AI/Machine Learning Engineer SME

i3; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent insurance coverage

401(k) match

Generous PTO

Tuition reimbursement

i3 Cares program

Job summary

i3 is seeking a SME level AI/ML Engineer to architect enterprise AI/ML solutions for the DIA EDMA program. You will lead model/data strategy, ML tooling, and governance while interfacing with government stakeholders. A Secret clearance is required with TS/SCI eligibility preferred.

Join a distributed AI team, champion responsible AI, and guide complex architectures, pipelines, and MLOps across hybrid cloud environments to meet mission objectives.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship and active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering; Master's preferred.
• 14+ years in AI/ML, data engineering, or analytics; enterprise deployment experience.
• Proficient in Python and modern ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX).
• Experience leading technical teams and lifecycle ML delivery.

Responsibilities

• Architect enterprise AI/ML solutions and pipelines across the full ML lifecycle.
• Define tech roadmap and actionable architecture workstreams.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams; set direction on models, data strategy, and delivery cadence.
• Oversee sprint planning; ensure timely, standards-aligned artifacts.
• Interface with government stakeholders; present architecture and risk tradeoffs.
• Enforce DevSecOps, testing, and governance across the ML lifecycle.
• Mentor engineers and drive capability growth.
• Evaluate advanced ML tools and cloud/hybrid architectures for compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Responsible AI

Security awareness

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Master's preferred

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

JAX

MLOps platforms

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure)

Job description

Overview Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3) is seeking a motivated SME level AI/Machine Learning Engineer to support the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Enterprise Data Management & Analytics (EDMA) effort. As part of this dynamic program, you will architect enterprise-ready AI/ML solutions and serve as primary technical interface with government stakeholders. This role is ideal for experienced engineers who can champion responsible-AI and governance principles, ensuring approaches align with IC and DoD directives. The AI Team is distributed across multiple projects and could have potential for some hybrid work.

Pay Range $200,000 - $350,000. The pay range for this position is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, geographic location, and any applicable laws.

Responsibilities

• Architect enterprise-ready AI/ML solutions, including model-training pipelines, inference services, feature stores, data-ingestion pathways, and MLOps frameworks aligned to requirements.
• Define the technical roadmap, breaking down complex mission needs into actionable architectures, workstreams, and implementation plans.
• Lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams, providing direction on algorithms, model selection, data strategy, integration, and delivery cadence.
• Oversee sprint planning and technical execution, ensuring deliverables are on time, blockers are removed, and engineering artifacts meet enterprise standards.
• Serve as primary technical interface with government stakeholders, articulating architecture decisions, model behaviors, risk tradeoffs, and recommended solution pathways.
• Establish and enforce best practices across ML engineering, DevSecOps, coding standards, test automation, and model life-cycle governance.
• Conduct technical reviews and mentor engineers, elevating team capability and ensuring alignment with mission outcomes.
• Guide evaluation and adoption of advanced ML tools, including deep-learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX), distributed compute, MLOps platforms, generative-AI modernization patterns, and enterprise scale data solutions.
• Lead integration of AI capabilities into cloud-native or hybrid architectures, ensuring compliance with security, accreditation, and enterprise-data-management requirements.
• Provide SME-level support for strategic planning, including solution briefs, architecture diagrams, CONOPS development, and decision-ready artifacts for government review panels.
• Champion responsible-AI and governance principles, ensuring approaches align with IC and DoD directives.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Active Secret clearance w/ the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred) in Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, or related field.
• Minimum 14 years of progressive experience in AI/ML, data engineering, or advanced analytics.
• Demonstrated experience architecting and deploying enterprise AI/ML systems.
• Deep proficiency in Python and modern ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX).
• Experience leading technical teams, performing architecture trade studies, and guiding full ML lifecycle development.
• Strong understanding of secure software engineering, distributed systems, DevSecOps, and containerization.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interface with senior government stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting AI/ML projects in government, defense, or intelligence environments.
• Familiarity with Intelligence Community mission needs and data types.
• Exposure to cloud-native development (AWS, Azure, GovCloud).
• Experience building or supporting NLP, computer-vision, generative-AI, or anomaly-detection models.
• Knowledge of MLOps, CI/CD, container orchestration, or distributed training frameworks.

About i3

i3 is a technically diverse, 100% team member owned business, headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama specializing in missile and aviation systems engineering and logistic services, electronic warfare and electromagnetic effects analysis, UAS system integration and flight operations, full lifecycle C5ISR engineering services, cybersecurity and IT/IA innovative solutions and virtual training, simulation & serious game development and implementation. We have established a broad offering of products and capabilities collectively providing decades of experience supporting the full complement of DoD military services, Missile Defense Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and a variety of other Government organizations and private industry customers.

Perks of being a team member owner include:

• Long-term financial security
• Higher job satisfaction
• Greater job security
• Personal and professional growth
• Great company culture

Other outstanding benefits:

• Excellent insurance coverage
• 401(k) match
• Generous PTO
• Health and wellness incentives
• Tuition and certification reimbursement
• Countless opportunities to give back to the community through i3 Cares