Data Engineer, AI/ML

About The Company

MAG Aerospace is a leading provider of innovative aerospace and defense solutions, committed to delivering cutting-edge technology that supports national security and tactical operations. With a focus on advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, MAG Aerospace empowers operators with actionable intelligence derived from multi-modal sensor data. Our elite team works closely with government and military clients, providing rapid prototyping and deployment of AI solutions in challenging environments. Headquartered in Fairfax, VA, MAG Aerospace values diversity, inclusion, and professional growth, offering flexible work arrangements and access to state-of-the-art technologies.

About The Role

We are seeking a skilled Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning Data Engineer to lead the development and optimization of intelligent systems that transform complex sensor data into actionable insights for tactical use. This hybrid role primarily offers remote work with occasional on-site presence at our corporate or satellite offices located in Fairfax, VA, Aberdeen, MD, Titusville, FL, Newport News, VA, and Carthage, NC. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in data engineering and model development, with a passion for mastering the full AI stack—from edge computer vision to conversational AI assistants. The position requires US citizenship and prior experience working with US defense contractors, government agencies, or the military.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in machine learning, AI, and data engineering
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and JAX
• Experience with modern AI paradigms including transformers, diffusion models, and neural ODEs
• Hands-on experience with large language model (LLM) deployment and optimization (vLLM, TGI, llama.cpp)
• Strong skills in data engineering tools like Apache Spark, Airflow, and dbt
• Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases at scale
• Knowledge of vector databases and embedding systems such as Pinecone, Weaviate, and pgvector
• Familiarity with computer vision libraries (OpenCV, PIL) and video processing techniques
• Understanding of MLOps practices and model lifecycle management
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred
• Eligibility for Secret security clearance
• US citizenship required
• Preferred: Experience with military/defense AI applications
• Preferred: Knowledge of agentic AI frameworks (LangChain, AutoGPT, CrewAI)
• Preferred: Familiarity with federated learning and edge-cloud hybrid architectures
• Preferred: Experience with business intelligence tools (Tableau, PowerBI, Grafana)
• Preferred: Knowledge of time-series analysis, anomaly detection, explainable AI, and semantic reasoning
• Preferred: Experience with MLOps platforms such as MLflow, Kubeflow, or Weights & Biases
• Preferred: Published research or patents in relevant AI/ML fields

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize data-centric AI solutions including computer vision pipelines for object detection, tracking, and classification
• Implement advanced AI capabilities such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, agentic workflows, and fine-tuned large language models
• Design and deploy edge-optimized AI models using TensorRT, ONNX, and quantization techniques
• Build and maintain data engineering pipelines for ETL, feature engineering, and model training
• Create analytics dashboards and business intelligence tools to provide operational insights
• Implement multi-modal sensor fusion algorithms integrating visual, thermal, acoustic, and RF data
• Design and manage data lakes, warehouses, and real-time streaming architectures
• Develop conversational AI interfaces using open-source large language models such as Llama and Mistral
• Establish data quality standards, validation checks, and governance procedures throughout the data lifecycle
• Develop and execute robust testing and validation strategies for AI/ML models, including adversarial testing and performance evaluation under degraded data conditions
• Optimize AI workloads for embedded platforms including Jetson and Intel Neural Compute Stick
• Implement hardware acceleration using CUDA and TensorRT and optimize memory and power consumption for edge devices
• Support embedded systems teams with AI-specific hardware integration and design distributed inference systems for degraded network conditions
• Communicate complex AI concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including operators and executives

Benefits

• Opportunity to work on meaningful projects impacting national security
• Membership in a small, elite team where individual contributions have immediate impact
• Access to cutting-edge hardware and emerging technologies
• Rapid prototyping environment enabling fast deployment of innovative ideas
• Direct interaction with end users and field deployment teams
• Support for professional development, including conference attendance
• Flexible work arrangements with occasional field exercises
• Opportunity to shape the future of tactical edge computing solutions

Equal Opportunity

MAG Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. MAG Aerospace provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.