AI Engineer, Special Programs

About the role

This position focuses on delivering secure and reliable artificial intelligence capabilities for U.S. federal customers. You will partner with research, product, infrastructure, and legal teams to align AI implementations with strict mission requirements. The role emphasizes the design of systems that adhere to high standards for safety, ethics, and operational integrity. You will own the full lifecycle of AI tools, models, and integrations used in sensitive government contexts. This work requires translating complex stakeholder needs into scalable technical solutions. You will be responsible for ensuring that deployed systems perform reliably under real-world constraints. Collaboration across disciplines is central to defining and refining the architecture of these specialized programs. Your contributions will directly influence how frontier AI technologies are adapted for federal use.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect integrations that connect advanced language models, including the Grok family, with secure government data environments and platforms.
• Engineer custom software development kits, robust APIs, and comprehensive documentation to support enterprise and government users.
• Liaise directly with agency stakeholders to clarify requirements, build interactive prototypes, and iterate on solutions based on detailed feedback.
• Author, test, and deploy production-grade code with an emphasis on speed, reliability, and measurable performance outcomes.
• Define and maintain interfaces between AI components and existing infrastructure to ensure seamless operation.
• Conduct analysis of system behavior to identify bottlenecks and implement improvements that enhance efficiency and stability.
• Support the creation of technical artifacts that enable other teams to adopt and scale AI tools effectively.
• Validate that implemented solutions meet security, compliance, and functional standards through rigorous review processes.
• Monitor deployed applications to ensure they continue to satisfy evolving mission needs and regulatory expectations.
• Contribute to the development of best practices that guide future AI initiatives within the organization.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer sessions to align cross-functional groups on capabilities and limitations.
• Iterate on designs based on lessons learned from operational deployments and user interactions.
• Assist in the creation of demonstrations and proofs of concept that illustrate system capabilities to decision-makers.
• Maintain detailed records of configurations, changes, and experiments to support audits and future development.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or another STEM field.
• Alternatively, possess at least 2 years of professional software development experience demonstrating relevant competencies.
• Be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to satisfy ITAR regulatory requirements.
• Possess the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
• Demonstrate willingness to work weekends and extended hours when mission-critical needs arise.
• Confirm availability for up to 20% travel to government locations as required for project duties.
• Show capability to work effectively in a high-trust, high-responsibility environment with minimal supervision.
• Understand the importance of maintaining strict data handling and security protocols at all times.
• Exhibit strong problem-solving skills and the persistence needed to address complex technical challenges.
• Communicate clearly and professionally in both written and verbal formats.
• Align with the team's commitment to delivering safe, ethical, and reliable AI systems.

Nice to have

• Bring 1+ years of hands-on software engineering experience focused on building APIs, scalable distributed systems, or AI and machine learning applications with strong Python expertise.
• Show background in generative AI, large language models, or the development and deployment of agentic systems.
• Demonstrate experience working in regulated industries, government technology, or public sector environments.
• Maintain a history of involvement in AI governance, red-teaming, safety analysis, or responsible deployment practices.
• Hold familiarity with major cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure, along with containerization tools like Kubernetes and Docker.
• Have a record of contributions to civic tech, policy-adjacent technical roles, or open-source projects related to AI.

Practical notes

This role is full-time and based in Washington, DC. Travel may be required for up to 20% of the time to meet government obligations. U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status is necessary to obtain the required security clearance. Compensation includes base salary along with potential long-term incentives such as stock or cash awards and discretionary bonuses. Comprehensive benefits cover medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, and an employee stock purchase plan. You will receive 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10 or more paid holidays, and accrued sick leave. SpaceX maintains an equal opportunity employment policy.