Forward Deployed Engineer – U.S. Government

ELITEBRAIN; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity compensation eligibility

Performance-based bonuses

Health insurance

Job summary

CONFISA Staffing Services is recruiting for a Forward Deployed Engineer – U.S. Government on behalf of a technology company specializing in AI, LLMs, and mission-critical solutions.

The role requires hands‑on expertise with Python, LLMs, agentic AI, data pipelines, and distributed systems. You will collaborate directly with government partners to design, build, deploy, and maintain secure, scalable AI systems for high‑impact missions.

Qualifications

• Strong software engineering, AI, and infrastructure background.
• Hands‑on Python and production AI experience required.
• Experience with agentic AI, LLMs, and data pipelines beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy AI systems for government missions.
• Design, build, and maintain scalable ML infrastructure and data pipelines.
• Collaborate with government partners and stakeholders.
• Own projects from architecture to production deployment.
• Operate in high-security, mission-critical environments.

Skills

Python

LLMs

Agentic AI

Data pipelines

Distributed systems

ML infrastructure

Security/High reliability

Hybrid work / relocation

Job description

• Contract

Company Description

CONFISA Staffing Services is conducting a confidential executive search on behalf of a U.S.-based technology company specializing in advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLMs), and mission-critical technology solutions.

Our client develops and deploys cutting-edge AI systems designed to address complex operational challenges, including applications supporting U.S. Government, defense, intelligence, and national security missions.

The organization operates at the intersection of frontier AI research, software engineering, and real-world deployment, transforming advanced AI capabilities into secure, scalable, and reliable operational solutions.

As part of its continued growth, the company is seeking a highly skilled Forward Deployed Engineer – U.S. Government to develop, implement, and deploy advanced AI systems while collaborating directly with strategic government partners.

This opportunity is managed by CONFISA Staffing Services on behalf of our client. Additional company information will be shared with qualified candidates during the recruitment process.

Job Description

CONFISA Staffing Services is conducting a confidential search for a highly skilled Forward Deployed Engineer – U.S. Government on behalf of a technology company developing advanced Artificial Intelligence solutions for mission-critical environments.

We are seeking a hands‑on engineer with strong expertise in Python, Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic AI, Data Pipelines, and Distributed Systems who can design, build, deploy, and maintain sophisticated AI solutions supporting high-impact U.S. Government missions.

This position combines advanced software engineering, applied AI research, infrastructure development, and direct collaboration with government stakeholders.

The successful candidate will take ownership of complex technical initiatives, transforming mission requirements into secure, scalable, production-ready AI systems.

This is not a traditional software development or research‑only position. We are looking for an engineer capable of working independently, solving ambiguous technical challenges, and deploying AI capabilities in demanding operational environments.

Key Responsibilities

AI Systems Development & Deployment

• Design, develop, and deploy agentic AI systems supporting critical U.S. Government operations.
• Build production‑ready applications using Large Language Models (LLMs), multi‑agent architectures, and advanced AI frameworks.
• Develop Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) workflows, tool‑using AI agents, and human‑in‑the‑loop systems.
• Translate complex operational requirements into practical AI solutions.
• Lead AI implementations from initial prototypes through production deployment.

Machine Learning Infrastructure & Data Engineering

• Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines supporting AI model development and improvement.
• Develop infrastructure for model inference, experimentation, evaluation, and deployment.
• Support model training workflows, data curation, and performance optimization.
• Work with distributed systems and scalable computing infrastructure.
• Contribute to reinforcement learning workflows and simulation environments when applicable.
• Collaborate directly with U.S. Government stakeholders and strategic partners to understand operational requirements.
• Deploy and integrate AI solutions within high‑security, high‑reliability environments.
• Adapt technical solutions to evolving mission requirements.
• Provide hands‑on engineering expertise throughout implementation and deployment.
• Ensure technical solutions meet demanding reliability, security, and operational standards.

Technical Ownership & Continuous Improvement

• Own technical systems throughout their complete lifecycle, including architecture, development, deployment, monitoring, and optimization.
• Troubleshoot complex infrastructure, software, and AI integration challenges.
• Improve system performance, scalability, security, and reliability.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and research teams.
• Identify opportunities to accelerate AI adoption and improve operational efficiency.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique

This position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of frontier AI technology, advanced engineering, and high‑impact government applications.

The selected engineer will contribute directly to the development and deployment of sophisticated AI systems, working closely with technical teams and government partners to transform advanced AI capabilities into real‑world operational solutions.

Important: Candidates must be willing to relocate to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and work in a hybrid, forward‑deployed environment.

Additional details regarding the organization, specific projects, and government‑related requirements will be shared with qualified candidates during the selection process.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Strong professional experience in software engineering, applied AI, machine learning infrastructure, or related technical disciplines.
• Advanced proficiency in Python, including designing, developing, and deploying production‑grade applications.
• Hands‑on experience working with Large Language Models (LLMs) and developing AI‑powered applications.
• Demonstrated experience building Agentic AI systems, including autonomous agents, multi‑agent architectures, tool‑using agents, or Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) workflows.
• Experience designing, developing, and maintaining data pipelines for machine learning, AI applications, or large‑scale data processing.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, scalable architectures, and production infrastructure.
• Experience developing or supporting machine learning infrastructure, including model inference, experimentation, evaluation, and deployment.
• Proven ability to take technical ownership of projects from initial architecture and development through production deployment.
• Ability to independently solve complex technical problems and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast‑paced environments.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate directly with technical stakeholders, government partners, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Comfortable working in high‑security, high‑reliability, and mission‑critical environments.
• Willingness and ability to relocate to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and work in a hybrid, forward‑deployed environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government security clearance, or eligibility and willingness to obtain one.
• Previous experience supporting U.S. Government, defense, intelligence, national security, or other mission‑critical technology programs.
• Experience developing AI solutions for government agencies or highly regulated environments.
• Familiarity with Reinforcement Learning (RL) workflows, simulation environments, or AI model evaluation frameworks.
• Experience building and deploying advanced LLM‑based applications, including multi‑agent systems and autonomous workflows.
• Background in AI startups, defense technology companies, government contractors, or advanced research organizations.
• Experience working directly with customers or strategic partners in forward‑deployed engineering roles.
• Understanding of secure software development, infrastructure reliability, and production AI system operations.
• Ability to translate complex operational requirements into scalable, secure, and production‑ready technical solutions.
• Experience working in fast‑moving startup environments, mission‑critical government settings, or both.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a highly capable, hands‑on engineer who combines strong software engineering fundamentals with practical experience deploying advanced AI systems.

We are particularly interested in professionals who can:

• Independently design, build, and deploy sophisticated AI applications using Python and LLM technologies.
• Develop agentic AI systems that integrate models, external tools, enterprise data, and operational workflows.
• Build and maintain reliable data pipelines and machine learning infrastructure.
• Take full ownership of complex engineering projects from concept to production.
• Work directly with government stakeholders to understand mission requirements and deliver effective technical solutions.
• Operate confidently in environments requiring high levels of security, reliability, adaptability, and technical independence.

Candidates with demonstrated experience deploying AI solutions into real‑world production environments will receive particular consideration.

Additional Information

Our client offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract highly skilled engineers working on advanced Artificial Intelligence systems and mission‑critical government technology initiatives.

Compensation:

• Equity compensation eligibility.
• Potential performance‑based bonuses, depending on the role and company policies.
• Comprehensive employee benefits package.
• Up to 100% reimbursement of eligible health insurance premiums.
• Paid Time Off (PTO).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching contributions.
• Additional benefits supporting professional development and employee well‑being.

Compensation will depend on the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, technical expertise, and applicable company policies.

Work Location & Relocation

This position requires candidates to be based in, or willing to relocate to, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Although the organization supports a remote‑first work environment, this particular role involves hybrid and forward‑deployed responsibilities, including direct collaboration with government partners.

Candidates must be comfortable working in environments where onsite presence may be required based on operational and project needs.

Security Clearance

An active U.S. Government security clearance is preferred but not explicitly required at the initial application stage.

Candidates should be eligible and willing to obtain a security clearance if required for their assigned projects.

Specific security requirements will be discussed with qualified candidates during the recruitment process.

Recruitment Process

This search is being conducted by CONFISA Staffing Services on behalf of our client.

Qualified candidates may be invited to participate in:

• Initial professional and technical screening.
• Evaluation of Python, LLM, Agentic AI, and infrastructure engineering experience.
• Technical interviews focused on AI system architecture, deployment, and problem‑solving.
• Discussions regarding government‑related project experience, security requirements, and relocation availability.
• Final interviews with the hiring organization.

Additional information regarding the company, specific responsibilities, and selection process will be provided to candidates advancing through the recruitment stages.

Our client is committed to providing equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions will be based on relevant qualifications, technical capabilities, professional experience, and applicable legal requirements.

Confidentiality Notice: This recruitment process is managed by CONFISA Staffing Services. Additional information regarding our client will be shared with qualified candidates as they advance through the selection process.