Artificial Intelligence Engineer, Senior

Booz Allen Hamilton; Wando (SC); On-site; USD 99,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Booz Allen Hamilton seeks an experienced machine learning engineer to train, test, deploy, and maintain models that learn from data, supporting national security initiatives. You will lead mission-critical ML directions and collaborate with a team to deliver advanced retrieval capabilities, agent architectures, and secure, scalable workflows.

The role requires deep ML knowledge, experience with distributed systems, and a TS/SCI clearance (polygraph willingness).

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience.
• Experience with production MCP server/client implementations, LangGraph, CrewAI, and Claude Agent SDK.
• Experience deploying GraphRAG with knowledge graphs and vector search.
• Experience with JSON Schema and Protobuf.
• Experience integrating IAM tokens/claims to enforce zero-trust per-user data entitlements.
• Experience building fault-tolerant distributed systems and idempotency in API/tool mutations.
• Knowledge of context compression, state serialization, and session persistence.
• Ability to design non-standard cognitive architectures.
• Active TS/SCI clearance; willingness to take a polygraph exam.
• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mathematics, or Computer Science.

Responsibilities

• Train, test, deploy, and maintain ML models.
• Lead direction of mission-critical ML solutions for national security.
• Collaborate with ML engineers to deliver agent architectures and retrieval pipelines.
• Enforce user permissions and controlled execution in ML workflows.
• Guide clients on ML algorithms, tools, and frameworks.

Skills

ML engineering

MCP server/client

LangGraph

CrewAI

Claude Agent SDK

GraphRAG

Knowledge graphs

Vector search

Dynamic query routing

Self-correcting retrieval pipelines

JSON Schema

Protobuf

Zero-trust IAM

Fault-tolerant distributed systems

Idempotency keys

Early-exit stop conditions

Automated budget enforcement

HITL state suspension

Context compression

State serialization

Session persistence

Cognitive architectures

TS/SCI clearance

Polygraph willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity/Computer/Electrical/Electronics/Mathematics/CS

Tools

MCP

JSON Schema

Protobuf

LangGraph

CrewAI

Claude Agent SDK

Job description

Job Number: R0253017

The Opportunity:

As an experienced engineer, you know that machine learning is critical to understanding and processing massive datasets. Your ability to conduct statistical analyses on business processes using ML techniques makes you an integral part of delivering a customer-focused solution. We need your technical knowledge and desire to problem-solve to support national security. As a machine learning engineer on our national security team, you'll train, test, deploy, and maintain models that learn from data.

In this role, you'll lead the direction of mission-critical solutions by applying best-fit ML algorithms and introducing leading-edge technologies. You'll share your knowledge with a talented team of machine learning engineers across the company and collaborate with the team to deliver world class solutions to build agent architectures, advanced retrieval capabilities, and stateful workflows that perform complex tasks while enforcing user permissions and maintaining reliable, controlled execution. Your skills and extensive technical expertise will guide clients as they navigate the landscape of ML algorithms, tools, and frameworks.

Join us. The world can't wait.

You Have:

• 5+ years of experience working in a professional environment
• Experience with production with Model Context Protocol (MCP) server or client implementations, LangGraph, CrewAI, and the Claude Agent SDK
• Experience deploying GraphRAG, including knowledge graphs and vector search, dynamic query routing, and self-correcting retrieval pipelines
• Experience with JSON Schema and Protocol Buffers/Protobuf
• Experience integrating identity and access management (IAM) tokens or claims into AI tool execution layers to enforce zero-trust, per-user data entitlements
• Experience with engineering, including building fault-tolerant distributed systems, including idempotency keys for external API/tool mutations, implementing early-exit stop conditions, automated budget enforcement, and asynchronous HITL state suspension or resumption
• Knowledge of context compression, state serialization, and session persistence
• Ability to design custom, non-standard cognitive architectures when off-the-shelf patterns fall short
• Active TS/SCI clearance; willingness to take a polygraph exam
• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mathematics, or Computer Science

Clearance:

Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; TS/SCI clearance is required.

Compensation

At Booz Allen, we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities and choices, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care. Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our values. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in Booz Allen's benefit programs. Individuals that do not meet the threshold are only eligible for select offerings, not inclusive of health benefits. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Resource page on our Careers site and reviewing Our Employee Benefits page.

Salary at Booz Allen is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $99,000.00 to $225,000.00 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Booz Allen's total compensation package for employees. This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

Identity Statement

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

AI is a part of our daily work at Booz Allen, and we are committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI tools. However, we want to ensure a fair candidate process based on your own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is prohibited unless permission is explicitly provided.

Work Model

Our people-first culture prioritizes the benefits of collaboration. To support engagement and effective communication, employees working virtually are generally expected to have their cameras on during meetings.

• Remote: If this position is listed as remote, there may still be occasions when you are required to work in person at a Booz Allen or customer facility.
• Hybrid: If this position is listed as hybrid, you will be expected to work from a Booz Allen or customer facility, in alignment with your leadership's expectations and the needs of the role.
• Onsite: If this position is listed as onsite, work will primarily be performed full-time at a customer facility, where employees will collaborate directly with colleagues and customers as required by the role.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.