AI/ML Software Engineer

Overview FTI Defense is seeking an AI/ML Software Engineer to design, build, and deploy secure, scalable software and data systems that support mission operations, analytics, and simulation environments. This role is for a hands-on engineer and someone who loves writing code, building systems end-to-end, and solving real-world technical challenges in secure, distributed environments. FTI Defense delivers mission-focused solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD/DoW) and Intelligence Community (IC) through advanced engineering, digital transformation, and program execution expertise. We help our customers solve complex challenges by integrating people, process, and technology. Responsibilities Software Design & Development Design and implement APIs, data pipelines, and simulation runtime logic that connect and enable mission applications. Develop software using modern programming languages such as Java, Python, C++, or TypeScript/Angular. Write clean, testable, and maintainable code following secure coding and software engineering best practices. Build and integrate modular microservices to improve scalability, maintainability, and interoperability. Cloud & Containerized Environments Build and deploy containerized, cloud-native services using Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines (GitLab, Jenkins, or equivalent). Implement Infrastructure-as-Code and automation scripts to accelerate deployment and configuration management. Contribute to secure deployments across hybrid or disconnected environments (IL4–IL6, AWS GovCloud, or on-prem). Systems Integration & Distributed Computing Develop distributed systems and data integration frameworks using message buses such as Kafka or Redis. Engineer data flow between analytic, AI, and simulation components to support real-time mission use cases. Collaborate with system engineers and architects to ensure interoperability across software ecosystems. Data & Analytics Integration Build and manage databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, graph DBs) and model complex data relationships. Develop data services that feed analytics pipelines or integrate AI/ML outputs into runtime systems. Work with serialization and exchange formats such as JSON, Protobuf, GeoJSON, or KML. Security, Testing & Sustainment Write, test, and deploy software within secure or classified environments. Automate testing and monitoring to ensure performance, reliability, and repeatable deployments. Support the transition of prototypes to operational systems, focusing on maintainability and observability. Education/Qualifications Minimum Requirements: Must be a U.S. citizen and be willing to obtain and maintain a security clearance, as needed. 6-10+ years of professional software engineering experience. 3+ years of professional experience with DevSecOps, Zero-Trust, or ATO/RMF processes in Department of Defense (DoD/DoW) environments. Strong full-stack or systems engineering background. Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Java, Python, C++, or TypeScript/Angular. Experience building containerized, cloud-native solutions using Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines. Complete understanding of distributed systems and message buses (Kafka, Redis, etc.). Experience developing or integrating analytics and AI models into production systems. Preferred Qualifications: Experience deploying code in IL4–IL6 or edge/disconnected environments. Familiarity with databases such as PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or graph databases. Knowledge of Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, or CDK). Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field. Active Secret clearance preferred; ability to obtain one is required . For this role, the compensation range for candidates is $144k-$246k. *Note: Starting pay will be based on a number of factors and commensurate with qualifications & experience. FTI has a location-based compensation structure; there may be a different range for candidates in other locations. Originally posted on Himalayas