Chief AI Subject Matter Expert - JobID-0274

Innovative Defense Technologies, LLC

Mount Laurel Township (NJ)

On-site

USD 198,000 - 328,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Professional development

Recognition awards

Job summary

Innovative Defense Technologies, LLC is seeking a Chief AI Subject Matter Expert to drive AI strategy across the Integrated Warfare Systems Division. Based in Mount Laurel, NJ, the role requires expert AI know‑how, leadership, and a track record of integrating AI into complex DoW software environments.

The ideal candidate will champion AI-accelerated development, ensure security and reliability, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver mission-critical capabilities for defense

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
15+ years of full-time professional experience.
Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.
Demonstrated curiosity with AI technologies and engineering practices.
Daily use of generative AI coding tools.

Responsibilities

Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on AI and related technologies.
Lead AI components integration into complex DoW software environments.
Develop AI-augmented engineering standards and best practices.
Deliver AI-enabled dashboards, interfaces, and insights.
Prototype and evaluate emerging AI developer tooling.
Mentor teams on generative AI in development workflows.

Skills

AI expertise

Generative AI

LLMs

Strong communication

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS or related field

Tools

LangChain

LangGraph

Semantic Kernel

GitHub Copilot

Docker

Kubernetes

VMware/VMs

Job description

Chief AI Subject Matter Expert - JobID-0274

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Mount Laurel, NJ

Compensation: $198,000 - $328,000 / year

Description

About The Role: Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), a leading defense technology company, is seeking a Chief AI Subject Matter Expert (SME) to be part of our Integrated Warfare Systems Division and based out of our Arlington, VA, Mt. Laurel, NJ, or San Diego, CA locations.

The Chief AI Subject Matter Expert will serve as a strategic and technical advisor on the effective adoption, implementation, and governance of artificial intelligence across the Division. They will spearhead the development of software in an AI-augmented engineering environment where generative AI tools are used throughout the software lifecycle - including requirements analysis, architecture design, code generation, test creation, debugging, documentation, and system analysis.

The SME will bring expert level knowledge of AI technologies including generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), machine learning, and AI automation, as well as responsible AI guidelines that translate into practical business solutions. They will help establish and champion AI-accelerated development practices across engineering teams, demonstrating how generative AI can dramatically increase engineering velocity while maintaining high reliability, security, and mission assurance standards required for defense systems.

The engineer will work within multidisciplinary teams to accelerate delivery, enhance reliability, and operationalize autonomous and intelligent behaviors across complex DoW systems. The ideal candidate combines deep AI expertise with strong business acumen and communication skills and can explain complex AI concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

The Integrated Warfare Systems Division is composed of four mission critical business units within the IDT organization and is directly responsible for building, testing, and deploying the Navy’s next generation of tactical warfare and weapons systems. As the nation enters the 'technology-first' era of warfare, the Integrated Warfare Systems Division will be responsible for enabling and accelerating the mission critical tactical capability that is delivered to the warfighter. The AI Subject Matter Expert will work with our team of software and systems engineers building tactically relevant and technically innovative solutions to ensure the highest impact to the US Navy.

Clearance & Location Requirements

All applicants must be able to obtain/maintain an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.

This is an on-site position. Requiring at least 3 days in office, based out of our Arlington, VA, Mt. Laurel, NJ, or San Diego, CA locations.

Key Responsibilities

What You Will Do:

Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on AI, generative AI, LLMs, machine learning, and emerging AI capabilities
Lead the integration of AI Components into Complex DoW Software Environments
Lead the integration of AI models and services into mission-critical software systems.
Demonstrate and share AI-enabled engineering techniques that improve team productivity and software quality
Lead the definition and evolution of AI-augmented engineering standards, patterns, and best practices
Develop Intelligent Data Processing and NLP Pipelines
Deliver AI-Enabled Dashboards, Interfaces, and Insights
Develop proofs-of-concepts and demonstrations to validate potential AI use cases
Prototype and evaluate emerging AI developer tooling (e.g. agent frameworks, code copilots, automated testing agents)
Use generative AI tools (e.g. LLM copilots, autonomous coding agents, AI test generators) as a core part of daily software engineering workflows
Mentor engineering teams on effective use of generative AI in development workflows
Help identify areas of the software lifecycle that can be accelerated through generative AI and automation.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Who You Are (Required):

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent full-time professional experience.
15+ years of full-time professional experience
Ability to travel up to 10% of the time, as needed
Demonstrated curiosity and experimentation with emerging AI technologies and engineering practices.
Daily use of generative AI coding tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Codeium, ChatGPT, Claude, or similar systems
Ability to critically evaluate AI-generated code for correctness, security, and performance
Expert level of experience with:

agent-based development workflows and AI-assisted engineering environments
LLM APIs, RAG architectures, vector databases, and model evaluation
designing prompt workflows or system prompts to improve developer productivity
understanding of AI concepts and practical deployment patterns
using LLMs for code generation, debugging, test generation, and documentation automation
engineering solutions that integrate AI models into production workflows to improve User Experience and productivity

Demonstrated ability to scope requirements for engineering solutions that meet business challenges using AI with measurable outcomes
Understanding of security and compliance considerations when implementing AI solutions, especially in sensitive or classified environments, to support multiple deployment environments
Understanding of secure software development practices and AI-specific security risks as they pertain to a full SDLC
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to define requirements, scope projects, and deliver solutions independently
Strong communication skills — ability to collaborate and explain complex concepts to diverse audiences, and synthesize details into actionable recommendations and implementations
Cross-functional collaboration — builds strong relationships across engineering, security, compliance, etc.

What Makes You Stand Out:

Experience with:

building AI-augmented developer tooling
LLM orchestration frameworks (LangChain, LangGraph, Semantic Kernel, etc.)
integrating AI capabilities into DevSecOps pipelines
deploying or operating self-hosted LLMs in secure environments

Proficiency in containerization (Docker, Podman, etc.) and orchestration frameworks (Swarm, Kubernetes, etc.)
Development, system integration, and test experience with complex DoW systems
Experience supporting and working with cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment
Familiarity with US Navy and US Army tactical C2 or sensor system designs (e.g. Aegis, CEC, CAC2S, IBCS, SPY-1)
Experience with creating and configuring Virtual Machines (VMware, VirtualBox, etc.)
Problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguous situations
Excellence in technical communication with peers and non-technical cohorts
Ability to work closely with Program Managers and Chief Engineers to document, manage and communicate systems and software requirements
Attention to detail
Initiative, creativity, reliability, teamwork
Strong organization and planning skills
Solid analytical abilities, coupled with a strong sense of ownership, urgency and drive

Pay Range*: $198,000 - $328,000

This amount may not be reflective of actual compensation that may be earned as pay is dependent on a candidate’s experience, skills, and education. The posted range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. IDT is often looking to place multiple candidates at various levels. Therefore, more than one pay range has been included, commensurate with experience.

Job Benefits

Why Work at Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT):

IDT is a growing company with a vibrant, entrepreneurial culture. We are headquartered in Arlington, VA with additional offices in Fall River, MA; Mount Laurel, NJ; and San Diego, CA. At each location, our employees work together in a modern, snack-filled, and social office space, designing innovative solutions for our defense industry customers. We offer employees competitive pay and benefits including: