Navitas is seeking an advanced Senior Data Engineer to design, build, and deploy scalable AI/ML models for use within the DoD's Search Portfolio.
Requirements
- 7+ years of hands-on experience with Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs), semantic search, text embedding, RAG (retrieval-augmented generation), and generative AI applications
- Deep understanding of machine learning subfields including computer vision, statistical learning theory, reinforcement learning, and both supervised/unsupervised techniques
- Proven experience with data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model evaluation
- Strong coding and documentation practices in Python, R, Scala, Java, or C++
- Experience in ML engineer or data scientist roles developing and deploying real-world ML models
- Proficiency with version control systems (e.g., Git) for collaborative development
- Demonstrated use of Apache Spark or Databricks for high-volume distributed ML workloads
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, test, and support AI/ML pipelines and informatics solutions for varied DoD technical missions
- Collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, and stakeholders to integrate AI solutions across Search Portfolio products
- Optimize AI models for performance and cost-efficiency using distributed compute (Apache Spark/Databricks) and GPU-based Kubernetes clusters
- Stay informed on emerging AI research and integrate relevant advancements into production-ready models
- Manage full lifecycle of AI/ML components, from research to deployment, monitoring, and iterative improvement
- Diagnose and solve complex data-related challenges through analytical modeling and AI-driven approaches
- Build and maintain shared libraries, tools, and reusable ML assets across engineering teams
Other
- Active Secret Clearance
- Bachelor's degree with 7-10 years of relevant experience, or Master's degree with 5+ years of experience
- Document and present design alternatives, trade-offs, and implementation strategies to stakeholders
- Assist in creating a strategic roadmap and architecture to enable rapid prototyping and experimentation with advanced AI capabilities
- Maintain security, compliance, and reproducibility in all AI/ML model workflows and infrastructure
