Sr Machine Learning Specialist

Machine Learning Developer - Senior

About the Role:

We are seeking a motivated and technically skilled Senior Machine Learning Developer to join our innovative team supporting a DoD Agency as they establish their Chief Data and AI Office. This senior individual contributor role focuses on solving complex Artificial Intelligence (AI) challenges and is ideal for someone with deep expertise in Python programming, and advanced machine learning techniques. We are seeking a candidate ready to architect and implement sophisticated solutions for real-world business challenges for our defense sector clients. This person filling this role will collaborate within an AI functional team to deliver actionable insights and scalable, intelligent solutions. This is a unique opportunity to grow your career in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with a cross-functional team of data scientists and data analysts while contributing technical expertise in a fast-paced and innovative environment
• Architect and implement end-to-end ML solutions with deep expertise in AI/ML processes, including complex data pipeline design, feature engineering, and production-scale model deployment
• Design and build robust, scalable ML infrastructure, internal libraries, and reusable components that enhance team productivity
• Proficiency in Python and experience with ML libraries (scikit-learn, pandas, numpy) and deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras)
• Advanced hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and implementing production-grade MLOps pipelines, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and automated deployment systems
• Experience with version control systems (git, GitLab) and agile development methodologies including the ability to write and manage quality tickets and merge requests
• Advanced implementation experience with transformer architectures, LLM fine-tuning, and modern NLP techniques including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and prompt engineering
• Ensure adherence to data governance, security, and ethical AI practices
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code following software engineering best practices
• Consult and provide guidance on implementing AI and ML technologies, techniques, processes, and procedures to enhance and transform current business processes
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients on AI/ML best practices, understanding their business needs and translating them into technical requirements to help them establish and scale their AI capabilities
• Stay current with the latest advancements in AI/ML and identify opportunities for innovation

Required Qualifications:

• Secret (or above) Security Clearance
• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or related field.
• 5-7+ years of experience in building and deploying machine learning models in production.
• Expert level proficiency in Python with demonstrated experience developing large-scale ML applications
• Deep understanding of advanced ML concepts including ensemble methods, neural architecture optimization, model compression, and distributed training techniques
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), big data technologies (e.g., Spark), MLOps practices and model deployment pipelines
• Experience with version control systems (git, GitLab) and agile development methodologies including the ability to write and manage quality tickets and merge requests

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with the DoD and/or Federal government agencies
• Experience with MLOps tools (e.g., MLflow, SageMaker, Vertex AI).
• Background in deep learning, computer vision, or natural language processing.
• Contributions to open-source ML projects or publications in ML research

The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise with strong communication skills, enabling them to drive innovation while effectively managing team dynamics and client expectations. They should be capable of independently tackling complex technical challenges while contributing to a collaborative team environment. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on writing high-quality code, implementing cutting-edge algorithms, and seeing their technical work directly impact mission-critical applications. The successful candidate will be comfortable diving deep into technical problems and delivering robust, scalable solutions that serve as examples of engineering excellence for the broader team.