Core4ce LLC, a Data-Minded National Security Partner, is seeking an AI/ML Engineer I to join the Autonomy, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning (AAIM) Lab within the Advanced Mission Solutions Business Unit. The AAIM Lab is an interdisciplinary team of AI engineers, software engineers, research scientists, physicists, material scientists, and mission specialists that delivers cutting-edge foundational research and applied AI solutions for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. This entry-level position offers a unique opportunity to work across the full AI/ML lifecycle—from foundational research at early Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) through applied integration and deployment of mission-focused solutions. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer who is equally comfortable prototyping novel algorithms, building production MLOps pipelines, and deploying AI capabilities to warfighter end users. You will work directly under the direction of the Chief AI Scientist and alongside a team of senior researchers and engineers on programs supporting AFRL, DARPA, Space Force, CDAO, and other DoD/IC agencies.

Foundational AI Research

•        Support early-TRL research initiatives including novel algorithm development, model architecture exploration, and experimental design for cutting-edge AI/ML applications

•        Contribute to research efforts spanning reinforcement learning, neural network-based inverse design, multi-modal data fusion, and generative AI

•        Assist in preparing technical abstracts, papers, and presentations for government customers and academic venues

•        Participate in IR&D projects exploring next-generation AI capabilities for defense and national security applications

Applied AI Engineering

•        Design, develop, and deploy AI/ML models and systems that solve real-world mission problems for DoD and IC customers

•        Build and integrate AI capabilities into operational platforms including data fusion systems, intelligence products, and edge-deployed applications

•        Develop software solutions using Python, with proficiency in frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face, and LangChain

•        Work with large language models (LLMs) including fine-tuning, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), prompt engineering, and agentic AI workflows

•        Support integration of AI capabilities with operational systems such as TAK/ATAK, Palantir, and similar mission platforms

MLOps & LLMOps Pipeline Development

•        Build and maintain ML pipelines for model training, evaluation, versioning, deployment, and monitoring

•        Implement CI/CD workflows for ML models using containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes)

•        Work with cloud platforms (AWS, including GovCloud) for scalable model training and inference, including services such as Bedrock, SageMaker, and EC2-based GPU compute

•        Develop and maintain vector databases, embedding pipelines, and retrieval systems for LLM-powered applications

•        Instrument models with logging, drift detection, and performance monitoring for production environments

Defense & IC Mission Support

•        Operate on programs supporting AFRL, DARPA, Space Force, CDAO, and IC agencies at all classification levels

•        Participate in technical proposal development, white papers, and capability demonstrations for government customers

•        Contribute to program execution across the AAIM Lab’s multi-hundred-million-dollar R&D portfolio

•        Collaborate with cross-functional teams including physicists, material scientists, electrical engineers, and mission specialists

*This position is designed to be flexible, with responsibilities evolving to meet business needs and enable individual growth.

•        Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, or a related STEM field

•        0–3 years of experience in AI/ML engineering, software development, or a related technical role (academic research, internships, and capstone projects count)

•        Proficiency in Python and experience with at least one major ML framework (PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn)

•        Familiarity with software engineering best practices: version control (Git), code review, testing, and documentation

•        Exposure to cloud computing platforms (AWS preferred) and containerization (Docker)

•        Strong problem-solving skills and ability to learn new technologies and domains rapidly

•        Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders

•        U.S. Citizenship (required for security clearance eligibility)

•        Master’s degree in a relevant field (AI/ML, computer vision, NLP, signal processing, or related discipline)

•        Experience with LLMs, transformer architectures, and generative AI applications

•        Hands-on experience with MLOps tooling (MLflow, Weights & Biases, Kubeflow, or similar)

•        Familiarity with agentic AI frameworks, workflow orchestration (n8n, LangGraph, CrewAI), and multi-agent systems

•        Experience with vector databases (Weaviate, Pinecone, pgvector) and embedding-based retrieval

•        Background in signal/image processing, sensor fusion, or automatic target recognition (ATR)

•        Prior experience in defense, IC, or government contracting environments

•        Active security clearance (Secret or higher)

•        Familiarity with edge computing, tactical systems, or DDIL (denied, degraded, intermittent, limited) environments

Why Work for Us?

 Core4ce is a team of innovators, self-starters, and critical thinkers—driven by a shared mission to strengthen national security and advance warfighting outcomes.

We offer:

• 401(k) with 100% company match on the first 6% deferred, with immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage—employee portion paid 100% by Core4ce
• Unlimited access to training and certifications, with no pre-set cap on eligible professional development
• Tuition assistance for job-related degrees and courses
• Paid parental leave, PTO that grows with tenure, and generous holiday schedules
• Got a big idea? At Core4ce, The Forge gives every employee the chance to propose bold innovations and help bring them to life with internal backing.

Join us to build a career that matters—supported by a company that invests in you.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, veteran status, age, genetic information, or other legally protected status.