AI/ML Engineer (Tactical Networks - CANES) | Active Secret clearance

Type of Requisition:
Pipeline

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:
Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:
Secret

Public Trust/Other Required:
None

Job Family:
Data Science and Data Engineering

Job Qualifications:

Skills:
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Machine Learning Operations
Certifications:
None
Experience:
2 + years of related experience
ship Required:
Yes

Job Description:

Transform data into decisive advantage as a AI/ML Engineer with GDIT. A career in applied machine learning at GDIT means building mission-grade analytics and automation that harden and optimize Navy tactical networks. You'll be at the forefront of innovation-advancing Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) and related platforms with NIWC Pacific (Codes 55131/55132/55133) in support of PMW-160 Tactical Networks.

At GDIT, people are our differentiator. Our work depends on a Senior AI/ML Engineer who can design, deploy, and sustain models at the edge-within virtualized, bandwidth-constrained, and intermittently connected environments-while meeting rigorous cybersecurity and programmatic standards.

MEANINGFUL WORK AND PERSONAL IMPACT

• Design and implement ML solutions for network assurance and cyber defense: anomaly detection, fault prediction, QoS optimization, capacity planning, and automated triage across ashore/afloat/subsurface/airborne domains.
• Build secure data pipelines (ETL/ELT) from CANES telemetry, logs, and performance counters; develop features for time-series, graph, and NLP use cases; enforce data governance and labeling quality.
• Operationalize models with MLOps: containerize (Docker), orchestrate (Kubernetes/Openshift), version (MLflow/DVC), and automate CI/CD (GitLab/Jenkins) for model build/test/deploy in disconnected and low-bandwidth scenarios.
• Optimize for edge inference using ONNX/TensorRT and CPU/GPU acceleration; implement drift monitoring, retraining triggers, A/B or canary deployments, and model explainability for operator trust.
• Integrate analytics with enterprise tooling (e.g., REST/gRPC services, message buses, dashboards such as Grafana/Splunk) and with program configuration management (CMPro) and issue workflows (Jira/Confluence).
• Align solutions to Risk Management Framework (RMF) and DISA STIGs; produce artifacts (e.g., security design, data flows, test plans) supporting IATT/ATO packages in Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service (eMASS) in coordination with IA teams.
• Support Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), and lab events in NIWC Pacific facilities; collect test data, analyze results, and author technical reports/white papers.
• Mentor engineers and analysts on ML best practices; contribute to Systems Engineering Plans (SEPs) and DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) views related to data/analytics services.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED (Required):

• Security Clearance: Active Secret clearance.
• Experience:
• 2+ years applying AI/ML to large-scale or mission systems (time-series/graph/NLP), including production deployments and lifecycle sustainment.
• 2+ years MLOps (containerization, orchestration, CI/CD, model/version management, monitoring) and secure software practices.
• Hands-on data engineering with SQL/NoSQL, stream processing (e.g., Kafka), and Python-based ML stacks (PyTorch or TensorFlow, scikit-learn, pandas).
• Demonstrated delivery in constrained/edge environments (performance tuning, model compression/quantization, resilience to disconnection).
• Familiarity with DoD cybersecurity processes (RMF, STIGs) and documentation practices.
• Education: BS in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field (equivalent experience may substitute per GDIT policy).
• Position Availability: Position is currently pending final contract award.
• Work Location: Onsite San Diego, CA (NIWC Pacific); ~10-25% CONOCONUS travel to labs, shipyards, and fleet concentration areas per tasking.
• ship Required

WHAT WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO HAVE (Desired):

• Prior support to PMW-160/NIWC Pacific or CANES-like programs; understanding of Navy network operations, GPON, QoS, and transport/optical basics.
• Certifications: Security+ CE (or higher 8140 baseline if privileged access assigned), CKA/CKAD, AWS/Azure/Google Cloud Platform ML Specialty, Splunk Core/Enterprise.
• Experience with graph ML (PyG/NetworkX), time-series platforms (Kats, Prophet), and XAI (SHAP/LIME).
• Integration with observability stacks (PrometheGrafana), IaC (Ansible/Terraform), and secure SBOM/supply-chain controls.
• Participation in CCRI prep, DT/OT data analysis, and performance test harness development.

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE
At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.

• Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities
• Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals
• Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, and competitive pay and paid time off
• Flexibility: Full-flex work week to own your priorities at work and at home
• Community: Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace

OWN YOUR OPPORTUNITY
Explore a career in data science and engineering at GDIT and you'll find endless opportunities to grow alongside colleagues who share your determination for solving complex data challenges.

The likely salary range for this position is $108,979 - $147,443. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40

Travel Required:
10-25%

Telecommuting Options:
Hybrid

Work Location:
USA CA San Diego

Additional Work Locations:
Any Location / Remote

Total Rewards at GDIT:
Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. GDIT typically provides new employees with 15 days of paid leave per calendar year to be used for vacations, personal business, and illness and an additional 10 paid holidays per year. Paid leave and paid holidays are prorated based on the employee's date of hire. The GDIT Paid Family Leave program provides a total of up to 160 hours of paid leave in a rolling 12 month period for eligible employees. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers consulting, technology and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 30,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50 countries worldwide, offering leading capabilities in digital modernization, AI/ML, Cloud, Cyber and application development. Together with our clients, we strive to create a safer, smarter world by harnessing the power of deep expertise and advanced technology.

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Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans