Senior AI Software Engineer

Senior AI Software Engineer

Chantilly/Herndon, VA

Dark Wolf constructs and deploys data management and analytics solutions for the defense and intelligence communities. We're proud to boast a world-class engineering team that thrives on rolling up their sleeves to solve your mission's biggest challenges. Dark Wolf is seeking a Senior AI Software Engineer to design, build, and integrate AI/ML solutions and microservices. You will work directly on integrating open-source and proprietary models, fine-tuning workflows, constructing RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) applications, and deploying secure software in multi-cloud environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Fine-tune open-source and proprietary AI models for domain-specific mission requirements.
• Develop RAG pipelines and vector search integrations using modern AI frameworks.
• Build, deploy, and manage containerized microservices using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Integrate automated security scanning tools directly into continuous integration pipelines.
• Collaborate within Agile teams to break down technical requirements, conduct technical reviews, and mentor junior developers.

Required Qualifications

• Clearance: Must be a US Citizen holding an active TS/SCI security clearance with an active Full-Scope Polygraph.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical field (Master's degree preferred).
• Experience: 4-7 years of software engineering experience.

Technical Competencies

• AI Frameworks: Hands-on experience with frameworks such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, or Hugging Face.
• AI Models: Practical experience fine-tuning Large Language Models (LLMs) and Small Language Models (SLMs).
• Machine Learning: End-to-end knowledge of model training, dataset curation, and data pipeline design.
• Programming & Scripting: Strong proficiency in Python, C++, and REST API architecture.
• Containerization: Proficient with Docker, Kubernetes cluster orchestration, and Helm charts.
• Agile Frameworks: Active participation in Agile sprint execution, story estimation, and backlog refinement.
• Multi-Cloud Architecture: Experience configuring and managing cloud services across AWS or Azure GovCloud environments.
• Security Scanning Tooling: Experience embedding SAST/DAST tools into CI/CD build environments.

Desired Qualifications

• Specialized technical certifications such as Kubernetes Certified Administrator (CKA) or AWS Certified Developer/Architect.
• Experience working on high-assurance or government security projects.

Position Clearance Requirement: US Citizenship with an active TS/SCI security clearance with Full-Scope Polygraph

Location: Chantilly/Herndon, VA.

Target Salary Range: $130,000.00 – $170,000.00 (Commensurate with specialized expertise and technical skillset).

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity, confirm US Citizenship, and complete the required employment eligibility verification upon hire.

We are strictly looking for direct, full-time W2 employees. We do not engage with third-party staffing agencies, C2C, or 1099 independent contractors for this role.