AI Engineer

This position supports the CDC on a contingent contract award, delivering mission-critical, AI-enabled web applications. The AI Engineer will design and implement production solutions that combine generative AI, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and agentic workflows with secure, scalable deployment practices.

Location and Work Arrangement

• Location: Atlanta, GA (hybrid)
• Teleworking: Not permitted
• Onsite requirements: Onsite work in Atlanta, GA as needed

Estimated Salary

• Range: USD 105,000 - 120,000 per year

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on technical experience in software engineering, web application development, data engineering, data science, machine learning, or a related technical discipline
• 1+ years of hands-on experience building generative AI or agentic AI solutions, including LLM APIs, prompt engineering, tool/function calling, structured outputs, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agents, or similar techniques
• Experience developing applications with Python and working with APIs, backend services, data pipelines, and web application frameworks
• Experience with REST APIs, JSON-based interfaces, authentication mechanisms, and external service integrations
• Experience with at least one major cloud platform, including deploying or integrating applications with cloud-hosted services (Microsoft Azure or AWS)
• Experience using modern software-development practices and collaboration tools, including Git, GitHub, Jira, pull requests, code reviews, issue tracking, and Agile/Scrum delivery practices
• Knowledge of LLM application fundamentals, including tokens, context windows, system and user prompts, model parameters, structured outputs, embeddings, retrieval, and techniques for guiding and evaluating model responses
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust or suitability determination, as required by the client or contract
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder)
• Must currently be located in Atlanta, GA or Washington, DC and able to work onsite when needed

Responsibilities

• Build and enhance production generative AI applications and web-based AI solutions
• Develop AI applications using Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, and Foundry Agent Service
• Build retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, knowledge assistants, chatbots, and agentic workflows
• Implement agent and LLM workflows using tools, structured outputs, guardrails, and human review where needed
• Integrate AI applications with APIs, enterprise data sources, databases, cloud services, and MCP-based tools
• Develop secure, cloud-native application services and user interfaces using Python, web frameworks, containers, and Azure services
• Test, evaluate, and monitor AI applications to improve quality, reliability, latency, and cost
• Collaborate with AI engineers, software engineers, architects, and DevSecOps teams to deliver maintainable production applications

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with containerized or cloud-native application development, including Docker, Azure Container Apps, Azure App Service, or similar services
• Experience with Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations and agent tool calling, including hands-on development of multi-agent systems
• Experience implementing LLM evaluation, tracing, monitoring, and observability capabilities
• Experience with CI/CD, automated testing, and cloud-based development and deployment practices for AI applications
• Experience working in government, healthcare, or other regulated environments
• Exposure to fine-tuning, hosting, or serving open-source LLMs and working with model-serving frameworks
• Knowledge of AI governance, responsible AI principles, and related security and risk-management practices
• Knowledge of AI agent frameworks such as Microsoft Agent Framework, LangGraph, PydanticAI, or similar tools
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional engineering environment and collaborate with software, AI/ML, data, cloud, and DevSecOps engineers
• Ability to clearly communicate technical problems, implementation decisions, and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Technologies

• Azure AI Foundry
• Azure OpenAI
• Foundry Agent Service
• Python
• Web frameworks
• Containers
• Azure services
• REST APIs
• JSON
• Git
• GitHub
• Jira
• Agile/Scrum
• MCP
• LLM APIs
• Prompt engineering
• Tool/function calling
• Structured outputs
• Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
• Embeddings
• Docker
• Azure Container Apps
• Azure App Service
• Model Context Protocol (MCP)
• LangGraph
• PydanticAI
• Microsoft Agent Framework
• CI/CD

Benefits

• PTO / Vacation: 5.67 hours accrued per pay period (136 hours accrued annually)
• Paid Holidays: 11
• California residents receive an additional 24 hours of sick leave a year
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Prescription
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short- & Long-Term Disability
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Dependent Care Spending Account
• Commuter Benefits
• 401k / 401a
• Hospital Indemnity
• Critical Illness
• Accident Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Insurance
• ID Theft Protection

Other Information

• Telework permitted: false
• Teleworking details: Hybrid - Onsite work in Atlanta, GA