AI Engineer, Special Programs

About the role

This position places you at the nexus of aerospace and artificial intelligence where you will collaborate directly with U.S. federal agencies to architect and deploy mission-critical AI solutions. You will own the design of advanced model pipelines that must meet strict operational requirements for safety, reliability, and ethical compliance in high-stakes environments. In this capacity, you will navigate the intersection of research, product development, and legal governance to ensure that every solution is robust and auditable. You will define the technical and product specifications for AI-driven software tailored specifically for federal and enterprise needs. Furthermore, you will create and maintain rigorous evaluation frameworks to benchmark model performance and resolve technical weaknesses before deployment. You will refine model outputs through fine-tuning and system prompt optimization to ensure secure, scalable production use that meets agency standards. You will audit system logs and prompt data to verify ongoing reliability, security, and compliance with government mandates. Finally, you will prototype solutions alongside agency partners and iterate rapidly based on mission feedback to deliver tangible operational impact.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Integrate frontier AI models, such as the Grok family, into government data environments and platforms while ensuring strict security protocols.
• Define product specifications and build AI-driven software tailored for federal and enterprise needs, translating complex requirements into technical designs.
• Create evaluation frameworks to benchmark model performance and resolve technical weaknesses through systematic testing and analysis.
• Refine model outputs through fine-tuning and system prompt optimization for secure, scalable production use in sensitive environments.
• Audit system logs and prompt data to verify reliability, compliance, and performance against stringent government standards.
• Develop internal tools to automate workflows within secure environments, improving efficiency and reducing manual overhead.
• Prototype solutions alongside agency partners and iterate based on mission feedback, ensuring the final product aligns with operational goals.
• Deploy production-grade code with a focus on efficiency, scalability, and measurable impact on mission success.
• Implement infrastructure-as-code practices using tools like Terraform or Pulumi to manage secure and reproducible environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that AI solutions integrate seamlessly with existing aerospace and defense systems.
• Conduct rigorous performance testing and validation to confirm that AI models operate reliably under mission-critical conditions.
• Maintain detailed documentation of model behavior, data flows, and system interactions to support audits and future development.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Computer Engineering, Physics, or Data Science from an accredited institution.
• Possess a minimum of 1 year of software engineering experience in scalable systems, APIs, or AI/ML applications in production settings.
• Maintain an active Top-Secret or Top-Secret SCI clearance to access classified information and systems.
• Be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to comply with ITAR regulations and export control laws.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in high-stress, high-reliability environments where precision and security are paramount.
• Show a proven track record of adhering to strict compliance and security requirements in previous roles.
• Exhibit strong problem-solving skills and the capacity to debug complex issues in distributed systems.
• Commit to ongoing learning and adaptation to keep pace with rapidly evolving AI technologies and government standards.

Nice to have

• 6+ years of software engineering experience in high-reliability or secure environments with a history of successful deployments.
• Experience working with federal contractors, the DoD, or government agencies on data or AI projects, providing insight into procurement and compliance processes.
• Proficiency in Python and TypeScript for developing robust, maintainable, and efficient software solutions.
• Expertise in HTTP protocol and secure API architecture to enable seamless integration with government systems.
• Background in machine learning fundamentals including training, fine-tuning, and model evaluation to optimize performance.
• Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform or Pulumi to manage cloud and on-premises environments.
• Ability to manage massive datasets and optimize high-throughput systems to handle large-scale AI workloads.
• Active Top-Secret or Top-Secret SCI clearance with a full scope polygraph, demonstrating a commitment to national security.

Practical notes

• Salary range: $125,000 to $220,000 per year.
• Compensation includes potential stock options, long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Benefits include medical, vision, dental, 401(k), disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, 3 weeks of vacation, and 10+ paid holidays.
• Expect to work extended hours and weekends as required to meet mission demands and project deadlines.
• Role requires approximately 20% travel to government facilities, necessitating flexibility and the ability to manage travel schedules efficiently.
• Employment is full-time, and candidates must be able to start as soon as possible to meet project timelines.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the country where the position is located and comply with all local employment laws.
• This role involves handling sensitive information and requires a demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.