Engineering and AI Innovation Lead

Job ID: 2512129

Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US

Date Posted: 2025-12-06

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: No

Minimum Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Poly

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: Yes

Description

SAIC is seeking an Engineering and AI Innovation Lead to join the Machine-assisted Analytic Rapid-repository System (MARS) Advanced Development Operations (DevOps) and Sustainment Support (ADOS) program and provide on-site technical and administrative support to facilitate operations of critical MARS infrastructure and services. This effort focuses on providing a comprehensive set of System/ Software Engineering and IT Services to maintain, sustain, enhance, and improve/ modernize MARS. This position will be located in the National Capital Region.

The Engineering and AI Innovation Lead responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• The MARS Engineering and AI Innovation Lead accelerates the integration of AI/ML, advanced analytics, and automation into MARS operations-delivering capabilities 6-12 months ahead of the DIA roadmap
• This role drives rapid prototyping, MLOps deployment, and DevSecOps maturity while ensuring all innovations align with IC analytic tradecraft, DIEKM compliance, and warfighter operational needs
• You'll lead cross-functional teams to transition emerging technologies from concept to production in TS/SCI environments, achieving measurable efficiency gains through semantic intelligence discovery, predictive analytics, and autonomous processing capabilities
• As innovation catalyst, you'll manage the MARS Technology Insertion Program, mentor engineering teams on modern development practices (microservices, Kubernetes, CI/CD), and collaborate with DIA users, CCMD staff, and IC partners to prioritize investments based on mission impact
• You'll establish metrics-driven innovation pipelines with 2-week sprint cadence, brief senior executives on emerging capabilities, and foster a culture of experimentation that balances operational stability with aggressive modernization-directly supporting FMI production, targeting cycles, and multi-domain operations for national security decision-makers

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph
• One of the following certifications: AWS/Azure/Google Cloud Platform Professional Architect OR PE license
• Bachelors degree in IT, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or Software Engineering and 14 years or more relevant experience; or a Masters and 12 years or more relevant experience (will consider an additional 4+ years of relevant experience in lieu of degree)
• 10+ years engineering leadership in DoD/IC mission systems; 3+ years focused on AI/ML or emerging tech integration
• 5+ years leading Agile/DevSecOps teams in classified environments; proven track record deploying AI/ML in operational intelligence systems (not research prototypes)
• Deep AI/ML knowledge: LLMs, semantic search, knowledge graphs, MLOps platforms, vector databases
• DevSecOps proficiency: GitLab, Jenkins, Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, automated security scanning
• Cloud/edge architecture: AWS/Azure/Google Cloud Platform, edge computing for DDIL, multi-domain (NIPR/SIPR/JWICS)
• IC data standards: DIEKM, UCORE, data provenance, RMF (NIST 800-53, ICD 503)
• DIA/IC mission context: FMI production, multi-INT fusion, targeting workflows, warfighter support, CCMD operations
• MARS ecosystem awareness: MIDB transition, cloud platforms (AIDE, DPaaS), analyst/targeter user communities
• Proven ability to brief senior managers on complex technical topics; manage cross-functional teams (engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity, users)
• Demonstrated change management: driving adoption of new technologies in risk-averse IC environments

Target salary range: $200,001 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.