Lead AI Data Scientist

Role: Lead AI Data Scientist
Company: Arch Systems
Client: Federal
Engineering Agentic Intelligence Across Federal Missions
Location: Remote / Hybrid
Type: Full-time | Contract | W2 or 1099
Level: Senior / Principal
Note: Prior experience working with a U.S. Federal agency is mandatory. Candidates without this experience will not be considered.
About the Role
Arch Systems is seeking a Lead AI Data Scientist to serve as both a technical architect and delivery leader across its growing portfolio of AI/ML-driven federal digital modernization projects. This role is ideal for a technologist who thrives at the frontier of Agentic AI, cognitive architectures, and Model Context Protocols (MCPs) not in theory, but in mission-aligned production systems that drive real-world impact for agencies such as HHS, DHS, and NIH. You ll lead the delivery of agent-based solutions, develop instruction-fidelity frameworks, deploy secure AI pipelines, and shape model governance across multiple contracts bringing together science, systems, and scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of Agentic AI solutions and LLM-based agents for data orchestration, workflow automation, and mission-critical analysis
• Build and implement Model Context Protocols (MCPs) that govern instruction flow, semantic memory, task chaining, and real-time signal processing across federated environments
• Deliver federal project solutions aligned with security, compliance, and auditability (FedRAMP, FISMA, HIPAA, NIST 800-53)
• Translate requirements into AI/ML pipelines optimized for cloud-native delivery (AWS, Azure, containerized environments)
• Apply advanced machine learning techniques including prompt engineering, fine-tuning, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and RLHF
• Lead and mentor a cross-functional delivery team (data scientists, MLOps engineers, solution architects) across concurrent federal AI projects
• Partner with program managers and clients to align deliverables, define roadmaps, and contribute to proposals and innovation white papers

Tech Stack & Methodologies

• LLMs & Agent Frameworks: GPT-4, Claude, Mistral, LLaMA, T5, LangChain, CrewAI, AutoGen, ReAct, BabyAGI
• MCP Engineering: Instruction protocols, memory embeddings, semantic task managers, autonomous agent flows
• Cloud & Deployment: AWS Sagemaker, Azure ML, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, GitHub Actions
• Data Pipeline Stack: Python, Spark, Snowflake, Delta Lake, dbt, Airflow
• MLOps & Model Lifecycle: MLflow, Weights & Biases, Kubeflow, Model Registry, Feature Stores
• Security Compliance: FedRAMP Moderate, FISMA, HIPAA, Section 508, CUI
• Delivery Context: Agile delivery teams, DevSecOps pipelines, multi-vendor government engagements

Key Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master s in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, or related field
• 6 10+ years of experience in machine learning, data science, or AI R&D
• Proven track record with:
• Transformers & LLMs: HuggingFace, LangChain, OpenAI, T5, BERT, GPT, Mistral
• Deep Learning: PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras
• MLOps tools: MLflow, Kubeflow, Weights & Biases
• Cloud Platforms: AWS Sagemaker, Azure ML, Google Cloud Platform Vertex AI
• Modern Data Stack: Spark, Snowflake, Delta Lake, Airflow, dbt, etc.
• Proficient in Python, SQL, Docker, Kubernetes, and RESTful APIs
• Knowledge of FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST 800-53, and HIPAA compliance preferred
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, mentor, and align cross-functional teams

Why Arch Systems

• Deliver real-world AI transformation across 50+ active federal modernization projects
• Operate at the cutting edge of Agentic AI, LLM ecosystems, and secure data science
• Collaborate with top-tier data scientists and engineers recognized across the federal AI community
• Enjoy a fast-paced, innovation-centric environment with opportunities to shape future R&D investments
• Competitive salary, flexible work structure, and high-growth career path within a mission-first organization