[Remote] Distinguished AI/ML Engineer
Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. FTI Defense is a company delivering mission-focused solutions to the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community through advanced engineering and digital transformation. They are seeking a Distinguished AI/ML Engineer to serve as a technical leader, responsible for designing, building, deploying, and sustaining AI systems that transform complex mission data into trusted insights.
Responsibilities
- Architect and integrate hybrid AI systems that combine traditional machine learning, deep learning, large language models (LLMs), and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines
- Design and deploy scalable AI architectures including APIs, microservices, and model-serving frameworks that integrate seamlessly with analytic, simulation, or operational systems
- Lead the full AI/ML lifecycle — from data ingestion and feature engineering through training, deployment, and sustainment within secure DoD environments (IL5/IL6, ATO, GovCloud)
- Engineer event-driven data pipelines and feature stores for both structured and unstructured data, including text, imagery, and simulation outputs
- Ensure Responsible AI practices by embedding traceability, explainability, and confidence scoring into deployed systems
- Implement and maintain MLOps pipelines (MLflow, Kubeflow, Airflow, Docker/Kubernetes) to support continuous integration, retraining, and drift detection
- Transition R&D prototypes into production, optimizing for mission constraints such as limited compute, edge environments, or disconnected operations
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship, setting standards for model quality, architectural design, and ethical AI deployment across programs
- Collaborate across engineering, data, and modeling teams to unify FTI’s AI portfolio, ensuring interoperability and reuse across mission systems
- Support proposal and solution development, providing technical inputs for AI/ML architectures, data strategies, and Responsible AI assurance frameworks
Skills
- Active Secret clearance
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
- 10+ years of overall experience in AI/ML development
- 5+ years designing and deploying scalable AI/ML architectures
- At least two full lifecycle implementations (from prototype to operational system)
- Proficiency in Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, and modern ML frameworks
- Experience designing or deploying systems using vector databases (Milvus, Pinecone, Weaviate), knowledge graphs, and semantic search frameworks
- Proven ability to design event-driven data pipelines using Databricks, Spark, Flink, or Kafka
- Demonstrated experience deploying AI/ML systems in secure, classified, or edge environments
- Familiarity with Responsible AI and assurance principles, including bias detection, explainability, human-machine teaming, and hallucination prevention
- Strong communication and mentoring skills, with the ability to lead technically while remaining deeply hands-on
- TS/SCI clearance
- Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
- Experience integrating AI models into simulation, modeling, or operational planning systems
- Experience transitioning R&D systems into accredited production environments
Company Overview