AI Software Engineer (TS/SCI) - Herndon, VA, USA

Vantor; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Vantor is seeking an AI Software Engineer (TS/SCI) to design, build, and deploy AI-enabled geospatial applications. You will integrate AI chatbots, create NLP workflows, and ensure secure, scalable AI services across Kubernetes/OpenShift environments.

You will work with Python, TypeScript/Java, Go, and C++, building RESTful APIs and microservices while applying secure identity and data protections. A CI/CD, Agile mindset is required.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen with active TS/SCI clearance (willing to obtain CI poly).
• 8+ years of professional software engineering delivering production apps/services.
• Hands-on with generative AI/LLMs in production using RAG, embeddings, vector search, function calling, or agent workflows.
• Strong Python and experience in JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, Go, or C++.

Responsibilities

• Integrate AI chatbots into geospatial, analytics, visualization, and mission apps.
• Build NLP workflows for data discovery, navigation, visualization, and actions.
• Implement LLM patterns: prompt orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation, tool calling, context management.
• Connect AI services to REST APIs, data catalogs, search platforms, knowledge graphs, geospatial services, notebooks, dashboards.
• Develop reusable backend services and frontend components for analysts.
• Enforce identity, entitlements, and data-access controls with citations and provenance.
• Test AI quality, safety, latency, and usability; protect against prompt injection and data leakage.
• Deploy AI services in Kubernetes and OpenShift, including restricted/disconnected environments.

Skills

Python

JavaScript/TypeScript

Java

Go

C++

REST APIs

CI/CD

Agile

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related field

Tools

Git

Kubernetes

OpenShift

Job description

AI Software Engineer (TS/SCI)

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what's happening now and shape what's coming next. Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters-where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can: Shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world. To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Citizen. This position requires an active U.S. Government security clearance, applicants who do not currently hold the required clearance will not be eligible for consideration. Employment for cleared roles is contingent upon verification of clearance status.

Export Control/ITAR: Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Please review the job details below.

This position requires an active U.S. Government Security Clearance at the TS/SCI level.

Responsibilities:

• Integrate AI chatbots and assistants into existing geospatial, analytics, visualization, and mission applications.
• Build natural-language workflows for data discovery, application navigation, visualization generation, and approved actions.
• Implement LLM patterns such as prompt orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation, tool calling, and conversation context.
• Connect AI services to REST APIs, data catalogs, search platforms, knowledge graphs, geospatial services, notebooks, and dashboards.
• Develop reusable backend services and frontend components that make AI assistance simple for analysts to use.
• Enforce identity, entitlements, and data-access policies; provide citations, provenance, audit records, and clear system limitations.
• Test and evaluate AI quality, safety, latency, and usability, including protections against prompt injection, data leakage, and unauthorized actions.
• Deploy and operate AI services in Kubernetes and Red Hat OpenShift, including restricted or disconnected environments, and collaborate with technical and customer teams.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen with an active TS/SCI clearance (with willingness to obtain a CI poly)
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, or a related field with 8+ years of professional software engineering experience delivering production applications or services.
• Hands-on experience integrating generative AI or LLMs into production software applications using patterns such as RAG, embeddings, vector search, function calling, or agent workflows.
• Strong Python skills and experience with JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, Go, C++, or another modern language.
• Experience building REST APIs or microservices and using Git, automated testing, CI/CD, and Agile development practices.
• Experience integrating enterprise data sources and applying secure identity, authorization, and data-protection controls.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience building chatbot interfaces with React, TypeScript, or comparable web frameworks and applying usability practices.
• Experience with AI orchestration frameworks, model gateways, MCP-compatible services, or agent-to-tool integration.
• Experience deploying commercial, open-source, or locally hosted LLMs in cloud, on-premises, classified, air-gapped, or disconnected environments.
• Experience with vector search, Elasticsearch, knowledge graphs, GIS, imagery, geospatial applications, or other mission-critical systems.
• Experience with AI safety controls, human-in-the-loop approvals, model monitoring, evaluation, GPU workloads, or model serving.
• Experience with containers and Kubernetes; Red Hat OpenShift experience is preferred.

Pay Transparency:

In support of pay transparency at Vantor, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate's starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.