Machine Learning Engineer

Next Tier Concepts; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 181,000; Full time

Job summary

NT Concepts in Chantilly, VA seeks a Machine Learning Engineer to design, build, and deploy mission-critical ML and CV solutions for national security missions. You will work in a hybrid environment, collaborating with mission partners and cross-functional teams to translate real-world needs into production-grade models.

Responsibilities include taking models from research to containerized production, building ML pipelines with MLflow/Kubeflow, and ensuring secure cloud integration.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Hands-on experience developing, testing, and deploying ML models.
• Strong Python programming and DL framework experience (PyTorch, OpenCV, TensorFlow, NumPy).
• Familiarity with containers and ML lifecycle platforms (Docker, Kubernetes, MLflow, Kubeflow, AWS SageMaker).
• Experience in cloud environments and modern DevOps practices (Git, CI/CD, Agile).
• Ability to understand mission objectives and communicate technical approaches effectively.

Responsibilities

• Prototype to Production: take ML models from experimentation to containerized production microservices.
• Mission Alignment: translate real-world operational challenges into ML requirements with stakeholders.
• MLOps & Pipeline Automation: build and optimize pipelines for data prep, training, validation, deployment, and monitoring.
• Model Development & Tuning: train, fine-tune, and evaluate DL models for CV tasks (detection, classification, segmentation).
• System Integration: integrate ML models into secure cloud architectures within enterprise systems.
• Optimization & Governance: optimize inference performance and monitor drift and reliability.

Skills

TS/SCI clearance

Python

ML/DL

MLOps

Cloud & DevOps

Tools

PyTorch

OpenCV

TensorFlow

NumPy

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Chantilly, VA

Position Title: Machine Learning Engineer

We are seeking aMachine Learning Engineerwith a passion for building mission-critical capabilities to join our talent network. Working at NT Concepts means that you are part of an innovative, agile company dedicated to solving the most critical challenges in National Security. If meaningful work, initiative, creativity, and continuous self-improvement are important to your career, explore What's Next with us.

Mission Focus: Our machine learning teams bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI research and operational government missions. We are looking for engineers who can take machine learning and Computer Vision (CV) solutions from early research and prototyping all the way into stable, scalable production environments.

In this role, you will help design, build, and deploy automated ML workflows that directly support national security analysts and operators. We embrace modern agile practices, a DataOps/DevSecOps/MLOps ethos to "automate-first," and modern cloud-native architectures.

Clearance: ActiveTS/SCI required (CI Polygraph preferred or must be eligible to obtain)

Location/Flexibility: Vienna, VA / Chantilly, VA (Hybrid / Flexible Remote options available)

Responsibilities

• Prototype to Production: Support the full machine learning lifecycle, taking computer vision models from experimentation and notebooks into containerized, high-throughput production microservices.
• Mission Alignment: Work closely with mission partners, domain experts, and technical teams to understand real-world operational challenges and translate them into practical ML requirements.
• MLOps & Pipeline Automation: Build, maintain, and optimize robust pipelines for data preparation, model training, validation, versioning, deployment, and monitoring using modern tools (such as MLflow, Kubeflow, and GitLab CI/CD).
• Model Development & Tuning: Train, fine-tune, and evaluate deep learning algorithms for computer vision tasks (e.g., object detection, classification, segmentation, tracking).
• System Integration: Collaborate with cross-functional software engineers and cloud architects to integrate ML models cleanly into larger enterprise systems and secure cloud infrastructures.
• Optimization & Governance: Optimize inference performance, apply secure coding practices, and monitor models for drift and reliability once deployed.

Qualifications

• Clearance:ActiveTS/SCI clearance.
• Hands-On Experience: Demonstrated professional experience developing, testing, and deploying machine learning models into real-world or production environments.
• Deep Learning & CV: Strong programming skills in Python and hands-on experience with deep learning frameworks (primarily PyTorch, OpenCV, TensorFlow, or NumPy).
• ML Lifecycle & MLOps: Practical familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and ML lifecycle/pipeline platforms (e.g.,MLflow, Kubeflow, AWS SageMaker).
• Cloud & DevOps Foundations: Familiarity working in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and modern development practices (Git, CI/CD pipelines, Agile methodologies).
• Customer & Mission Mindset: Ability to understand the end-user's mission objectives, iterate based on user feedback, and clearly communicate technical approaches.

Preferred / Desired Skills:

• Experience working within secure, air-gapped, or classified cloud environments (e.g., AWS GovCloud / C2S).
• Experience with synthetic data generation techniques or multi-modal models.
• Exposure to Large Language Models (LLMs) or generative AI workflows.
• Familiarity with distributed model training and GPU resource management.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 1-15 pounds at times.

The pay range listed for this position reflects the wage or salary range NT Concepts expects to pay for this role at the time of posting. The compensation offered to a successful candidate within this range will be based on legitimate, job-related factors, including (but not limited to) the candidate's work location, education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements.

Virginia Pay Range

$120,336 — $180,504 USD

About NT Concepts

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in the Washington DC Metro area, NT Concepts is a private, mid-tier company with clients spanning the Intelligence and Defense communities. We deliver end-to-end data and technology solutions that advance the modernization, transformation, and automation of the national security mission solutions with real impact developed in a strong engineering culture that encourages technical growth, leadership, and creative big idea problem-solving.

Employees are the core of NT Concepts. We understand that world-changing concepts happen in collaborative environments. We are a company where talented teams work together using innovation and expertise to solve our clients most critical challenges. Here, you'll gain competitive benefits, opportunities to bolster your skills and develop new abilities, and a company culture dedicated to support and service. In addition to our benefits program, we encourage our employees to take part in #NTC_GivesBack, which paves the way for positive social change.

If joining a stable company with strong professional growth opportunities resonates with you, and you seek vital, mission-driven projects (for some pretty cool clients) that use your specific talents, we'd love to have you move forward with us.

Working at NT Concepts means that you are part of an innovative, agile company dedicated to solving the most critical challenges in National Security.

We're expert leaders and problem solvers who roll up our sleeves to get the job done.

We're passionate, curious, and committed to doing important work. At the same time, we're life-long learners, avid mentors, and we like to have fun.

We're looking for the best and the brightest to join us in supporting the mission of National Security.

If meaningful work, initiative, creativity, and continuous self-improvement are important to your career,

join our growing talent network and discover What's Next for you.

NT Concepts is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action (Minorities/Female/Individuals With Disabilities/Protected Veterans), VEVRRA Federal Contractor.

Contact us if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process. All resumes are held in confidence. NT Concepts participates in E-Verify.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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