Software Engineer, Applied AI

State Affairs; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 165,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

State Affairs in Washington, DC is looking for a Software Engineer specializing in Applied AI to deliver innovative machine learning solutions. The role involves designing and developing models for complex web applications, understanding visual and textual content, and creating scalable classification models. Candidates should have a Master’s or PhD in computer science or a related field, with professional experience in machine learning, and proficiency in TypeScript and Python. The position offers a competitive annual salary between $165,000 and $250,000 and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in computer science, engineering, or related field.
• Professional experience in machine learning and AI algorithm development.
• Proficiency in TypeScript and Python.

Responsibilities

• Deliver machine learning solutions by designing and developing models.
• Develop next generation algorithms for content understanding.
• Create classification models that include text, image, and video content.

Skills

Machine learning

Artificial intelligence

Knowledge of cloud-based infrastructure (AWS)

TypeScript

Python

Computer vision

Natural language processing (NLP)

Education

Master’s degree or PhD in computer science or related field

Tools

Vector database

Job description

Position

Software Engineer, Applied AI – Washington, DC (onsite)

About the Company

State Affairs is the nation’s leading news and policy intelligence platform focused on state governments. We combine nonpartisan coverage of Statehouses across the country alongside state government data and AI-native tools into a singular platform. We inform and empower decision makers, policy professionals and citizens through our award-winning journalism and data – delivering profound insights to help our customers decode and act on state politics and policy.

Responsibilities

• Deliver machine learning solutions by designing and developing models for complex web applications while ensuring adherence to best practices and architectural standards.
• Develop next generation algorithms to understand visual and textual content along with user interactions on the platform.
• Create classification models that include text, image, and video content, along with developing supervised and semi‑supervised models that scale to hundreds of millions of sources.

Essential Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• Professional experience in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and ML algorithm development.
• Knowledge of cloud‑based infrastructure such as AWS for machine learning application development.
• Knowledge of AI/ML concepts including computer vision, image processing, statistical modeling, data mining, natural language processing (NLP), prompt engineering, graph/geometric deep learning, large language models (LLM), and generative AI.
• Ability to operate a vector database.
• Proficiency in TypeScript and Python.
• Experience pre‑training and fine‑tuning large language models, including recent generative set models.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as a software architect or in a technical leadership role.
• Knowledge of security best practices and compliance standards.
• Prior experience working in a startup environment.

Location & Work Environment

This is an onsite work opportunity at the Washington, DC office (located at L and 15th St. NW) five (5) days per week.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary range: $165,000 – $250,000 – determined based on qualifications and market data. State Affairs offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package to employees.

Employment Eligibility

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future company sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity & Disability Accommodations

State Affairs is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic. State Affairs is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and interview process.

Legal Notice

By submitting your application, you affirm that all content provided is true and accurate. State Affairs may conduct background checks for employment purposes as permitted by law, including verification of identity, employment, education, and criminal history.