Senior AI Engineer/Software Developer - TS/SCI with Polygraph

Type of Requisition:
Regular

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:
Top Secret SCI + Polygraph

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:
Top Secret SCI + Polygraph

Public Trust/Other Required:
None

Job Family:
Data Science and Data Engineering

Job Qualifications:

Skills:
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Python Automation
Certifications:
None
Experience:
8 + years of related experience
US Citizenship Required:
Yes

Job Description:

Role Overview
We are seeking a senior AI Engineer to lead the design, development, and secure integration of AI and machine learning capabilities into mission systems operating on classified networks. This is a hands-on technical leadership role: you will establish the architectural patterns, governance alignment, and engineering standards for AI-enabled features across the program, and grow a small team over time. You will work directly with program leadership, government stakeholders, and security/accreditation authorities to deliver AI capabilities that are effective, auditable, and compliant within a high-side environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, build, and maintain AI-enabled applications and services within air-gapped and government cloud environments
• Deploy, serve, and tune large language models and ML models on-premises or in accredited cloud enclaves (no external API dependency)
• Design retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines and embedding workflows over controlled data sets, with appropriate data handling and classification controls
• Operationalize the program's AI governance framework: model capability tiering, use-case approval workflow, rules of engagement, and audit/logging requirements
• Support security accreditation activities, including AO engagement, RMF documentation inputs, and responsible AI evidence
• Build and optimize data pipelines feeding AI-driven features; integrate with existing program systems and workflows
• Establish code quality, testing, and documentation standards for the AI engineering function; mentor mid-level developers as the team grows
• Brief technical approach and results to program leadership and government customers

Required Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with polygraph
• 8+ years of professional software development experience (or 6+ with a relevant advanced degree), including 3+ years building or integrating ML/AI capabilities
• Expert-level Python; working proficiency in at least one additional language (JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, or similar)
• Demonstrated experience deploying or serving LLMs or ML models in disconnected, on-premises, or government cloud environments (Azure Government, AWS GovCloud, or equivalent)
• Practical experience with model inference, embeddings, vector search, and prompt engineering in production systems
• Experience with containerization (Docker/Kubernetes or equivalent) and CI/CD in restricted environments
• Strong understanding of data security, classification handling, and responsible AI practices
• Proven ability to work directly with government customers and translate mission requirements into technical solutions

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting RMF accreditation or AO engagement for AI/ML systems
• Familiarity with open-weight model deployment (Llama, Mistral, or similar) and model quantization/optimization for constrained hardware
• Experience with ML frameworks (PyTorch preferred)
• Prior work on IC or DoD programs; NRO experience a significant plus
• Experience standing up or leading a small engineering team

The likely salary range for this position is $164,382 - $218,500. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40

Travel Required:
None

Telecommuting Options:
Onsite

Work Location:
USA VA Chantilly

Additional Work Locations:

Total Rewards at GDIT:
Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Our Identity Verification Process:
As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.