Software Engineer I (AI Focus)

Bitwise; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 198,000 - 233,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top salaries

Flexible PTO

Paid holidays

Education assistance

401(k) match

Employer-paid insurance

Job summary

Bitwise is seeking an engineer to develop and refine software that integrates cutting-edge AI capabilities into critical workflows, supporting analysts and operators who depend on intelligent tools to accomplish their missions.

You'll work under senior engineers to build agentic integrations using Python, APIs, and data sources, collaborating with teammates to test, present findings to customers, and ensure stable, production-ready tools.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional software engineering experience (or 4+ years of relevant technical work in lieu of a bachelor's degree).
• B.S. in a technical discipline (or equivalent professional experience).
• Proficiency in Python, with hands-on experience handling JSON, REST APIs, and data manipulation.
• Experience leveraging HTTP-based APIs to access data through queries.
• Understanding of AI development concepts, including prompt engineering, context management, structured outputs, and tool/function calling.
• Familiarity with software source control (Git) and the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence).
• Active TS//SCI clearance with polygraph.
• Experience with agentic workflows and multi-agent orchestration.
• Familiarity with production CNO capabilities and operations.
• Background in cybersecurity or understanding of security operations workflows.
• Familiarity with retrieval systems (RAG, vector databases, semantic search).
• Familiarity with cloud computing technologies (AWS, Docker, Kubernetes).

Responsibilities

• Develop Python-based agentic integrations and build tools within modern frameworks like PydanticAI, LangGraph, and DeepAgents.
• Navigate complex customer data ecosystems to identify and extract relevant information, then integrate those findings with external APIs and MCP tools.
• Collaborate with software engineers to test workflows, identify issues, and propose fixes; present data analysis results to customers.
• Ensure AI tools remain stable, reliable, and seamlessly integrated into the customer's existing toolset, under mentorship.

Skills

Python

JSON

REST APIs

Data manipulation

Prompt engineering

Agentic workflows

Multi-agent orchestration

Git

Jira

Confluence

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

TS/SCI clearance

Communication with customers

Education

B.S. in a technical discipline

Tools

Git

Jira

Confluence

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

An active TS//SCI clearance with polygraph is required for this role

Bitwise is a leading provider of mission-focused intelligence solutions that advance national security for the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. We're a small and growing company, so you can expect to hop in on the ground floor with us and be a consequential member of the team. You'll be more than a contract performer for us — you'll also be asked for ideas to improve our company and improve your career, and you'll contribute to our team culture. We value growth and community above almost all else, so we gather regularly for game nights, happy hours, tech talks, and plenty more. We think you'll like it here!

Remember, Bitwise is not a cult.

What We Look For

Bitwise hires talented engineers who are driven by purpose and who value a culture of technical excellence, growth, and overall wellness. We deliver new and innovative intelligence solutions to our customers at the very forefront of our country's national security missions. And we do it every single day. Our work matters, and so will you.

We ask that every new hire be able to:

• Contribute meaningful thought leadership — if not right away, over time
• Interact with our customers and earn their confidence in your abilities
• Be detailed, even if that means taking a little more time to get it right
• Contribute their ideas and ideals to improve all aspects of our company
• Allow us to invest in their education so we both grow together

You will develop and refine the software that integrates cutting-edge AI capabilities into critical workflows, supporting analysts and operators who depend on intelligent tools to accomplish their missions. Working under the guidance of senior engineers, you'll take ownership of building agentic integrations that leverage multiple AI models, APIs, and diverse data sources in production environments.

Your day-to-day work will involve developing Python-based agentic integrations and building tools within modern frameworks like PydanticAI, LangGraph, and DeepAgents. You'll navigate complex customer data ecosystems to identify and extract relevant information, then integrate those findings seamlessly with external APIs and MCP tools to enable scalable system interoperability. You'll interact directly with mission stakeholders to elicit requirements and devise solutions that truly work in the field.

You won't work in isolation — collaboration is central to what we do. You'll partner with other software engineers to test workflows, identify issues, and recommend pathways for fixes. You'll also get comfortable presenting your data analysis results to customers, building their confidence in the solutions you're creating.

Throughout this role, you'll ensure that AI tools remain stable, reliable, and seamlessly integrated into the customer's existing toolset, even as you're learning from experienced mentors around you.

Requirements

• 3+ years of professional software engineering experience (or 4+ years of relevant technical work in lieu of a bachelor's degree)
• B.S. in a technical discipline (or equivalent professional experience)
• Proficiency in Python, with hands-on experience handling JSON, interacting with REST APIs, and data manipulation
• Experience leveraging HTTP-based APIs to access data through queries
• Understanding of AI development concepts, including prompt engineering, context management, structured outputs, and tool/function calling
• Familiarity with software source control (Git) and the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence)
• Ability to present data analysis results to customers
• Active TS//SCI clearance with polygraph
• Experience with agentic workflows and multi-agent orchestration
• Basic knowledge of end-to-end SIGINT collection and analysis systems
• Background in cybersecurity or understanding of security operations workflows
• Experience with retrieval systems (RAG, vector databases, semantic search)
• Familiarity with production CNO capabilities and operations
• Practical experience in one or more artificial intelligence domains (e.g., intelligent systems, autonomy, planning, LLMs)
• Familiarity with cloud computing technologies (AWS, Docker, Kubernetes)

Benefits at Bitwise

• Top salaries because we're top performers
• Pick your PTO — Everyone values time and money differently, so we give you the flexibility to choose between 3 and 5 weeks of PTO with a corresponding adjustment to your pay. Your choice, your balance.
• All 11 federal holidays, paid!
• Up to 2 snow days, paid!
• We'll quadruple (4x!) the first 6% you contribute to your 401(k), giving you up to a 24% company match. Contributing less than 6%? Unclaimed matches come right back to you as extra income, giving you a guaranteed 24% that goes to your retirement, to your paycheck, or both. C'mon now!
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances. That's a lot. Already covered on health insurance? No problem — we'll trade you this benefit for a boost to your salary instead.
• $5,250 annual education assistance for training, certifications, tuition, and even student loan repayments.
• Spot bonuses for obtained certifications, customer recognition, and just about anything else that makes us go "Hot damn"!. We hope to say that many times about you.

Salary Range

$197,500 – $232,500

This range includes our flex income and depends upon your annual work hours.

Salary is determined on an individual basis following the interview process and considering various factors such as years of experience, skills, education, and certifications.

What to Expect After Applying

You'll get an email from us right away to acknowledge your application. After that, we'll:

• Send over additional company materials for you to review
• Schedule a video call to talk about you, our company, and your place in it
• Craft a delightful offer package for you and record a video walkthrough
• Work closely with you through onboarding. We'll keep it joyful and easy.

Bitwise is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Compensation for this position, including all compensation options, will be determined on an individual basis following the interview process.

If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please reach out to us.