AI/ML Engineer (sign-on bonus eligible)

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next. Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters—where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can: Shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world.To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Citizen. This position requires an active U.S. Government security clearance, applicants who do not currently hold the required clearance will not be eligible for consideration. Employment for cleared roles is contingent upon verification of clearance status. Export Control/ITAR: Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).Please review the job details below.This position requires an active U.S. Government Security Clearance at the TS/SCI level with required polygraph.Eligible for up to $15k sign-on bonus!Responsibilities: Develop, implement, and maintain AI/ML-enabled applications with a focus on agent-based workflows, LLM integration, and retrieval-augmented generation capabilities.Design and support agent-based application architectures, including orchestration logic, tool use, memory management, and integration with external systems.Implement and maintain RAG pipelines, including document processing, embedding generation, retrieval configuration, prompt assembly, and response optimization.Integrate LLMs into applications using available APIs, AI frameworks, and emerging protocols such as MCP.Develop and maintain REST APIs, particularly Python-based services, to support data retrieval, system integration, agent workflows, and application functionality.Support full-stack development of production-ready AI applications, including backend services, user-facing components, and enterprise deployment considerations.Process, transform, and organize structured and unstructured data to support AI/ML workflows, model interaction, and application performance.Design or refine Postgres schemas and data models to improve data organization, query performance, and application scalability.Optimize AI-enabled applications for performance, reliability, usability, and maintainability in enterprise environments.Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related area of study.Senior Labor Category: Minimum 8 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 7 years of experience with a Master’s degree; or 6 years of experience with a Doctorate.Active/current TS/SCI with required polygraph.Willingness to work onsite full time.US citizenship required.Proficiency in Python and common data/AI libraries.Experience developing AI/ML applications, including LLM-integrated applications, RAG workflows, or similar retrieval-based capabilities.Experience with agent-based programming concepts, AI frameworks, and tool-based LLM application development.Strong understanding of AI/ML foundational concepts, including transformers, algorithms, LLM behavior, data processing, and model integration patterns.Experience designing, developing, or integrating REST APIs to retrieve, process, or exchange data across systems.Familiarity with production-ready application development practices, including reliability, maintainability, testing, and deployment considerations.Preferred Qualifications: Experience with MCP or similar protocols for connecting AI agents to tools, data sources, and enterprise systems.Experience developing full-stack agent-based applications, including frontend interfaces, backend services, orchestration layers, and enterprise deployment patterns.Experience with Python REST API frameworks such as FastAPI or Flask.Experience implementing or optimizing LLM memory management approaches, including conversational memory, session state, context management, and retrieval-based memory.Experience with agent-based application optimization techniques, including prompt/tool orchestration, latency reduction, context window management, evaluation, observability, and cost/performance tuning.Experience working with vector databases, embedding models, semantic search, and retrieval configuration.Experience with Docker containers and containerized development environments.Experience with AWS or other cloud environments.Experience with Postgres, data transformation, structured/unstructured data processing, and schema refinement.Pay Transparency: To support pay transparency, Vantor includes salary ranges in all U.S. job postings. Starting pay for this role will fall within the listed range and will be based on factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, location, and market conditions. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role should not expect to receive compensation at the top of the range. The listed range reflects the expected pay for this position, and final offers will be determined based on each candidate’s experience, expertise, and alignment with the role. The base pay for this position within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $165,000.00 - $220,000.00 - $242,000.00 annually.For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range. Benefits: Vantor offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond the standard, including a robust 401(k) with company match, mental health resources, and unique perks like student loan repayment assistance, adoption reimbursement and pet insurance to support all aspects of your life. You can find more information on our benefits at: The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. The date of posting can be found on Vantor's Career page at the top of each job posting.To apply, submit your application via Vantor's Career page.EEO Policy: Vantor is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. We believe in fostering an environment where all team members feel respected, valued, and encouraged to share their ideas. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.SummaryLocation: McLean, VAType: Full time