Forward Deployed AI Engineer - Clearance Required

At LMI, we're building mission-ready AI that delivers impact where it matters most. Our Forward Deployed AI Engineers embed with government partners to tackle high-priority, fast-moving challenges-designing and deploying AI solutions that accelerate decisions, uncover anomalies, and unlock the power of our LIGER generative AI (GenAI) platform.

Like a startup CTO in the field, you'll wear many hats: part software engineer, part AI architect, part problem solver. You'll operate with autonomy, adapt to shifting requirements, and bring technical clarity to ambiguous problems-all while collaborating with mission stakeholders, software engineers, and the Chief Product Officer team. If you thrive at the intersection of customer impact, technical excellence, and operational speed, this role offers the chance to deliver AI that matters.

This role requires an Active TS/SCI security clearance and availability to collocate with our defense and national security customers in the Pentagon.

LMI is a new breed of digital solutions provider dedicated to accelerating government impact with innovation and speed. Investing in technology and prototypes ahead of need, LMI brings commercial-grade platforms and mission-ready AI to federal agencies at commercial speed.

Leveraging our mission-ready technology and solutions, proven expertise in federal deployment, and strategic relationships, we enhance outcomes for the government, efficiently and effectively. With a focus on agility and collaboration, LMI serves the defense, space, healthcare, and energy sectors-helping agencies navigate complexity and outpace change. Headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, LMI is committed to delivering impactful results that strengthen missions and drive lasting value.

Own technical delivery: Drive AI solution design and implementation across multiple government deployments, from first prototype to stable mission use.

• Embed with customers: Serve as a technical thought partner to mission stakeholders, guiding adoption, maximizing impact, and ensuring successful deployments.

• Build GenAI-enabled systems: Prototype and implement pipelines using Python, TypeScript, or comparable stacks aligned to customer mission needs.

• Guide value realization: Help customers understand trade-offs, sequence delivery, and adapt applications to achieve operational outcomes.

• Deliver clarity under ambiguity: Scope projects, remove blockers, and make informed trade-offs between speed, scope, and quality.

• Contribute directly in code: Write and review software across backend and full-stack environments when clarity or momentum depends on it.

• Codify patterns: Capture reusable workflows, best practices, and lessons learned into playbooks, tools, and building blocks that scale beyond a single project.

• Shape the roadmap: Share field signal with LMI's product and research teams to guide the evolution of LIGER and related AI capabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience).

• 5+ years of engineering or technical deployment experience, ideally in customer-facing or government environments.

• Hands-on experience building and deploying applications that integrate AI/LLMs, APIs, and data pipelines.

• Strong programming skills in Python and proficiency in a modern full-stack environment (e.g., JavaScript/TypeScript, MEAN, Node.js).

• Familiarity with cloud deployment (AWS, Azure, or GCP), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, etc.).

• Ability to translate customer needs into actionable technical approaches and deliver solutions in fast-moving or ambiguous contexts.

• Excellent problem-solving, judgment, and communication skills, with ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders alike.

• Must have an active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related technical field.

• Experience deploying systems powered by generative AI (LLMs, RAG architectures, Model Context Protocol) in sensitive or mission-critical settings.

• Proven track record of scoping and delivering complex systems under tight timelines.

• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices, CI/CD, and secure software development for government environments.

• Demonstrated ability to simplify complexity, anticipate risks, and provide clarity in high-stakes environments.

Target salary range: $130,986 - $233,154

The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is not a guarantee of compensation. Individual salaries are determined by various factors including, but not limited to location, internal equity, business considerations, client contract requirements, and candidate qualifications, such as education, experience, skills, and security clearances.

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