AI Engineer

Description

This is an AI engineering role supporting the United States Secret Service under a Department of Homeland Security contract.

You will build AI-enabled applications and agent-based tools that connect models to enterprise data, applications, and workflows, turning user and mission needs into secure, dependable features.

The work may use LangChain, Microsoft Agent Framework, cloud AI services, and standard software engineering methods.

You will work with product, functional, data, cybersecurity, and infrastructure teams on practical solutions covering RAG, tool and API integrations, agent workflows, quality testing, deployment, and ongoing improvement.

The company values flexibility, so you can balance quality work with your personal life.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, test, document, and maintain AI-enabled applications and services.
• Build AI and agent workflows with LangChain, Microsoft Agent Framework, or other suitable tools and services.
• Create RAG pipelines that ingest and retrieve data, ground answers, and connect to approved enterprise sources.
• Connect models to APIs, enterprise applications, and business processes, adding tool use and human review where needed.
• Meet with product owners, users, and functional experts to turn their needs into technical designs, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Write and maintain application components, APIs, and services in Python.
• Run automated tests and evaluations covering accuracy, relevance, grounding, safety, and performance.
• Troubleshoot application and model behavior, using test results, telemetry, and user feedback to improve quality.
• Support deployment and operations, including CI/CD, monitoring, documentation, incident resolution, and upkeep.
• Apply security and privacy controls such as identity and access management, authorization-aware retrieval, and protection of sensitive data.
• Work with data, cloud, cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and software engineering staff to fit solutions into the enterprise environment.
• Build reusable components, technical documentation, and engineering practices that make the work more consistent and easier to maintain.
• Be familiar with AI safety frameworks such as the NIST AI Safety Framework and help implement alignment controls for LLMs and agents.
• Help develop AI safety and alignment policies and procedures for ethical, controllable, and aligned AI systems and agents.

Requirements

• Required: a Bachelor's degree plus 10 years of experience in AI, machine learning, software engineering, or a related field. Equivalents accepted: a Master's plus 7 years, 16 years with no degree, or an AA plus 12 years.
• At least 5 years of experience in software engineering, application development, AI/ML engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven experience building software applications or services in Python using APIs.
• Hands-on experience building generative AI or machine learning applications that connect models to data, applications, or workflows.
• Experience building AI or agent capabilities with LangChain, Microsoft Agent Framework, or a similar framework.
• Working knowledge of RAG, prompt and context design, model or application evaluation, and integration with enterprise data.
• Experience with automated testing, version control, and CI/CD.
• Familiarity with cloud application development and deployment. Microsoft Azure experience is preferred.
• Understanding of secure development, protecting sensitive information, and restricting access to enterprise data.
• Ability to work well with technical staff, product teams, and functional stakeholders, and to explain technical work clearly.
• Desired: production experience with both LangChain and Microsoft Agent Framework.
• Desired: LangGraph or similar approaches for stateful, multi-step agent workflows.
• Desired: experience with Azure OpenAI, Azure AI services, or Azure AI Foundry.
• Desired: authorization-aware RAG, data filtering, and access controls for retrieval and tool use.
• Desired: AI evaluation methods, test sets, tracing, and monitoring for quality, latency, and cost.
• Desired: integrating AI applications with enterprise systems, microservices, and web interfaces.
• Desired: responsible AI practice, including human review, explainability, and safe handling of uncertain or unsupported outputs.
• Desired: relevant cloud, AI, or software engineering certifications.

Conditions

Full-time, regular position.

Travel of up to 10%, local only.

No minimum security clearance is listed for starting the role, as the clearance field is blank.

The role can be worked from more than one location, so the posted salary range is a national average.

Proposed salary range is $105,100-$231,100. Final pay depends on location, Federal contract labor categories and wage rates, relevant experience, skills, education, and certifications.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, benefits, and learning and development options.
• Benefits cover healthcare, wellness, financial and retirement support, family support, continuing education, and time off.
• Flexible time off and access to learning resources.