Principal AI/ML Systems Architect - Defense & Intelligence

NextGen Federal Systems; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

NextGen Federal Systems is seeking an AI/ML Principal Engineer to partner with data scientists, ML engineers, and intelligence analysts to design, evaluate, and integrate advanced AI/ML capabilities across Military Operational Systems. This role shapes technical direction and helps transition models into operational environments.

You will lead distributed data pipelines, support government stakeholders, and contribute to acquisition documents while ensuring reliability and mission readiness in

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science or related field; MS/PhD preferred.
• 8+ years of AI/ML, analytics, or systems engineering experience.
• Ability to rapidly learn emerging technologies in evolving mission domains.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills across diverse data.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience building and maintaining large-scale distributed data pipelines.
• Familiarity with ML models and intelligence-analytic use cases.
• Knowledge of AI/ML performance factors and operational constraints.
• Understanding of intelligence cycle and data production workflows.
• Proficiency in algorithms, data science methods, and security fundamentals.
• Top Secret clearance preferred (SCI eligibility).

Responsibilities

• Deliver AI/ML-focused systems engineering expertise to validate technical and operational solutions.
• Design and develop AI/ML-based solutions for defense, intelligence, and mission applications.
• Contribute AI/ML engineering inputs to acquisition documents (SOWs, specifications, engineering plans, evaluation strategies).
• Prepare analysis products and strategic recommendations aligned to government objectives.
• Diagnose and resolve AI/ML system challenges to ensure reliability and mission readiness.
• Define problem spaces, lead studies, and supervise analytical data collection to support decision-making.
• Provide guidance and consultation to cross-functional personnel.
• Assist in implementing modern AI/ML frameworks, tools, and software development practices.
• Support development and assessment of research and SBIR topics, BOMs, RFPs, and related artifacts.
• Communicate progress clearly to leadership and government stakeholders.

Skills

8+ years AI/ML experience

Rapid learning of emerging tech

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaboration across teams

Distributed data pipelines

ML models & intelligence use cases

AI/ML performance factors

Intelligence cycle knowledge

Algorithms & data science methods

Security fundamentals

Top Secret Clearance

Education

BS in Computer Science or related field

MS/PhD preferred

Job description

NextGen Federal Systems is seeking an AI/ML Principal Engineer to partner with data scientists, ML engineers, and intelligence analysts to design, evaluate, and integrate advanced AI/ML capabilities across Military Operational Systems. This role shapes technical direction and helps transition models into operational environments.

You will lead distributed data pipelines, support government stakeholders, and contribute to acquisition documents while ensuring reliability and mission readiness in