iterative delivery frameworks.

• Ability to obtain Public Trust Clearance.

Preferred Skills and Competencies:

• Experience working in a federal government IT environment, including familiarity with FedRAMP, FISMA, and related compliance frameworks.

• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles as they apply to AI platform deployments, including data handling, access control, and model security.

• Familiarity with vector databases and embedding technologies used in retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) implementations (e.g., Pinecone, Weaviate, Azure AI Search, or similar).

• Experience with Python or other scripting languages for AI integration, automation, and data pipeline development.

• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 Copilot, SharePoint-based AI integrations, or Power Platform AI capabilities.

• Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer, Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate, AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty, or equivalent AI/ML certification.

• Experience with change management and organizational adoption strategies for emerging technology initiatives.

• Knowledge of natural language processing (NLP) concepts and their practical application in enterprise search, knowledge management, and workflow automation contexts.

Compensation Range:

$120,000 – 200,000. This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location, and other factors.

About VIATEQ

VIATEQ is a proactive provider of collaborative solutions for federal government agencies. Our collaborative service framework and flexibility allow employees, customers, and business partners to work together successfully anywhere, anytime. VIATEQ’s service areas also allow government agencies to respond to competitive pressures and achieve new performance levels.

VIATEQ offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, paid time off, 12 paid federal holidays, flexible spending accounts, and a professional development reimbursement.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

VIATEQ provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.