AI Engineer (TS/SCI with Polygraph is REQUIRED)
Aperio Global · Fort Meade, MD ·
- Seniority
- Middle
- Employment
- Contract
- Category
- AI engineering
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Salary
- USD 127,000 – 200,000 / year
Aperio Global · Fort Meade, MD ·
Weeghman & Briggs · Jessup, MD, US
Leidos · Linthicum Heights, MD
Leidos · 3325 Fort George G. Meade MD
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Build and deploy AI/ML tools, including fine-tuning LLMs, to enhance cybersecurity and national security operations in secure environments.
Our Mission Statement
At Aperio Global, we bring together experts in cybersecurity, AI, data analytics, and cloud technologies to solve complex national security challenges. We focus on work where our expertise creates the greatest impact.
Our team includes technologists, Intelligence Community veterans, and security professionals who believe the best solutions come from collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence. From cyber operations and AI platforms to cloud-native software and emerging technologies, our work speaks for itself.
Come Solve With Us
We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, retirement savings with company match, generous paid time off, and professional development. We invest in our people because great missions require great teams.
AI Engineers - Multiple Levels (SWE2 / SWE3)
U.S. Citizenship is required for this position due to federal government contract and security clearance requirements.
TS SCI + Polygraph is REQUIRED
Linthicum Heights, MD
How to Apply:
Submit your application through this posting. Please include:
• Resume highlighting relevant AI/ML and software engineering experience.
• Current clearance level and polygraph status
• Desired level (SWE2 or SWE3), or indicate open to both
Please Note: This role requires an active TS SCI with POLYGRAPH. You must have this clearance prior to applying to be considered.
Aperio Global is seeking motivated AI Engineers across multiple experience levels to support our AI & Emerging Technologies (AI&ET) mission. Engineers at all levels will work closely with mission stakeholders to capture requirements, aid in structured planning, and improve the certification process by introducing AI/ML tooling.
You will use AI/ML to develop tools and techniques — including fine-tuning Large Language Models (LLMs) — that assist in enhanced vulnerability identification and mitigation capabilities. This role sits at the intersection of applied AI research and national security, deploying cutting-edge tooling within classified secure enclaves.
Mission Focus:
• Design, develop, and maintain LLM orchestration frameworks that coordinate static analyzers, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, and automated testing pipelines
• Develop and optimize data preprocessing pipelines to ingest, clean, transform, and vectorize product documentation, source code, and test results for LLM consumption
• Design and implement database solutions to support RAG architectures, artifact storage, audit trails, and metadata management
Technical Proficiency:
• Collaborate with systems engineers to architect and deploy networked AI tools within secure enclaves
• Conduct performance profiling, optimization, and scalability analysis of mission systems
• Support security assessments and Authority to Operate (ATO) processes
• Collaborate closely with technical leadership on system design decisions and roadmap planning
What We're Looking For:
All candidates must meet the following requirements:
• Bachelor's degree plus 5 years (SWE2) or 8 years (SWE3) of relevant experience, or equivalent
• Proficiency in Python, LLM integration, and data engineering
• Experience with static analyzers and RAG frameworks
• Experience with both relational and vector databases
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies, Git, Jira, and Confluence
• Active TS/SCI + Polygraph
Nice to Have:
• Familiarity with Rust
• Experience with Claude Code or OpenAI Codex
• CI/CD pipeline design and maintenance
• Hands-on experience deploying AI tools within classified or air-gapped environments
• Performance profiling and scalability optimization in networked AI systems
About the Mission:
The AI & Emerging Technologies (AI&ET) team is at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence to national security challenges. Our engineers work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment on problems that directly impact mission outcomes. We value intellectual curiosity, technical depth, and a commitment to responsible AI development.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
Salary: $127,000 - $200,000
Level-Experience:
AI Engineer (SWE2) — Mid-level Bachelor's + 5 years
Senior AI Engineer (SWE3) — Senior Bachelor's + 8 years
The salary range for this role represents Aperio’s good-faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Placement within the range is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to an individual’s qualifications, relevant experience, education, certifications, technical skills, contract labor categories and/or rates, work location, market conditions, and business needs.
At Aperio Global, we understand the value of investing in our most important asset—our employees. That's why we have crafted a comprehensive benefits package designed to help you make the best decision for yourself, your family and your lifestyle. For additional details, contact our talent acquisition team.
Aperio Global is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce where all employees and applicants are treated with respect and fairness. Employment decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs — never on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, pregnancy/childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ethnicity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
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