AI / ML Developer

Peraton; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Job summary

Peraton is seeking a Software Engineer to drive fast-paced AI/ML proofs of concept, explore cutting-edge analytics tools, and integrate them into a cloud-based data platform. You will prototype workflows, document integrations, and work closely with engineering and product teams to push concepts toward deployment.

The role emphasizes agentic AI systems, LLM development practices, and governance, with a focus on secure, scalable solutions in a national-security context. U.S.

Qualifications

• 5 years with BS/BA; 3 years with MS/MA; 0 years with PhD.
• Software engineering background with production-grade applications.
• Expertise developing agentic AI systems (planning, tool use, multi-step reasoning).
• Hands-on experience with MCP-based integrations or model-driven service frameworks.
• Proficiency in LLM development practices (finetuning, RAG, prompts).
• Strong Python development and cloud-native architecture familiarity.
• Experience with Azure, AWS, or GCP and data ecosystems.
• Knowledge of MLOps and governance for AI/LLM workflows.
• Ability to translate requirements into scalable AI solutions and lead teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate proofs of concept for advanced AI/ML use cases.
• Experiment with cutting-edge analytics tools and integrate them into a cloud-based analytics ecosystem.
• Perform hands-on data exploration, prototyping, and workflow automation.
• Document integrations and communicate platform updates in a collaborative setting.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to evaluate tools and design solutions.

Skills

Python

LLM development

AI system design

CI/CD

Cloud platforms

Leadership

Public Trust clearance

Education

BS/BA

MS/MA

PhD not required

Tools

LangChain

LlamaIndex

Strands Agents

LangGraph

CrewAI

Databricks

Snowflake

Job description

Job Locations

US

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Responsibilities

The Software Engineer will operate in a fastpaced innovation environment, rapidly developing and validating proofofconcepts for advanced AI and machine learning use cases. The role centers on experimenting with cuttingedge analytics tools, integrating them into a cloudbased analytics ecosystem, and helping move successful concepts toward operational deployment. Responsibilities include handson data exploration, prototyping, workflow automation, and contributing to secure, wellgoverned MLOps practices. The Software Engineer will work closely with engineering and product teams to evaluate emerging tools, build technical demonstrations, document integrations, and communicate platform updates in a highly collaborative setting. data platform fluency, and agility to support cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

5 years with BS/BA; 3 years with MS/MA; 0 years with PhD

Mandatory Requirements:

• software engineering background with deep experience building productiongrade applications and services.
• Expertise developing agentic AI systems, including planning, tooluse, multistep reasoning, workflow execution, or autonomous decisioning logic.
• Handson experience designing and implementing MCPbased integrations, tool interfaces, or modeldriven service frameworks.
• Ability to translate ambiguous business or mission requirements into scalable AI-driven solutions, balancing technical feasibility with real-world impact.
• Proficiency with LLM development practices including finetuning, RAG integration, prompt engineering, and interaction models for agent workflows.
• Strong Python development skills and familiarity with distributed compute environments, APIs, microservices, and cloudnative architectures.
• Experience integrating agents or LLMdriven components into cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) or largescale data ecosystems.
• Understanding of LLMOps/MLOps principles including versioning, testing, deployment automation, monitoring, and governance for agentic systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead solution design, mentor developers, and communicate complex AI architectures to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Experience with version control and modern CI/CD practices (e.g., Git/GitHub), including automated testing, deployment pipelines, and release management for production systems.
• US Citizen with the ability to obtain/maintain a Public Trust clearance.

Preferred Requiremnts:

• Experience building or contributing to multiagent systems or coordinated agent workflows.* Familiarity with frameworks such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, Strands Agents, LangGraph, CrewAI.
• Knowledge of evaluating agent performance, implementing guardrails, or designing safe actionexecution patterns.
• Handson work with vector databases, embedding models, or advanced retrieval techniques.
• Experience integrating agentic components into largescale analytics or data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Snowflake).
• Background in data exploration or data modeling to support agentdriven decision processes.
• Experience building AIfocused prototypes or experimenting with emerging agentic patterns in rapiditeration environments.
• Familiarity with optimization techniques such as model routing, response validation layers, or inference acceleration.
• Familiarity with systems that handle sensitive data in accordance with HIPAA and federal security standards, including implementation of encryption, access controls, auditability, and governance for protected health information (PHI) within AI/LLM workflows.

Target Salary Range

$86,000 - $138,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

Benefits Statement

Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.