Senior AI/ML Engineer — DoD/Navy AI Architect (SECRET)

Ignite Digital; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and benefits

PTO

Education stipends

Referral bonuses

Volunteer/community engagement

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Ignite Digital is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support a U.S. Navy program in the Norfolk, VA area. The candidate will design, develop, and deploy secure AI/ML models and intelligent automation capabilities for Navy operational workloads and readiness analytics.

This role requires deep technical expertise, strong mission orientation, and experience in DoD/IC environments. Active DoW SECRET clearance is required; education and a strong track record are essential.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on experience in AI/ML model development and data engineering.
• Proficiency with Python, SQL, cloud services (Azure, AWS GovCloud), and AI/ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn).
• Experience building and deploying ML models in secure DoD/IC environments.
• Experience supporting Navy, NAVWAR, NIWC, or related Defense organizations.
• Understanding of DevSecOps pipelines, CI/CD, security scanning, and automated deployment.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with mission users and technical SMEs.
• Experience with Snowflake AI Data Cloud, Cortex AI, Databricks, or Advana/Jupiter platforms.
• Experience supporting Navy training systems, HR modernization pipelines, readiness analytics, or C4I environments.
• Familiarity with SCCA cloud environments, Flank Speed integration patterns, and role-based access controls.
• Experience with semantic layer development, analytics pipelines, or operational decision-support systems.

Responsibilities

• Architect, build, and deploy AI/ML models within DoW-aligned environments (IL4/IL5).
• Execute end-to-end data science workflows—data ingestion, cleansing, feature engineering, model development, optimization, validation, and production deployment.
• Develop secure cloud-native pipelines using Azure ML, Snowflake Cortex AI, Databricks, or similar platforms aligned with Navy standards.
• Implement model governance, versioning, lineage, and audit controls consistent with Navy security requirements.
• Work with Forward Deployed Engineers, data engineers, DevSecOps teams, and Navy mission stakeholders to operationalize AI/ML capabilities.
• Support automation of analytics workflows, dashboards, semantic layers, and predictive modeling functions for operational decision support.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to ensure compliance with Navy security, classification, SCIF procedures, and DD254 requirements.
• Document technical artifacts and contribute to iterative prototyping cycles used across Navy portfolios.

Skills

AI/ML development

Data engineering

Python

SQL

Azure

AWS GovCloud

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Scikit-learn

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s preferred

Tools

Snowflake AI Data Cloud

Cortex AI

Databricks

Advana/Jupiter

Job description

Ignite Digital is seeking a Senior AI/ML Engineer to support a U.S. Navy program in the Norfolk, VA area. The candidate will design, develop, and deploy secure AI/ML models and intelligent automation capabilities for Navy operational workloads and readiness analytics.

This role requires deep technical expertise, strong mission orientation, and experience in DoD/IC environments. Active DoW SECRET clearance is required; education and a strong track record are essential.