Al/ML Engineer (SME)

Peraton is seeking an AI/ML Engineer (SME) to support the MODES III program supporting Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP). In this role, the selected candidate will provide program‑level leadership for AI/ML strategy, defining the technical roadmap, data governance, and model lifecycle management across the program data and analytics initiatives. This position is remote and requires an active Secret clearance. 

JOB DESCRIPTION 

• Provides program‑level leadership for AI/ML strategy, defining the technical roadmap, data governance, and model lifecycle management across MODES III data and analytics initiatives. 
• Directs architecture and integration of AI/ML capabilities into the MODES III data lake, API layers, dashboards, and operational tooling to enable predictive and automated troubleshooting and optimization. 
• Establishes enterprise model governance, ethical AI principles, and production standards (validation, explainability, drift detection) and approves high‑impact pilots for scale‑up. 
• Leads RMF/ATO strategy for ML infrastructure in authorized enclaves, coordinates eMASS artifact generation, and ensures ML deployments comply with DoD/MODES III security mandates. 
• Advises program leadership on resource allocation, tooling, and research priorities; engages stakeholders to align AI/ML outcomes with operational objectives and quality management plan requirements. 
• Familiar with: PyTorch/TensorFlow/Keras, Hugging Face transformers, LangChain, RAG toolkits, FAISS/Pinecone, SageMaker/Vertex AI, MLflow/Kubeflow, Terraform/CloudFormation, EKS/GPU EC2, Prometheus/Grafana, ELK/OpenSearch, AWS Lake Formation/Feature Store, QuickSight/Tableau, Secrets Manager/KMS, eMASS/RMF. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Active Secret clearance required. 
• Experience / Education: 12 years relevant experience with BS/BA degree or 10 with MS/MA or 8 years with PhD or 16 years w/o a degree or 14 years with AS/AA
• Certifications: This role requires a demonstration of capability within the Cyberspace IT workforce. Successful applicants must satisfy Foundational Qualification standards via an approved industry certification (e.g., A+ or Network+) or documented equivalent military/educational training as defined in the DoD 8140 Qualification Matrix. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Eligible for Top Secret/SCI clearance. 
• Prior experience working in DoD or Federal government IT environments. 
• Experience with cloud-native data pipelines, analytics platforms, or data lake architectures. 
• Familiarity with NIST RMF, ATO processes, and DoD security compliance frameworks. 
• Experience with machine learning model deployment, MLOps pipelines, or AI/ML frameworks in production environments. 
• CompTIA Security+ 

Worklocation: remote with the ability to travel to the NCR if required

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

$104,000 - $166,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.