Applied AI Engineer 1 - (Python, LLM, MCP)

Akina, Inc. is seeking an Applied AI Engineer 1 to work onsite in Columbia, Maryland, embedded with mission operators and analysts to design and improve trusted AI agents and tools. The role focuses on building agentic AI components in Python and delivering supporting assets such as scripts, tests, evaluations, and user-facing documentation.

Onsite Location

Columbia, Maryland (onsite)

Salary

USD 169,000 - 207,000 per year

This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Salary will be set based on experience, geographic location, and possible contractual requirements, and could fall outside this range.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test components of agentic AI solutions in Python, including MCP servers, Skills, and integrations with mission data sources and tools.
• Engage in requirements discussions with operators and analysts, learning workflows and mission tradecraft.
• Build scripts and tools that convert, normalize, and extract information from customer data.
• Write test cases and evaluation examples to confirm that AI capabilities produce correct and reliable results.
• Use AI coding agents in daily development and review generated code before committing changes.
• Collaborate with other engineers to test workflows, identify issues, and recommend fixes.
• Create documentation and user guides to support mission users as they adopt new AI tools.

Required Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python, including working with JSON, REST APIs, and data manipulation.
• Understanding of software engineering fundamentals, including version control (Git), testing, and debugging.
• Familiarity with LLM concepts such as prompt engineering, structured outputs, and tool/function calling.
• Experience using AI coding assistants (e.g., Claude Code, Copilot) to write, debug, or test code.
• Familiarity with Linux environments and the command line.
• Strong communication skills and willingness to learn from senior engineers and mission subject matter experts.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a SWE in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related discipline from an accredited college or university.

Education Substitution

• Four (4) years of additional SWE experience on projects with similar software processes may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.

Technologies

• Python, JSON, REST APIs, Git, Linux
• LLM, Claude Code, Copilot
• MCP servers
• React, TypeScript
• Docker, Kubernetes, GitLab CI/CD
• RAG, vector databases, Elasticsearch

Clearance

• TS/SCI - Polygraph required

Nice to Have

• Experience building agentic workflows, MCP servers, or Skills.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or GitLab CI/CD.
• Experience with retrieval systems (RAG, vector databases, Elasticsearch).
• Experience building web interfaces with React or TypeScript.
• Background in cybersecurity, or knowledge of CNO operations and SIGINT collection and analysis systems.

Benefits

• 24 days PTO accrued annually
• 11 federal holidays
• 401k: 100% vested on your start date, and the company makes a direct contribution worth 10% of your salary
• Healthcare: Akina covers 100% of healthcare costs for employees and 50% toward dependents
• Educational assistance towards college classes
• Akina covers costs associated with job-related training and certifications