540 is seeking a Senior Software Engineer (AI/ML) to support our partnership with Google and the Department of Defense in advancing mission-critical capabilities for a global data processing platform. This platform leverages Machine Learning, modern cloud and containerized technologies to ingest, process, and analyze high-volume, time-series data.

The system leverages cloud-native infrastructure, while incorporating AI/ML capabilities to enhance signal analysis, anomaly detection, and data-driven insights. Engineers on this team build and scale full-stack features across user interfaces, backend services, and data pipelines that power mission-critical analytics. You'll play a key role in integrating AI/ML-driven capabilities into production systems, enabling faster, more accurate operational decision-making.

Location: Patrick SFB, FL (Patrick Space Force Base). Primarily onsite, up to 5 days/week
Citizenship & Clearance Requirement: Per client requirements, candidates must be U.S. Citizens with an active DoD clearance with TS/SCI eligibility
Education Requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field (preferred)
540 Internal Thrive Level: Senior Software Engineer

HOW YOU'LL DRIVE IMPACT

• Design and develop machine learning models and applications for deployment to cloud-native services
• Collaborate with data engineers and data scientists to productionize machine learning models and data pipelines
• Collaborate with a cross-functional team of architects, engineers, and scientists to design and deploy Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) at scale
• Integrate AI/ML capabilities into production systems (e.g., model inference APIs, decision-support features, anomaly detection workflows)
• Design and optimize data models and persistence layers to support both transactional and analytical workloads
• Enable intelligent application behavior by delivering AI and ML features to user-facing applications
• Contribute to technical design documentation and system architecture artifacts
• Lead or participate in code reviews, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure high-quality software
• Drive system reliability through robust testing
• Improve system performance, scalability, and reliability as the platform evolves

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• 8+ years of professional software development experience
• Experience developing microservices in containerized environments
• Experience with, or a strong conceptual understanding of, LLM-based applications, RAG pipelines, and AI-driven decision systems
• Experience with Python
• Experience working with relational databases and data warehouses
• Experience integrating AI/ML capabilities into applications (e.g., working with model inference APIs, ML pipelines, or data-driven features)
• Ability to produce technical design documentation (system diagrams, architecture artifacts)
• Familiarity with MLOps concepts (model deployment, monitoring, versioning)
• Ability to design with future scalability and platform evolution in mind
• Demonstrated ownership and ability to drive work from concept to production
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to navigate ambiguity
• Excellent communication skills, including working directly with stakeholders or clients

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or similar cloud environments
• Experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs
• Experience with API gateways and API management platforms, such as Google Apigee
• Familiarity with API authentication and authorization (PKI, OAuth2, JWT, LDAP, SAML, etc.)
• Experience working on U.S. Federal Government programs, particularly DoD environments
• Google Cloud Professional-level certifications

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Flexible PTO + all Federal holidays off
• Health, dental and vision insurance plans
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401k with employer match
• Company-sponsored life insurance, short- and long-term disability
• Professional development (training, certifications, conferences)
• Paid cloud developer accounts
• Referral bonuses
• HQ office perks (parking / metro reimbursement, nitro coffee & lunches)
• Annual social events (540 Week, hackathon, charity golf tournament, etc.)
• Access to 540's Washington Capitals & Nationals tickets