Senior AI Developer

Arcfield; Virginia, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 106,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcfield seeks an AI Developer to join a team delivering cyber analysis and development capabilities for Navy and DoD needs. You will implement features in a mission-critical line-of-business application supporting mission assurance and operational management.

The role requires Python and AI framework experience, with emphasis on AI workflows, RAG, and secure, scalable software development within an agile, government-facing environment.

Qualifications

• Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.
• DoDD 8140.01 IAM Level I certification or higher.
• Experience with Python programming language; FastAPI is a plus.
• Experience developing capabilities in software applications that interface with AI systems.
• Experience using frameworks for defining AI workflows (Haystack, LangChain, LlamaIndex).
• Experience implementing retrieval augmented generation (RAG) workflows.
• Experience in context engineering (inputs, shape, size, enrichment steps, AI outputs).
• Experience developing MCP servers to interface AI agents with APIs.
• Experience evaluating model performance to select the best model.
• Experience defining AI agent instruction markdown files for CLI tools and cost management.

Responsibilities

• Develop or modify software applications from requirements specifications.
• Design, code, benchmark, debug, and document features.
• Review and assess existing enterprise applications for new features and upgrades.
• Participate in performance, load, and stress testing and remediation.
• Contribute to security architecture reviews of large enterprise systems.
• Engage in full lifecycle development: requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, sustainment.
• Create documentation, test scripts, and training materials.
• Work in an agile team with sprint planning, retrospectives, reviews, and daily standups.

Skills

Python

FastAPI

AI workflows

RAG workflows

LangChain

LlamaIndex

Context engineering

MCP servers

Model evaluation

Cost management

Education

BS

MS

PhD

Tools

Haystack

LangChain

LlamaIndex

Job description

Responsibilities

The AI Developer will be part of a team of experts charged with providing support in the areas of cyber analysis and cyber development capabilities in response to Navy's and DoD's needs for Cyber Situational Awareness (SA), Cyber Command and Control (C2), Mission Assurance, and Homeland Defense. Program scope includes identifying cyber key terrain by analyzing operational requirements, conducting cyber analyses and assessments, and developing and performing modeling and simulation in support of different cyber threat scenarios. Additionally, program support includes developing methodology and framework in support of cyber risk assessment life cycle. Our team will provide capabilities to support the customer with rapid design, development, test, deployment, maintenance and operation of specific software and hardware capabilities to meet current Cyber Defensive needs. As a Senior Developer on this program, you will be tasked with implementing new features within a critical line of business application that support mission assurance and operational management functions.

The Role

As a AI Developer on this program, you will use your expertise and experience in the following areas and activities to deliver solutions and services to our customer:

• Working from requirements specifications to develop or modify software applications.
• Designing, coding, benchmark testing, debugging, and documenting application features and changes.
• Reviewing and assessing existing enterprise applications, to support new features, performance improvements, upgrades, and ongoing sustainment.
• Participating in performance, load, and stress testing, and remediation of issues identified.
• Participating in security architecture reviews of large enterprise systems.
• Participating in the development of new systems throughout the entire application lifecycle: requirements analysis & definition, system design, implementation, testing, deployment, and sustainment.
• Participating in activities that ensure the successful use of these systems including developing documentation, test scripts, and training materials.
• Working in an agile team environment participating in sprint planning, retrospectives, reviews, and daily standups.

Qualifications

• BS 8-10, MS 6-8, PhD 3-5
• Must have an active Secret clearance and the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Clearance.
• DoDD 8140.01 Information Assurance Management (IAM) Level I certification or higher.
• Experience with Python programming language
  • Experience with FastAPI is a plus
• Experience developing capabilities in software applications that interface with AI systems. This does not mean using AI tools, like coding or chat-style interfaces to assist in development.
• Experience using frameworks for defining various AI workflows including but not limited to any of the following
  • Haystack
  • LangChain
  • LlamaIndex
• Experience implementing retrieval augmented generation (RAG) workflows
• Experience in context engineering
  • Determining the inputs, shape, and size provided to AI endpoints
  • Architecting enrichment steps to feed into the submission context
  • Handling outputs received from AI calls
  • Defining processes to ensure system prompts and guards are included in context before submission to the AI endpoints
• Experience developing model context protocol (MCP) servers to allow AI agents to interface with software application APIs
• Experience evaluating the performance of different models used by capabilities to identify the best model for a given capability
• Experience defining AI agent instruction markdown files for using command-line interface (CLI) tools
• Experience managing costs when implementing capabilities that leverage AI

Equal Pay Act

This is the projected compensation range for this position. There are differentiating factors that can impact a final salary/hourly rate, including, but not limited to, Contract Wage Determination, relevant work experience, skills and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location (For Remote Opportunities), education and certifications as well as Federal Government Contract Labor categories. In addition, Arcfield invests in its employees beyond just compensation. Arcfield ’s benefits offerings include, dependent upon position, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections.Min: $106,480.81Max: $185,149.47

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and federal government contractor. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment as protected by law.