[Remote] Lead AI/ML Software Engineer

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Raft is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. As a Lead AI/ML Software Engineer, you will be responsible for evolving the architecture and engineering rigor of Raft’s AI Mission System, driving architectural decisions, and leading major technical initiatives while mentoring engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams.ResponsibilitiesDrive architectural decisions across the [R]AIMS platform, evaluating tradeoffs across performance, scalability, security, and maintainability and building alignment across engineering and product stakeholdersLead major technical epics from conception through delivery, decomposing ambiguous problems into executable plans and keeping cross-functional teams moving with clarity and momentumSimplify and rationalize distributed system architecture as the platform scales, reducing incidental complexity and improving operational reliability without sacrificing capabilityOptimize platform performance across both edge and cloud deployment targets, identifying and resolving bottlenecks in data-intensive, latency-sensitive operational environmentsEstablish strong engineering foundations and reusable technical patterns that improve developer productivity and code quality across the teamMentor engineers at multiple levels, conducting design reviews, providing substantive code feedback, and actively elevating technical execution across the platformPartner with AI/ML engineers on model integration, inference optimization, and the operational deployment of agentic workflows within [R]AIMSEngage directly with customers and program stakeholders at operationally demanding environments across the Department of Defense, representing Raft’s technical capabilities with credibility and claritySkills6+ years of hands-on experience building and shipping production software systems across the full stack (frontend, backend, infrastructure, and ML)Deep software engineering fundamentals with demonstrated ability to design, build, and evolve complex systems that perform reliably at scaleExceptional technical communication skills; able to lead through influence across engineering, product, and leadership stakeholders without requiring direct authorityProven experience designing and evolving distributed systems, including service decomposition, inter-service communication patterns, fault tolerance, and observabilityStrong hands-on experience with Kubernetes and cloud-native platform architecture in production environmentsExperience building data-intensive or AI-enabled production systems with real operational users and real performance constraintsDemonstrated technical leadership over large, cross-functional engineering initiatives with clear ownership and accountability for outcomesStrong system design and architecture decision-making ability, with a track record of making the right call under incomplete informationSome experience or exposure to training, fine-tuning, or deploying machine learning models in production contextsAbility to obtain Security+ certification within the first 90 days of employmentUS citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearanceExperience building AI/ML infrastructure or agentic systems, including orchestration frameworks, tool-use patterns, and LLM integration in productionExperience with streaming and event-driven architectures, particularly Kafka, Kafka Streams, or Apache FlinkExperience with platform engineering and internal developer tooling, including golden-path frameworks, shared libraries, and developer experience improvementsExperience with real-time inference or operational AI systems in latency-sensitive environmentsExperience building secure, compliant systems for regulated or mission-critical environments, including familiarity with IL4/IL5/IL6 requirements or RMF processesPrior work in defense, national security, or classified program environmentsActive clearance preferredBenefitsHighly competitive salaryFully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage401(k) and company matchTake as you need PTO + 11 paid holidaysEducation & training benefitsGenerous Referral BonusesCompany OverviewA niche consulting organization focused on Cloud Native, DevSecOps, and Modern Application Development for mission focused enterprises It was founded in 2018, and is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, USA, with a workforce of 201-500 employees. Its website is https://teamraft.com.