Senior Machine Learning Engineer (Active Secret Clearance)

Striveworks; Tacoma (WA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Unlimited PTO

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Striveworks is seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to design, build, and deploy AI systems for mission-critical environments. You will work with customers, data scientists, software engineers, and DevOps to deliver robust data pipelines and ML models across diverse data modalities.

In this role, you’ll contribute to the Chariot platform, shaping production-grade AI workloads while operating in a hybrid on-site setting at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord, Tacoma, with travel up to 25%.

Qualifications

• BS degree in computer science, ML, or related discipline with 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience delivering data-centric systems.
• Expert Python; knowledge of TensorFlow, PyTorch, and/or scikit-learn.
• Strong software engineering fundamentals: algorithms, data structures, design patterns.
• Security clearance: Active Secret (or above) US citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Define requirements and orchestrate complex data engineering pipelines.
• Develop ML models and analytics for image, video, text, geospatial, time-series, and structured data.
• Collaborate with customers, data scientists, software engineers, and DevOps.
• Contribute to Chariot AI operations platform and mission-critical deployments.

Skills

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Data structures

Algorithms

Cloud environments

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/ML

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Senior Machine Learning Engineer (Active Secret Clearance)

Location: Tacoma, WA

“In 36 months, agentic AI systems will be an operating reality across major institutions. We intend to be central to it.” — Dr. Jim Rebesco, Cofounder and CEO, Striveworks

The government’s demand for AI is growing far faster than the systems required to support it. Fewer than 15% of federal AI programs have reached sustained production, despite billions of dollars invested. The models perform in testing, but they degrade in the real world. When performance drops, trust goes with it.

What you’ll build

Since 2018, we have delivered the most trusted AI systems operating in real‑world use cases—providing a layer of assurance underneath hundreds of deployed models that monitors performance, manages drift, and sustains systems long after they leave the lab. As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, you will be a core contributor to both customer‑driven projects and the enduring products of the company. Working directly with customers, data scientists, software engineers, and DevOps engineers, you’ll define requirements and orchestrate complex data engineering pipelines. You’ll also develop machine learning models and custom analytics applied to image, video, text, geospatial, time series, and structured data. Your work will inform the future of Chariot, our proprietary AI operations platform, and extend to the field with mission‑critical deployments, direct customer contact, and insights that shape what we build next.

What it’s like here

We lead with trust, treat each other with respect, and use candor consistently, kindly, and constructively. We care deeply about our work and find genuine satisfaction in doing it well. Above all, we take ownership—because we feel the weight of collective results personally. We are looking for people who share these values and are eager to put them into practice.

Qualifications

• A BS degree in computer science, machine learning, or a related discipline and 6+ years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience delivering data‑centric systems
• Proficiency in programming languages and libraries common to machine learning; excellence in Python is essential, as is knowledge of TensorFlow, PyTorch, and/or scikit‑learn
• Proficiency in software engineering fundamentals to include algorithms, data structures, design patterns, and at least one systems programming language
• Proficiency with modern software engineering tools and processes
• Active Secret (or above) US security clearance and US citizenship

The following isn’t required, but we’d love to see it:

• An advanced degree in data science, machine learning, computer science, or a related discipline
• Knowledge of relevant architectures and design patterns for client‑server systems
• Experience implementing and deploying software into containerized or cloud environments
• Experience with a variety of unstructured data types
• Experience building AI agents, agentic workflows, or agentic systems
• Experience defining, scoping, planning, and delivering complex, production‑level technical solutions
• Experience leading, managing, or mentoring small, cross‑functional engineering teams
• Experience delivering technology solutions in secure government environments

You will be hybrid/on site at customer locations at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord in Tacoma, WA. You will be expected to travel up to 25% of the time.

Compensation

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $185,000–$230,000/year. Striveworks’ total compensation package includes a competitive base salary, equity grants, and cash bonuses.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Voluntary life, long‑term disability, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
• HSA and FSA (including dependent care FSA) plans
• 401(k) plan
• Unlimited PTO
• Paid parental leave

Ready to build systems that work for a mission that matters? Let’s talk.

Striveworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, social or ethnic origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non‑merit factors. Striveworks will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.

If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact People Operations at [e-mail].

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Striveworks is a participating employer in the E‑Verify program.