Senior Python Developer (AI & Conversational Systems)

Key Required Skills:
Deep Python expertise, hands-on experience integrating large language models (LLMs) into production systems, ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

Position Description: 

• ​Design, develop, and maintain scalable Python backend systems for a public-facing AI chatbot.

• Integrate and manage LLMs, including prompt design, context management, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), AI agents, and tool/function calling.

• Ensure chatbot reliability, safety, and compliance through moderation, guardrails, and abuse prevention.

• Implement monitoring, logging, and alerting to support production reliability and rapid issue resolution.

• Lead code reviews and enforce best practices to maintain high engineering standards.

• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, cloud deployments, and infrastructure decisions supporting high availability.

• Evaluate and adopt new AI technologies and architectural improvements to support long-term scalability.

• Be proactive, adaptable, and highly engaged – communicating clearly, raising risks early, and collaborating effectively to deliver high-quality code at speed.

• All other duties as assigned or directed.

FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering or a related field. 
• Masters or Doctorate degree may substitute for required experience
• 10+ years of experience building, scaling, and maintaining production-grade Python applications.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust. Contract requirement.  

*** Selected candidate must be willing to work on-site in Woodlawn, MD 5 days a week.

​FACTORS TO HELP YOU SHINE (Required Skills)
These skills will help you succeed in this position:

• Deep expertise building, scaling, and maintaining production-grade Python applications
• Strong Python backend engineering experience including API design, asynchronous programming, and system integration.
• Proficiency in managing and querying both relational databases and vector databases for semantic search.
• Hands-on experience working with AI and LLMs in production environments.
• Solid understanding of key AI/LLM concepts, including prompt engineering, RAG, AI agents, context management, evaluation and structured outputs.
• Understanding of how to measure LLM performance using frameworks like Ragas, TruLens, or Arize Phoenix to evaluate faithfulness, relevance, and safety.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and make sound architectural decisions in ambiguous environments.
• • Strong communication skills with a proven ability to be vocal, engaged, collaborative, proactive, and adaptable within cross-functional teams. 

  HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD (Desired Skills)
  Showcase your knowledge of modern development through the following experience or skills:

  • Experience with DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, cloud infrastructure, containerization, monitoring, and logging.
  • Prior experience building or operating public-facing, high-availability, or regulated systems.
  • Familiarity with AI safety, moderation, and responsible AI practices.
  Experience working in fast paced, “startup-like" environments.​

• Education:
   

  • ​Bachelor's Degree with 7+ years of experience
  Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust. Contract requirement.