AI/ML Engineer

Ignite Digital Federal Services; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and benefits

Education stipends

Referral bonuses

Govt projects

Volunteer engagement

Job summary

Ignite Digital is seeking a highly skilled AI/ML Engineer to support a mission-critical U.S. Navy program in the Norfolk, VA area.

This individual will design, develop, test, and deploy machine learning models and AI-enabled solutions that directly support operational needs across Navy mission domains. The role requires hands‑on ML expertise, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to collaborate across engineering, product, and mission‑focused teams.

Qualifications

• 3+ years hands-on experience building and deploying ML models.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with data analysis and visualization tools (Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, Seaborn).
• Experience with cloud platforms for ML development and deployment (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Strong knowledge of statistics, ML algorithms, and model evaluation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and deploy ML and AI-driven models for Navy operations.
• Build scalable ML pipelines using large, complex datasets.
• Implement regression, classification, clustering, and deep learning techniques.
• Perform data cleaning and feature engineering for model training.
• Evaluate model performance and iterate to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Deploy, monitor, and optimize models in production environments.
• Collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, and product managers to translate mission needs into tech specs.

Skills

Python

ML libraries

Data analysis

Cloud platforms

Statistics

Communication

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Statistics/Mathematics

Master's degree in Computer Science/Statistics/Math

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

NumPy

Matplotlib

Seaborn

AWS/Azure/GCP

Job description

Ignite Digital enables national security agencies to accelerate decisions, elevate operational outcomes and achieve the outsized performance only an inside partner can deliver.

We combine mission experience, domain knowledge and technologyexpertisewith the things partners can only know by being there every day. When agencies need a combination of tech and touch, Ignite Digital creates outcome-driving partnerships and stands with agencies toaccomplishmissionobjectives.

Ignite Digital accelerates capability to the speed of every mission, deploying intelligent solutions and AI integration for faster, better transformation. Ignite delivers partnership beyond presentations to inspire the confidence to lead in a digital-forward world.

Ignite Digital. The Edge from Within.

Perks of Working at Ignite Digital:

• Competitive pay and benefits, including PTO
• Education stipends and referral bonuses
• Compelling work with the U.S. federal government
• Strong emphasis on volunteer and community engagement
• Opportunity to shape the future of our industry
• Supportive colleagues and management who invest in your growth

Ignite Digital is seeking a highly skilled AI/ML Engineer to support a mission-critical U.S. Navy program in the Norfolk, VA area. This individual will design, develop, test, and deploy machine learning models and AI-enabled solutions that directly support operational needs across Navy mission domains. The role requires hands‑on machine learning expertise, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to collaborate across engineering, product, and mission‑focused teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, test, and deploy machine learning and AI-driven models to support Navy operational and analytical missions.
• Work with large, complex datasets to build scalable ML pipelines and production‑ready solutions.
• Implement ML algorithms and techniques including regression, classification, clustering, and deep learning.
• Conduct data cleaning, analysis, and feature engineering to prepare datasets for training and evaluation.
• Evaluate model performance using appropriate metrics, and iterate to improve accuracy, stability, and efficiency.
• Deploy, monitor, and optimize ML models in production environments.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including data scientists, software engineers, and product managers to translate mission requirements into technical specifications.
• Stay current with advancements in AI/ML research, tools, and best practices.
• Document models, pipelines, codebases, and processes to ensure maintainability and knowledge continuity.
• Contribute to the development of ML engineering best practices and reusable frameworks.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of hands‑on experience developing and deploying machine learning models.
• Expertise in Python and ML libraries such as scikit‑learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch.
• Experience with data analysis and visualization tools such as Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, and Seaborn.
• Experience working with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) for ML development and deployment.
• Strong understanding of statistics, ML algorithms, and model evaluation techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex analytical problems and convey technical concepts clearly.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills supporting cross‑functional and mission‑oriented teams.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Additional certifications in cloud, ML engineering, or data science are preferred but not required.

Security Clearance:

• Active DoW SECRET clearance required.

Salary: $120k+ to align with education and experience.

Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Ignite Digital is a Small Business committed to providing exceptional service to government agencies at competitive prices. The capabilities and experience of our staff and our extensive industry relationships distinguish Ignite Digital Services among government contractors.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

For individuals who would like to request an accommodation, please visit https://bit.ly/2XqZoLM (CA) or https://bit.ly/3Eo922f (SC) or contact Human Resources. Ignite Digital Services will not make any posting or employment decision that does not comply with applicable laws relating to labor and employment, equal employment opportunity, employment eligibility requirements or related matters. Nor will Ignite Digital Services require, in a posting or otherwise, U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency in the U.S. as a condition of employment except as necessary to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or federal, state, or local government contract.

OFCCP'S Pay Transparency Rule

EEO is the Law Poster