Principal Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Govini; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in defense technology is seeking a Principal AI Engineer to spearhead the development of AI solutions for national security. The role requires a strong background in AI/ML, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to lead technical teams. This full-time position is based in Pittsburgh, PA, and may involve some travel. Join us to make a significant impact in global security.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data science or software engineering.
• 5 years focused on AI/ML systems development.
• Extensive experience in deploying production ML systems.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design scalable AI/ML solutions in AWS.
• Lead implementation of generative AI applications.
• Mentor junior engineers and foster innovation.

Skills

Python

AI/ML frameworks

Communication

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Kubernetes

Job description

Company Description

Govini transforms Defense Acquisition from an outdated manual process to a software-driven strategic advantage for the United States. Our flagship product, Ark, supports Supply Chain, Science and Technology, Production, Sustainment, and Modernization teams with AI-enabled Applications and best-in-class data to more rapidly imagine, develop, and field the capabilities we need. Today, the national security community and every branch of the military rely on Govini to enable faster and more informed Acquisition decisions.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced, skilled developer with a proven track record of delivering modern AI solutions into production software applications. The Principal AI Engineer will report to the Chief Data Officer and will spearhead the development of both generative AI and traditional machine learning systems that process, analyze, and derive insights from complex defense and national security data. As a technical leader within our organization, you will help shape Govini's AI strategy to deliver actionable intelligence that supports critical defense decision-making and national security objectives.

In order to do this job well, you must be a curious and eager problem solver with a hunger for building well-designed, high-quality solutions. You have a passion for great work and nothing less than your best will do. You share our intolerance of mediocrity. You’re uber-smart, challenged by figuring things out and producing simple solutions to complex problems. Knowing there are always multiple answers to a problem, you know how to engage in a constructive dialogue to find the best path forward. You’re scrappy. We like scrappy.

This role is a full-time position located out of our office in Pittsburgh, PA.

This role may require up to 25% travel

Scope of Responsibilities

• Architect and design scalable, production-grade AI/ML solutions within our AWS environment that address complex challenges in defense data analytics and intelligence
• Contribute to and execute against Govini’s AI roadmap
• Lead the implementation of advanced generative AI applications to transform unstructured and structured defense and security data into meaningful insights
• Establish technical direction and best practices for AI/ML development, deployment, and operations across engineering and data science teams
• Collaborate with data scientists, machine learning engineers, software engineers, product managers, and defense domain experts to translate business requirements into efficient technical solutions
• Develop and implement AI governance frameworks that address the unique security, explainability, and ethics requirements of defense applications
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers while fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence
• Continuously evaluate emerging AI/ML technologies and methodologies for potential application to defense tech challenges
• Craft clean, testable, and maintainable code

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required

Required Skills:

• Master's degree or higher in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or related technical field
• 8+ years of experience in data science or software engineering with at least 5 years focused on AI/ML systems development
• Extensive experience building and deploying production ML systems within Kubernetes-based AWS environments
• Extensive experience building and deploying production generative AI solutions into software products
• Strong programming skills in Python and proficiency with modern AI/ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Hugging Face)
• Deep understanding of large language models (LLMs), transformer architectures, and generative AI techniques
• Experience with ML Ops tools and practices to support the full lifecycle of AI systems
• Proven track record implementing data processing pipelines that handle large-scale, complex datasets
• Strong system design skills with experience in distributed systems and microservices architecture
• Demonstrated expertise in implementing AI solutions that meet stringent security requirements
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders, including non-technical defense professionals

Desired Skills:

• Current possession of a U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain one with our sponsorship
• Experience in or exposure to the nuances of a startup or other entrepreneurial environment
• Experience working with defense, intelligence, or national security data and applications
• Knowledge of federal security compliance requirements (NIST, FedRAMP, IL4/IL5/IL6)
• Familiarity with graph-based analytics and knowledge representation for complex relationship modeling
• Experience with advanced NLP techniques for document analysis, entity extraction, and knowledge mining
• Experience with advanced time-series analysis and forecasting techniques
• Background working with classified information or in secure environments
• Understanding of ethical considerations and responsible AI development for national security applications

We firmly believe that past performance is the best indicator of future performance. If you thrive while building solutions to complex problems, are a self-starter, and are passionate about making an impact in global security, we’re eager to hear from you.

Govini is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans status or any other characteristic protected by law.