Software Design Engineer (AI)

Job Summary

Cole Engineering Services (CESI), a By Light company, is seeking an AI Software Engineer to support the full software and machine learning lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have experience designing and developing software modules for integration into large-scale systems and networks.

About the Role

The AI Software Engineer will be actively involved with the full software and machine learning lifecycle. They will support requirements analysis, conduct trade studies for model and framework selection, present AI design architectures, and implement solutions utilizing techniques like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and model training or fine-tuning.

Responsibilities

• Support requirements analysis and conduct trade studies for model and framework selection
• Present AI design architectures
• Implement solutions utilizing techniques like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and model training or fine-tuning
• Select, develop, and evaluate foundational models, AI agent platforms, and orchestration frameworks
• Independently complete detailed design and development work for individual AI components, establishing robust agent context and memory management capabilities
• Ensure seamless integration of individual developed components into broader products, frequently requiring integration with vector databases at the subsystem level
• Maintain a clear understanding of the project schedule and budget, ensuring all tasks—from initial model evaluation to production deployment—stay on track
• Provide technical oversight on AI integration to the broader development team and communicate directly with the customer to ensure AI capabilities align with their operational needs

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline such as electrical engineering, computer science, information technology, systems or software engineering from an accredited college or university
• 5+ years of experience designing and developing software modules for integration into large-scale systems and networks
• Experience with software/hardware analysis and design, performance analysis, configuration and data management, quality assurance, and specification definition
• Ability to adhere to robust technical specifications and work both independently and as a member of a software development team
• Proficiency with AI coding assistants and/or experience developing production-grade AI/ML agents

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship status with ability to obtain a TOP SECRET security clearance

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
• Wellness Program
• 401(k) Matching
• Disability (Short Term & Long Term)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Generous Leave Policy (11 Federal Holidays, PTO, Military Leave, Bereavement and Jury Duty)