AI Application Engineer

BigBear.ai; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

BigBear.ai is seeking an AI Applications Engineer to develop and maintain AI applications and a config-driven decision-support platform combining LLM-powered chat, structured data, and dashboards to support operational readiness and logistics workflows.

You will own features end-to-end across backend APIs, database, and a modern React UI while supporting the existing Dash/Flask application during migration.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of full-stack development with Python and React/TypeScript.
• Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance.
• Hands-on LLM/RAG experience building production features with LangChain or LangChain4J.
• Experience building and consuming REST APIs (FastAPI or similar).
• Strong PostgreSQL skills including schema design and migrations (pgvector a plus).
• Comfort with Docker and CI/CD workflows.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain full-stack features: FastAPI services, PostgreSQL schema/migrations, and React/TypeScript UI in an Nx monorepo
• Design, implement, and maintain LLM/RAG pipelines using LangChain (Python) or LangChain4J (Java) - retrieval, embeddings, tool/agent orchestration, and prompt workflows
• Integrate LLM providers, document ingestion, semantic search, and chat/report features
• Work with vector stores such as PostgreSQL pgvector and Weaviate, Redis, and Keycloak auth; implement RBAC and secure API patterns
• Connect to external systems via MCP, REST/PostgREST, and related data adapters
• Write and maintain tests (pytest, Vitest) and participate in CI/CD (Docker, GitHub Actions)
• Debug production issues, improve reliability/performance, and keep dependencies and security patches current
• Use AI-assisted development tools effectively: prompt well, review generated code, and ship production-quality changes

Skills

Python

React/TypeScript

LLM/RAG

REST APIs

PostgreSQL

Docker

Testing & CI/CD

Job description

Residency

All applicants must currently reside in the United States

Overview

BigBear.ai is seeking an AI Applications Engineer. In this position, you will develop and maintain AI applicationsand a config-driven decision-support platform that combines LLM-powered chat (RAG), structured data (MCP/PostgreSQL), and dashboards to supportoperational readiness and logistics workflows. You will own features end-to-end across backend APIs, database, and the modern React UI, with ongoing support for the existing Dash/Flask application during migration.

All applicants must reside in the National Capital Region.

What you will do

• Build and maintain full-stack features: FastAPI services, PostgreSQL schema/migrations, and React/TypeScript UI in an Nx monorepo
• Design, implement, and maintain LLM/RAG pipelinesusing LangChain(Python) or LangChain4J(Java)-retrieval, embeddings, tool/agent orchestration, and prompt workflows
• Integrate LLM providers (e.g. OpenAI, Anthropic, Ask Sage), document ingestion, semantic search, and chat/report features
• Work with vector stores (e.g. PostgreSQL (pgvector), Weaviate), Redis, and Keycloakauth; implement role-based access and secure API patterns
• Connect to external systems via MCP, REST/PostgREST, and related data adapters
• Write and maintain tests(pytest, Vitest) and participate in CI/CD (Docker, GitHub Actions)
• Debug production issues, improve reliability/performance, and keep dependencies and security patches current
• Use AI-assisted development tools(e.g. Cursor) effectively: prompt well, review generated code critically, and ship production-quality changes at a steady pace

What you need to have

• 3+ yearsfull-stack development with strong Pythonand React/TypeScript
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• Hands-on LLM/RAGexperience building production features with LangChainor LangChain4J(chains, retrievers, agents/tools, embeddings, vector stores)
• Experience building and consuming REST APIs(FastAPI or similar)
• Solid PostgreSQLskills: schema design, SQL, migrations (pgvector a plus)
• Comfortable with Docker, local dev environments, and basic deployment workflows
• Strong debugging, testing, and code review habits
• Ability to work independently across backend, frontend, database, and AI layers
• Proven comfort using AI coding assistantsas a daily workflow-not as a substitute for understanding the codebase

What we'd like you to have

• Dash/Plotly, Flask, or legacy-to-modern UI migration experience
• Keycloak/OAuth, Redis sessions
• Nx monorepos, TanStack Router/Query, Tailwind CSS
• MCP protocol, Ask Sage, or similar enterprise LLM platforms
• Government/defense or regulated-environment experience

Pay transparency

Please note the targeted compensation range is provided as an estimate, and any actual compensation offer may vary depending on the needs of the company, or an applicant's skillset, competencies, experience, education, certifications, location, or other factors. The estimated range does not include the value of any benefits offered.

About BigBear.ai

BigBear.ai is a leading provider of AI-powered decision intelligence solutions for national security, supply chain management, and digital identity. Customers and partners rely on Bigbear.ai's predictive analytics capabilities in highly complex, distributed, mission-based operating environments. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, BigBear.ai is a public company traded on the NYSE under the symbol BBAI. For more information, visit https://bigbear.ai/ and follow BigBear.ai on LinkedIn: @BigBear.ai and X: @BigBearai.

BigBear.ai is an Equal opportunity employer all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.