Technical Targeting Analyst AI SME

Illuminate Technologies; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 135,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Illuminate Technologies in Washington, DC seeks a Technical Targeting Analyst (AI) at SME level to lead AI-enabled targeting, intelligence modernization, and analytic integration for a federal client. You will apply AI/ML to identify, assess, and develop actionable intelligence against high-priority threats.

This role requires deep analytic expertise, exceptional critical thinking, and the ability to lead complex intelligence efforts while ensuring ethical use of emerging technologies.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of SME-level experience in intelligence and targeting.
• Proven experience with advanced analytical techniques and data exploitation tools.
• Strong knowledge of AI, machine learning, data science and analytic frameworks.
• Ability to lead cross-functional analytic efforts and advise senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI/ML-driven targeting methodologies and surface relationships across diverse data sources.
• Develop high-quality intelligence products, targeting packages, and executive briefings.
• Integrate advanced analytic tools into targeting workflows with engineers and model developers.
• Provide expert consultation to senior mission partners on data-driven targeting strategies.
• Uphold security, ethical, and governance standards for AI and emerging tech.

Skills

AI/ML knowledge

Data science

Analytic frameworks

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Doctorate

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

The Opportunity

Illuminate Technologies (ILT) is seeking a Technical Targeting Analyst (AI) at the Subject Matter Expert (SME) level to serve as a principal authority in AI-enabled targeting, intelligence modernization, and advanced analytic integration in support of a federal customer engagement. In this role, you will use artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber intelligence, and large-scale data exploitation to identify, assess, and develop actionable intelligence against complex, high-priority threats.

This is a targeting seat that runs on data science. You will develop leads against networks of concern, carry them to the point where an operational customer can act on them, and state how far the evidence actually goes. The role calls for deep analytic expertise, exceptional critical thinking, and the ability to lead complex intelligence efforts supporting national-level missions while ensuring emerging technologies are used ethically, securely, and in line with the mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and application of AI/ML-driven targeting methodologies, applying machine learning to the parts that do not scale by hand: reconstructing behavior over time, detecting anomalies, and exposing where a target is weak.
• Apply advanced analytic tradecraft to large, diverse datasets from multiple intelligence, cyber, and operational sources, including openly available material, forensic artifacts, and network telemetry, and pivot between them to surface relationships that no single source shows.
• Identify, assess, and develop leads against networks of concern, across data that is technical and data that is not.
• Develop high-quality intelligence products, technical targeting packages, and senior-level briefings, from a direct response to a single question up to a full package behind an operational decision, including at the strategic level.
• Integrate advanced analytic tools, frameworks, and emerging technologies into operational targeting workflows, working with the engineers and model developers who build the tooling to improve the models against what the analysis actually needs.
• Provide expert consultation to senior mission partners on data-driven targeting strategies, analytic modernization, and cross-domain intelligence integration.
• Uphold rigorous security, ethical, and governance standards in the use of AI and emerging technologies, establishing that data and model output are sound and ethically validated before anyone relies on them: where they came from, what they represent, whether their use is defensible, and where an automated result would mislead.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 10 years of experience at the SME level, measured as time performing the duties described above. This minimum is a floor; ILT may require more and does not require less.
• One of the following combinations of experience and education:
• o 16 years of experience with no degree
• o 14 years of experience with a Bachelor's degree
• o 12 years of experience with a Master's degree
• o 10 years of experience with a Doctorate
• Demonstrated experience in advanced analytical techniques, intelligence collection methods, and data exploitation tools.
• Strong knowledge of AI, machine learning, data science, and intelligence-driven analytic frameworks.
• Proven ability to assess and analyze large-scale, high-complexity datasets from multi-source environments.
• Exceptional critical thinking, investigative analysis, and structured problem-solving abilities.
• Experience developing intelligence reports, targeting packages, and executive-level presentations.
• Ability to lead cross-functional analytic efforts and advise senior mission stakeholders.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Analytics, or a related field.
• Experience supporting federal, defense, intelligence, law enforcement, or national security missions.
• Expertise in AI/ML model development, data engineering, or advanced analytics platforms.
• Experience with cyber threat intelligence, network analysis, digital forensics, or open-source intelligence (OSINT).
• Relevant certifications in intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, data science, cloud technologies, or AI/ML disciplines.

Eligibility Requirements

• United States citizenship. The contract requires every person associated with it to be a United States citizen, with no part of the work exempt.
• Top Secret clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI). For work performed at a government facility, the clearance must be active and transferable before assignment to the work.
• Subject to routine criminal and credit checks, which the contract requires of all contractor personnel.

What You Can Expect

A small, focused team.

At Illuminate Technologies, you will join a small team focused on placing the best personnel in the right positions.

A mission-driven culture with balance.

We carry a Special Operations Forces (SOF) culture dedicated to national security. We hold that superior mission execution and a good quality of life go together, and we work to protect both.

Room to grow.

Your growth is not limited to your job description. You will have the opportunity to develop and take on work beyond your specified position.

Pay Range

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. At Illuminate Technologies, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as: healthcare, retirement, and time off benefits.

The proposed salary range for this position is: $135,000.00 – $205,000.00

Illuminate Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are evaluated on the qualifications stated above, without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including lactation, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Company Description

Illuminate provides government agencies, commercial enterprises, and network operators with the data, services, and technology that helps them protect the information that surrounds us all and extract real value from it. We combine decades of cyber, intelligence and telecommunications expertise with innovative collection and analysis tools to deliver timely, actionable insight that our customers use to make fast, informed decisions.