AI Engineer (TS/SCI with Polygraph is REQUIRED)

Aperio Global brings together experts in cybersecurity, AI, data analytics, and cloud technologies to solve complex national security challenges. Our team includes technologists, Intelligence Community veterans, and security professionals who collaborate to deliver technical excellence and impactful solutions in cyber operations, AI platforms, cloud-native software, and emerging technologies.

About the role

Aperio Global is seeking motivated AI Engineers across multiple experience levels (SWE2 / SWE3) to support our AI & Emerging Technologies (AI&ET) mission. Engineers will work closely with mission stakeholders to capture requirements, aid in structured planning, and improve the certification process by introducing AI/ML tooling. This role sits at the intersection of applied AI research and national security, deploying cutting-edge tooling within classified secure enclaves.

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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
• Use AI/ML to develop tools and techniques, including fine-tuning Large Language Models (LLMs), to enhance vulnerability identification and mitigation capabilities

Requirements

• Active TS/SCI + Polygraph clearance (required prior to applying)
• 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

Skills

• Familiarity with Rust (nice to have)
• Experience with Claude Code or OpenAI Codex (nice to have)
• CI/CD pipeline design and maintenance (nice to have)
• Hands-on experience deploying AI tools within classified or air-gapped environments (nice to have)
• Performance profiling and scalability optimization in networked AI systems (nice to have)

About the Mission

The AI & Emerging Technologies (AI&ET) team applies artificial intelligence to national security challenges in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Engineers work on problems that directly impact mission outcomes, valuing intellectual curiosity, technical depth, and a commitment to responsible AI development.

Pay

Salary range: $127,000 - $200,000. Placement within the range is based on qualifications, relevant experience, education, certifications, technical skills, work location, market conditions, and business needs.

Level-Experience:

• AI Engineer (SWE2) — Mid-level: Bachelor's + 5 years
• Senior AI Engineer (SWE3) — Senior: Bachelor's + 8 years

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA) with 100% employer match up to 6%
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Professional Development