Senior AI/ML Engineer

Senior Data Engineer (AI/ML & NLP) Clearance: Secret Location: Herndon, VA About the Role We’re seeking an experienced Senior Data Engineer / Machine Learning Engineer with a strong background in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and AI/ML systems to design, build, and deploy scalable solutions supporting Department of Defense (DoD) data missions. This role involves applying cutting-edge techniques in large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), semantic search, and distributed data processing to deliver secure, production-grade AI capabilities. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to operationalize advanced ML systems that transform how large-scale data is processed, analyzed, and understood. Key Responsibilities • Design, develop, test, and maintain scalable AI/ML pipelines using Python and Databricks to support diverse DoD technical missions. • Build and deploy NLP solutions leveraging context extraction, topic modeling, and embedding-based methods (e.g., RAKE, TF-IDF, word/sentence embeddings). • Develop and operationalize GPU-accelerated ML models across distributed environments (Spark, Databricks, Kubernetes). • Utilize libraries and frameworks such as Spark NLP, Hugging Face, and TensorFlow to build and refine production-ready models. • Implement MLOps practices with MLflow for model lifecycle management, versioning, and reproducibility. • Integrate AI and ML solutions with Elasticsearch and Neo4j to enable semantic search, graph analytics, and knowledge discovery. • Collaborate with software engineers, data scientists, and mission stakeholders to deliver robust, scalable AI capabilities. • Drive innovation by contributing to shared ML tools, frameworks, and best practices across teams. • Ensure compliance, traceability, and data security in all AI/ML workflows in alignment with federal standards. • Support strategic planning and R&D for emerging AI/ML capabilities and infrastructure design. Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. • 5+ years of experience in data engineering, ML engineering, or AI-focused roles. • Proven expertise in NLP, LLMs, semantic search, text embeddings, and generative AI. • Strong proficiency in Python, including experience with Flask APIs and reusable ML utilities. • Hands-on experience with Databricks, Apache Spark, and distributed data processing. • Deep familiarity with MLOps, including MLflow for tracking, deployment, and automation. • Experience developing and optimizing GPU-based models in production environments. • Working knowledge of Elasticsearch and Neo4j (preferred). • Solid understanding of data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model evaluation at scale. • Proficiency with Git and collaborative development workflows. • Experience working with large-scale datasets and strong command of SQL and data visualization tools. Nice to Have • Exposure to federal data environments or defense-related missions. • Knowledge of additional ML subfields such as computer vision, reinforcement learning, or advanced statistical modeling. • Experience architecting secure, cloud-native ML systems using AWS, Azure, or GCP.