AI/ML Software Engineer

FM Talent Source; Silver Spring (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

FM Talent Source is seeking an AI-focused Software Engineer to design, develop, and deploy end-to-end AI/ML applications for federal clients. You will build scalable data pipelines and ML models, apply NLP and graph analytics, and contribute to robust AI solutions end-to-end.

The ideal candidate has hands-on Python/ML experience, experience with RAG architectures, AI chatbots, and knowledge of LangChain/OpenSearch, plus AWS tooling.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Six+ years of hands-on experience with Python and JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Strong experience with Python for AI/ML development, data engineering, and modeling.
• Proven experience building RAG applications and re-ranking strategies.
• Experience building AI chatbots or conversational agents.
• Hands-on with LangChain, Haystack, crewAI, or similar.
• Strong knowledge of core Python data science libraries (NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn).
• Experience with graph analytics, network analysis, and entity resolution.
• Experience with NLP: NER, text classification, semantic search, and information extraction.
• Familiarity with PyTorch or TensorFlow; Elasticsearch/OpenSearch; SQL and data modeling.
• Experience with AWS and cloud SDKs (Boto3).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy end-to-end AI/ML applications (RAG, chatbots, agentic workflows).
• Build scalable data pipelines for structured and unstructured data.
• Develop ML models for risk scoring, anomaly detection, and predictive analytics.
• Apply graph analytics to uncover relationships across complex datasets.
• Implement entity resolution to match and deduplicate records.
• Apply NLP to extract entities, relationships, topics, and indicators.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prototype mission-critical solutions.
• Develop and maintain REST APIs for model inferences.
• Contribute to software architecture for scalable, secure systems.
• Deploy and manage applications in AWS using IaC and DevOps practices.

Skills

Python

JavaScript/TypeScript

NLP

Graph analytics

Entity resolution

ML

SQL

REST APIs

Data pipelines

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

LangChain

Haystack

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Elasticsearch/OpenSearch

PostgreSQL

Boto3

Job description

FM Talent Source

FM Talent Source is an enterprise that provides business and workforce solutions to help organizations nationwide overcome business challenges. Our clients include federal, state and local government agencies, Fortune 500 Companies, and non-profit organizations. Founded in 2004, we have a strong history of providing recruitment strategies and utilizing effective project and quality management methodologies to ensure our clients success.

We are seeking one AI-focused Software Engineer for a full-time contract opportunity with FM Talent Source for one of our valued clients.

Seeking a highly skilled and motivated AI-focused Software Engineer to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will work with federal clients to design, develop, and deploy innovative Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that address immediate mission challenges. You will be a key contributor on a team of data scientists, developers, and subject matter experts, applying best practices to build robust AI applications, sophisticated data pipelines, and intelligent systems.

The ideal candidate is a fast learner and rapid developer with a strong foundation in software engineering and demonstrable experience building production-ready AI solutions from concept to deployment. The ideal candidate should also possess strong hands‑on expertise in Python, machine learning, graph analytics, natural language processing, and entity resolution. This combination of skills is essential for uncovering hidden patterns across large, disparate datasets in support of fraud detection, trafficking detection, and other mission‑critical investigative use cases.

A critical competency for this role is network analysis—the ability to link individuals, transactions, organizations, events, documents, and locations to identify relationships, detect anomalies, and expose organized illegal activities. In tandem, the candidate should be proficient in developing and applying AI/ML models for risk scoring, anomaly detection, pattern recognition, and investigative prioritization, enabling federal clients to enhance operational effectiveness and focus resources on the highest‑risk cases.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Design, develop, and deploy end‑to‑end AI/ML applications, with a focus on Retrieval‑Augmented Generation systems, AI chatbots, and agentic workflows.
• Construct and maintain scalable data pipelines for processing, transforming, linking, and feeding structured and unstructured data into AI models and applications.
• Develop machine learning models for risk scoring, anomaly detection, classification, clustering, and predictive analytics to support investigative and operational decision‑making.
• Apply graph analytics and network analysis techniques to identify hidden relationships among individuals, transactions, locations, organizations, and events.
• Implement entity resolution capabilities to match, deduplicate, and link records across large, disparate datasets.
• Apply NLP techniques to extract entities, relationships, topics, events, and indicators from unstructured text, documents, case notes, and other mission‑relevant data sources.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to rapidly prototype and iterate on solutions for mission‑critical challenges in areas such as fraud detection, trafficking detection, data triage, search and optimization, and automated discovery.
• Develop and maintain REST APIs to serve model inferences and integrate AI capabilities into larger systems.
• Contribute to the team's software architecture design, ensuring solutions are scalable, reliable, secure, and efficient.
• Deploy and manage applications and models in cloud environments, primarily AWS, leveraging infrastructure‑as‑code and DevOps best practices.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be able to OBTAIN and MAINTAIN a Federal or DoD "PUBLIC TRUST"; candidates must obtain approved adjudication of their PUBLIC TRUST prior to onboarding. Candidates with an ACTIVE PUBLIC TRUST or SUITABILITY are preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Minimum SIX (6) years of hands‑on experience with Python and JavaScript and/or TypeScript. A Master’s degree OR Industry Certification may be substituted for up to two years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong hands‑on experience with Python for AI/ML application development, data engineering, data analysis, and model implementation.
• Proven experience developing RAG applications, including implementing re‑ranking strategies.
• Experience building AI chatbots or conversational agents.
• Hands‑on experience with AI application frameworks such as LangChain, Haystack, crewAI, or similar.
• Strong knowledge of core Python data science and ML libraries, including NumPy, Pandas, Scikit‑learn, NLTK, and OpenCV.
• Demonstrated experience developing and applying machine learning models for classification, clustering, risk scoring, anomaly detection, and pattern recognition.
• Experience with graph analytics, network analysis, and relationship discovery across complex datasets.
• Experience with entity resolution, record linkage, deduplication, identity matching, or similar data matching techniques.
• Experience applying NLP techniques such as named entity recognition, text classification, semantic search, information extraction, topic modeling, and relationship extraction.
• Familiarity with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Experience with search technologies such as Elasticsearch or OpenSearch.
• Experience with relational databases, such as PostgreSQL or Oracle DB, and in‑memory analytics databases, such as DuckDB.
• Strong knowledge of SQL and data modeling techniques.
• Experience with cloud SDKs, such as Boto3 for AWS.
• Ability to work with large, disparate datasets and uncover hidden patterns, relationships, anomalies, and risk indicators.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills, with the ability to translate mission needs into practical AI/ML solutions.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Familiarity with agentic AI frameworks such as AWS Strands Agents, PydanticAI, or similar.
• Advanced prompt engineering skills for complex tasks beyond code generation.
• Experience with asynchronous Python development.
• Experience with MCP servers and tool calling within agentic workflows.
• Knowledge of GPU‑accelerated computing, CUDA, and hardware optimization for running ML models efficiently.
• Experience with graph databases or graph processing frameworks such as Neo4j, Amazon Neptune, TigerGraph, NetworkX, GraphFrames, or similar.
• Experience supporting fraud detection, trafficking detection, investigations, intelligence analysis, case management, or law enforcement‑adjacent mission environments.
• Experience building explainable AI/ML models that support analyst review, investigative workflows, and auditability.
• Experience integrating AI/ML capabilities into federal cloud environments while following security, privacy, and compliance best practices.
• Familiarity with geospatial analytics, temporal analytics, link analysis, or behavioral pattern detection.
• Experience designing AI/ML solutions that support human‑in‑the‑loop review, case prioritization, and investigative decision support.

Due to the rise in employment‑related identity fraud and impersonation, candidates may be asked during virtual interviews to briefly present a government‑issued photo ID for identity verification purposes. Candidates may cover personal data such as identification number, date of birth, and address. The ID will not be copied or retained.

Compensation Range: The salary range provided is determined by market value, internal equity, and the candidate's experience and qualifications. Offers will be extended within this range, though not all candidates will receive an offer at the upper limit.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.