Principal AI/ML Engineer (Large Language Model) (TS/SCI) {S}

TSG; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k retirement plan with company contributions

3 weeks of vacation plus sick leave

Tuition assistance for approved programs

Annual bonus program

Company paid life insurance and disability insurance

4 weeks paid parental leave

Job summary

A leading advanced technologies company in Aurora, Colorado seeks a Principal AI/ML Engineer to develop algorithms in various disciplines including object detection, NLP, and LLMs. Candidates must have over 10 years of experience in software development or data science, and an active TS/SCI Government Security Clearance is required. This role offers a competitive salary ranging from $180,000 to $210,000, generous relocation benefits, and a professional work environment with flexible scheduling options.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software development or as a data scientist
• Experience fine-tuning foundational models and using LLM frameworks
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance required

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team to implement machine learning algorithms
• Apply LLMs to various remote sensing applications
• Analyze large datasets to build actionable models

Skills

Machine Learning

Large Language Models (LLMs)

Python

Data Science

Software Development

Education

BS in machine learning, computer science, mathematics, or related fields

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

AWS

OpenCV

Weaviate

Job description

Job Category: ENG

Requisition Number: PRINC002818

• Posted: April 5, 2025
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Stratagem Group Aurora, 3855 Lewiston St, Suite 250, Aurora, CO 80011, USA

ARKA Group L.P. ("ARKA") is an advanced technologies company serving the U.S. military, intelligence community, and commercial space industry delivering next-generation solutions to support the national security space enterprise. Built on more than six decades of excellence, ARKA brings modern approaches and a culture of innovation to the challenges of today.

Join the ARKA team to learn how Beyond Begins Here. Discover your next career opportunity now!

Position Overview

The Principal AI/ML Engineer will support the development of AI/ML algorithms in a multitude of disciplines from object detection/classification, natural language processing, reinforcement learning, and large language models.

We offer generous relocation benefits for eligible candidates.

In support of work/life balance, many positions are available for a flexible schedule within the pay period. Ask us about the opportunity for flex scheduling if that’s of interest to you.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a multidisciplined team consisting of developers and researchers to implement machine learning algorithms to solve a broad set of challenges for our various customers.

• Apply Large Language Models (LLMs) to a variety of applications within remote sensing such as tasking collections, identifying gaps in collection plans, analyzing patterns of life, and more.
• Fine tune foundation models and building adaptors for new applications (llama factory, PEFT)
• Apply retrieval augmented generation (RAG) techniques to data to populate and query vector databases (e.g. Weaviate)
• Build custom applications with LLM frameworks such as LangChain, DSPy
• Deploy LLM solutions across cloud-based and local resources using kubernetes (llama.ccp, vllm etc)
• Analyze large multi-domain datasets such as images, text and/or graph data, to identify statistically relevant features to build models that provide analysts with actionable data
• Review relevant publications to understand and apply cutting edge concepts to defense and commercial applications
• Interface with both internal and external leadership to communicate technical status

Required Qualifications

• BS in machine learning, computer science, mathematics, or related fields.
• 10+ years of experience, preferably in software development or as a data scientist with 2+ years of building LLM applications using some of the following:
  • Fine-tuning foundational models
    • Steering Techniques (e.g Sparse auto encoders, representation tuning)
    • Building adapters to use foundational models (e.g. PEFT, llama factory)
  • Prompt engineering techniques / Inference time techniques (e.g. chain of thought, tree of thoughts, etc.)
  • Using Retrieval Augmented Generation techniques to populate and query vector databases (e.g. Weaviate, pinecone)
  • Using LLM Frameworks (e.g. LangChain, DSPy)
  • Using AI APIs ( e.g AWS Bedrock, OpenAI)
  • Using LLM deployment frameworks (eg llama.cpp, vllm, tgi)
  • Developing UIs with ReAct
• Experience leading an interdisciplinary team of researchers and software developers and working with a program manager to define project scope and schedule to ensure we meet project milestones as defined by our customers
• Experience with Python and data science / machine learning libraries (e.g. PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, OpenCV, NumPy, Pandas, Polars, scikit-learn, etc.)
• Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or PhD in machine learning, computer science, mathematics, or related fields.
• Experience leading an interdisciplinary team of researchers and software developers
• Experience with any of the following Computer Vision domains:
  • Large Language Models and experience identifying ways to incorporate them into new areas and applications
  • Applying Transformer-based architectures to domains in other areas outside of Natural Language Processing (NLP) such as computer vision
  • Object detection algorithms such as YOLO and Faster-RCNN
  • Natural Language Processing algorithms such as BERT
  • Generative Adversarial Networks and Variational Autoencoders
  • Reinforcement learning and familiarity with Gymnasium Gym, RLlib, and Stable Baselines
  • Applying clustering algorithms and/or deep neural networks to real life problems
  • Implementing tracking and pattern-of-life algorithms
• Experience with Machine Learning libraries and frameworks such as HuggingFace and LangChain
• Experience with Computer Vision libraries such as OpenCV, Nerfstudio, FiftyOne, etc.
• Experience with Linux
• Familiarity with using AWS cloud computing resources such as EC2, S3, Lambda, etc.
• Experience with any of the following additional languages: Java, C++, Rust, Go, and/or C#
• Experience implementing algorithms on the GPU in Python or C++ using CUDA and other CUDA libraries
• Experience with implementing tracking and pattern-of-life algorithms
• Experience in application deployment, virtualization, and containerization (e.g. Podman, Docker, Kubernetes, Rancher)
• Experience working with various Remote Sensing datasets (e.g. EO/OPIR/SAR images, passive RF, etc.)
• Experience shaping and writing proposals

Pay Range

$180,000 - $210,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

The application window will close in 330 days for this position.

Location

Aurora, CO

Being situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Aurora provides opportunities to enjoy all the beautiful nature that Colorado has to offer, while also being a 20-minute drive from downtown Denver and 15-minutes to the Denver International Airport.

What We Offer

• Company contributions to qualified HSA accounts
• 401k retirement plan with industry leading company contributions
• 3 weeks of vacation accrual per year plus time off for sick leave and unscheduled life events
• 13 paid holidays
• Upfront tuition assistance for approved degree programs
• Annual bonus program based on company and employee performance
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• 4 weeks paid Parental Leave
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

This job operates in a professional office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to use hands to keyboard, communicate, listen to, and interpret instructions and remain stationary for extended periods of the time. This would require the ability to move around the campus and occasionally move/lift items weighing up to 25 lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Applicants are invited to apply for a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job. To apply, send a request to [e-mail] or contact 203-797-5000 and press 2 for Human Resources.

ITC & Security Clearance Requirements

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

Visa Restrictions

No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Pre-employment Screenings

Employment with any ARKA companies in the U.S. is contingent upon satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements to include a credit check, background check, and drug screen.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.