Role: AI/ML Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Location: Fort Belvoir, VA (Onsite from Day 1)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Security Clearance: Active Secret Clearance Required
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced AI/ML Subject Matter Expert (SME) to design, develop, integrate, and deploy enterprise-grade Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions. The ideal candidate will bring hands-on experience in Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and AI agent development.
In this role, you will collaborate with engineering, product, data, cybersecurity, and business teams to transform complex requirements into secure, scalable, and measurable AI-powered solutions. You will also contribute to AI safety, alignment, and responsible AI practices to ensure reliable and controllable AI systems.
Key Responsibilities
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Design, develop, test, document, and maintain AI-enabled applications, services, and intelligent agent workflows.Build and enhance RAG solutions, including data ingestion, retrieval, grounding, and integration with authorized enterprise information sources.
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Develop and integrate LLM-powered applications with APIs, enterprise systems, microservices, and business workflows.
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Leverage frameworks such as LangChain and Microsoft Agent Framework to develop intelligent agents and AI-driven capabilities.
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Translate business and functional requirements into technical designs, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
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Develop scalable application components, APIs, and backend services using Python and established software engineering practices.
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Implement automated testing and AI evaluation methodologies to measure accuracy, relevance, grounding, safety, latency, and performance.
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Troubleshoot AI application behavior and continuously improve solution quality using evaluation results and user feedback.
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Support deployment, monitoring, observability, incident resolution, documentation, and ongoing maintenance.
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Implement security and privacy controls, including identity management, authorization-aware retrieval, and sensitive data protection.
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Collaborate with cloud, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, data engineering, and software development teams.
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Contribute to AI Safety and Alignment policies, procedures, and controls to promote ethical, secure, and responsible AI systems.
Required Qualifications
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Active Secret Security Clearance.
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CompTIA Security+ certification.
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Minimum of 3 years of experience in software engineering, application development, AI/ML engineering, or a related technical discipline.
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Strong hands-on experience developing applications and APIs using Python.
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Experience building Generative AI or Machine Learning applications integrating models with enterprise data and business workflows.
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Practical experience with LangChain, Microsoft Agent Framework, or comparable AI agent development frameworks.
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Solid understanding of RAG architecture, prompt engineering, context design, and LLM evaluation techniques.
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Familiarity with enterprise data integration, cloud-based application development, and deployment practices.
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Experience with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud; AWS experience is preferred.
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Understanding of secure software development, access controls, and sensitive information protection.
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Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Software Engineering, or a related discipline, with 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
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Familiarity with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and responsible AI practices.
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Experience implementing authorization-aware RAG, enterprise data filtering, and access-controlled AI tool execution.
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Knowledge of AI evaluation frameworks, test datasets, tracing, observability, and performance monitoring.
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Experience implementing human-in-the-loop validation, explainability, and safeguards against unsupported AI-generated outputs.
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Hands-on experience with Ask Sage.
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Relevant certifications in cloud computing, AI/ML, or software engineering.
Technical Skills
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Programming: Python, SQL, R
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ML Frameworks: PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, XGBoost
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AI/LLM Technologies: OpenAI, Hugging Face, LangChain, Vector Databases
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Cloud Platforms: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud
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MLOps & DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, MLflow, Airflow, CI/CD
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Data Engineering: Pandas, NumPy, Apache Spark, Snowflake, Databricks
Work Environment
This position primarily operates in an office environment. Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Benefits
Offers the following benefits to full time employees: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Company Paid Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account, 401k Retirement Savings Plan with Company Match, Tuition and Professional Development Assistance, 529 College Savings Plan and Tricare Supplement Insurance.
EEO Statement
We does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Ready to make an impact? Apply now and join us on our journey!
