Senior Machine Learning Data Engineer Software

Front Door Defense; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition’s Axion Data team builds the data engine that trains perception models for edge and cloud deployments. You will design scalable data pipelines, ingest video data, and optimize how models run across edge and cloud environments.

The role emphasizes ML infrastructure, MLOps tooling, and collaboration with DoD customers to deliver reliable data solutions. U.S. citizenship and security clearance eligibility are required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant work experience.
• Familiarity with modern ML infrastructure and data-centric AI approaches.
• Created or worked on microservices and/or databases for data-oriented software.
• A hunger to learn and grow into ownership on a new product team.
• US citizenship (legally required) and eligibility to obtain a security clearance.
• Wants to work with the edge and cloud ML data engine for video data.

Responsibilities

• Construct optimized data pipelines to run ML models.
• Evolve data engine architecture to scale high-fidelity labels and accelerate ML iterations.
• Integrate foundation models to automate labeling and data discovery.
• Leverage ML tooling for visibility into the pipeline for stakeholders.
• Interact with DoD customers to understand use cases and requirements.

Skills

5+ years experience

ML infrastructure familiarity

Microservices/data-oriented software

Ownership mindset

US citizenship

Security clearance eligibility

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenSearch

Postgres

Job description

Senior Machine Learning Data Engineer

Build scalable data pipelines powering edge and cloud ML model training and deployment

Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States

Compensation: $125,000 - 220,000 USD / year

Job Tags: Software

About The Role

Axion Data Engineer

The Axion Data team at Applied Intuition is building the data engine to train perception models. We build the means to run models at the edge such as Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) models, then backhaul data to our cloud pipeline that ingests and manages this data to enable the continual improvement of these models.

As a data engineer experienced in machine learning, you will be responsible for both our edge application which runs perception stacks and our cloud data engine which ingests video data to run the next iteration of the model before we deploy it back down to the edge. This includes optimizing our ability to run these models on both the edge and the cloud, as well as building MLOps tooling to gain insight and visibility into the pipeline for our stakeholders.

At Applied Intuition, you will:

• Construct optimized data pipelines to run ML models
• Evolve our data engine architecture to scale high-fidelity labels, reduce annotation costs, and accelerate ML iteration cycles
• Integrate foundation models (LLMs, VLMs, and multimodal models) to automate and enhance labeling, quality assurance, and data discovery
• Leverage software‑in‑the‑loop and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing
• Interact with the DoD customer to understand their use cases, requirements, and triage needs during field events to deliver a superior customer experience

We’re looking for someone who has:

• 5+ years of relevant work experience
• Familiarity with modern ML infrastructure, data‑centric AI approaches and running large‑scale jobs on GPUs
• Created or worked on microservices and/or databases for data‑oriented software
• A hunger to learn and grow into a position of ownership and impact on a new product team
• U.S. citizenship (legally required) and eligibility to obtain a security clearance

Nice to have:

• Full‑stack experience React, TypeScript, Python, Golang or similar
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, Opensearch and Postgres
• Direct experience with foundation models, including LLMs and VLMs, for data automation tasks
• Background in autonomous driving or robotics perception
• Experience with active learning, auto‑labeling, or human‑in‑the‑loop ML systems

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60‑1.4(a), 41 CFR 60‑300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60‑741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.