AI Engineer

Guidehouse Inc. is seeking an AI Engineer to design, build, test, and deploy AI applications and services in a cloud environment. The position focuses on production-ready delivery of data and ML capabilities, including retrieval-augmented generation and agentic workflows, alongside model packaging and secure, compliant operations across commercial and public sector contexts.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, test, and deploy AI applications and services by translating solution designs and reference architectures into demo-ready components.
• Implement data and ML pipelines, including ingest, transform, feature stores, and vector indexes, and connect them to RAG and agentic workflows.
• Package and serve LLMs and traditional ML models through APIs and microservices using containers and orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Stand up and maintain cloud resources and AI platforms across AWS, Azure, GCP, and tools such as Palantir and Databricks, including CI/CD, infrastructure as code (for example, Terraform), secrets management, and observability.
• Integrate AI capabilities into applications and services, including prompt orchestration, tool or function calling, embeddings, and fine-tuning.
• Work with data scientists, platform engineers, and product teams to iterate on use cases, deliver POCs/MVPs, and harden solutions for scale.
• Support demos and contribute to technical documentation and proposal or pitch solution content.
• Apply responsible AI practices and security and compliance requirements throughout development and deployment.

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship is required.
• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in software, data, or ML engineering, including building and operating cloud-native services.
• Minimum one (1) year of hands-on experience with Generative AI and/or agentic patterns such as RAG, function or tool calling, and prompt orchestration.
• Proficiency with at least one major cloud (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and modern DevOps practices including Git, CI/CD, containerization, and infrastructure as code.
• Familiarity with vector databases and embeddings, plus LLM application frameworks.
• Ability to troubleshoot production systems using logs, metrics, and traces, and to write clear documentation and runbooks while collaborating across teams.
• Growth mindset with interest in expanding into broader architecture responsibilities over time.

Tools & Technologies

AWS, Azure, GCP, Palantir, Databricks, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD, IaC, Git, vector databases, embeddings, LLM application frameworks, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), prompt orchestration, tool/function calling, fine-tuning, microservices, and APIs.

Nice to Have

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Federal or DoD SECRET security clearance; active clearance preferred.
• Certifications in cloud architecture, DevOps, or AI/ML (for example, AWS/Azure/GCP, Databricks, Kubernetes).
• Experience contributing to client-facing engineering in consulting or product environments.
• Master’s degree.

Compensation, Location, and Logistics

• Location: McLean, VA (onsite)
• Salary: USD 98,000 - 163,000 per year
• Travel required: Up to 10%
• Clearance required: None
• Job family: Engineering Consulting

Benefits

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Student Loan PayDown
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
• Mobility Stipend

What Guidehouse Offers

Guidehouse provides a comprehensive total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits offering, designed to support a diverse and inclusive workplace.