Clarity Innovations

Principal AI Engineer

Clarity Innovations$130K — $160K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6-10 years of professional experience in software engineering focused on AI/ML and cloud-native infrastructure.
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technical field.
  • Proficient in modern programming languages (e.g., Python, Go) and RESTful APIs.
  • Strong experience with Kubernetes (K8s) and container orchestration.
  • Experience with Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG).
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a high-trust environment.

Responsibilities

  • Contribute to the development of the AI access platform and the AI run stack using Kubernetes.
  • Automate deployment of core AI services following K8s standards.
  • Integrate and serve frontier models and local inference engines through OpenAI-compatible interfaces.
  • Design and implement MLOps pipelines for AI application lifecycles.
  • Advise on standards for AI-enabled development practices across the organization.
  • Enhance tools for improving workflow and task management within the team.

Benefits

  • Flexible on-site work schedule, with 2-3 days in office per week.
  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI technologies and frameworks.
  • Collaboration within a dynamic, high-trust team environment.
  • Potential for contribution to impactful AI development projects in the cybersecurity domain.
Full Job Description
Principal AI Engineer

Location: Herndon, VA (On-site)

Experience Level: 6-10 years of experience

Security Clearance: TS/SCI Required

Overview

Clarity Innovations is seeking a Principal AI Engineer to join the AI Enablement Team. In this role, you will be a key contributor to operationalizing, securing, and maturing artificial intelligence capabilities within the Joint Development Environment (JDE) and various operational platform environments. You will help build and maintain the AI "path-to-prod," ensuring a stable and scalable AI technical stack across multiple mission operational environments and development spaces for various cyber tools and capabilities. Our project lays the AI "plumbing" for accessing models and inference through a continually evolving single AI run stack.

Background

This project is focused on providing a unified interface for AI model access, enabling users to leverage both local open-source and Cloud Service Provider (CSP) managed models (such as AWS Bedrock and Azure OpenAI). The project aims to supercharge users by integrating AI access, tools, and frameworks into their workflows, from general content creation to advanced AI-powered development tools. You will be working with Clarity's AI access platform, to centralize API management and streamline AI enablement. In addition, you will provide expert recommendations for adoption of AI across various enterprise teams to include agentic orchestration, spec-driven development, and MLOps workflows.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Contribute to the build-out and day-to-day execution of the AI access platform and the AI run stack, based on K8s
  • Manage and automate the deployment of core AI services using a standardized K8s framework
  • Facilitate the integration and serving of various frontier models (e.g., Claude, GPT) and local inference engines (e.g., vLLM) through OpenAI-compatible interfaces and AI access gateways (e.g., Open WebUI).
  • Design and implement MLOps pipelines to support the full lifecycle of AI-enabled applications.
  • Help inform the standards of AI-enabled development the enterprise customer and development teams should adopt (i.e., spec-driven standards for agentic development, AI-coding workflows, skills libraries, etc.)
  • Help inform and develop MCP-based tools to improve the platform and team workflows / tasks

Requirements
  • Ability to collaborate as a team but execute independently
  • Thrives in a high-trust, adaptable team environment
  • Proficiency in working with Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and agentic workflows.
  • Strong proficiency in modern programming languages (e.g., Python, Go) and building/consuming RESTful APIs
  • Proficient with Kubernetes (K8s) deployment strategies, cluster lifecycle (deployment, troubleshooting, scaling), and container orchestration
  • Ability to be high side / on customer site 2-3 days per week on average (in Herndon, VA headquarters and then occasionally traveling to customer site in Columbia, MD)

Education & Experience
  • 6-10 years of professional experience in software engineering, with a significant focus on AI/ML and cloud-native infrastructure.
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technical field.

Nice-To-Haves
  • Experience working with NVIDIA AI Enterprise, Nemo Agent Toolkit, and NIMs
  • Experience with K8s-based platforms, including declarative deployments, GitOps (e.g., ArgoCD, FluxCD)
  • Familiarity with OpenTelemetry (OTEL) for tracking LLM traces, metrics, and inference tracking (FinOps workflows)
  • Experience working within the cyberspace domain and offensive cyber operations
  • TS/SCI w/ CI Poly (TS/SCI is required, Poly is nice-to-have)

About Clarity Innovations

Clarity Innovations offers technical and consultation services to help companies to design, create, and publish education-specific professional development materials in a variety of formats, applications, and online collaboration tools. The company’s service portfolio includes expertise consulting, marketing strategy and analysis, product management, instructional content design, digital learning development, and customer engagement. Clarity Innovations was founded in 1996 and is based in Portland, Oregon.

Clarity Innovations Careers

Joining Clarity Innovations marks the beginning of a unique journey in a company where innovation meets leadership, and diversity fuels growth. Clarity Innovations stands out as a beacon of professional development and technological advancement, offering a plethora of job opportunities that cater to a wide range of skills and interests.

Explore Career Opportunities

Clarity Innovations is actively hiring and continuously seeks passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Explore open positions that align with your professional skills and career ambitions. Clarity Innovations values curiosity and leadership, qualities that each team member brings to the forefront of every project.

Innovation and Professional Growth

At Clarity Innovations, the path to professional growth is enriched with endless opportunities. From advanced training programs to leadership development, Clarity Innovations is dedicated to empowering its employees. The company's commitment to innovation is not just about technology but also about pioneering new ways to work and lead.

Diversity and Inclusion

With a firm belief in the power of diversity, Clarity Innovations fosters an inclusive culture that thrives on different perspectives and ideas. Diversity training is integral to the company's ethos, ensuring that all team members feel valued and understood.

Internship Programs

Clarity Innovations offers robust internship programs that provide a solid foundation for a flourishing career. Interns gain hands-on experience, working alongside seasoned professionals and engaging in projects that challenge and enhance their abilities.

Benefits and Culture

The benefits at Clarity Innovations go beyond traditional employment perks. Employees enjoy a supportive and dynamic work environment that promotes personal and professional well-being. The company culture is built on mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared vision for success.

Networking and Career Advancement

Networking within Clarity Innovations opens doors to influential connections and insightful exchanges. The company encourages networking events and professional gatherings that help employees expand their horizons and advance their careers.

Applying for a Position

To apply for a position at Clarity Innovations, candidates are encouraged to submit a resume that highlights relevant experience and skills. The interview process is designed to assess not only professional capabilities but also a fit with the company’s culture and values.

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Join the Clarity Innovations Team

Search for job opportunities that match your skills and interests. Clarity Innovations is looking for individuals who are driven to innovate and lead in their respective fields.

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Sign up to receive personalized job alerts and the latest news from Clarity Innovations. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Clarity Innovations. By fostering a culture of innovation, leadership, and diversity, Clarity Innovations not only propels its own growth but also contributes significantly to the industry's advancement. Join Clarity Innovations and be part of a team that is shaping the future.
Learn more about Clarity Innovations
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