Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Iron EagleX (IEX), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics Information Technology, delivers agile IT and Intelligence solutions. Combining small-team flexibility with global scale, IEX leverages emerging technologies to provide innovative, user-focused solutions that empower organizations and end users to operate smarter, faster, and more securely in dynamic environments.

Job Description:

Iron EagleX is seeking a highly skilled Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join our dynamic team in Crystal City, VA. The ideal candidate will specialize in AI-driven automation, prompt engineering, and machine learning model optimization to deliver innovative solutions to real-world challenges. This role requires expertise in large language models (LLMs), AI agent workflows, and the development of efficient AI solutions. The position is primarily on-site, with potential for hybrid work based on project needs.

Job Duties Include (but not limited to):

Develop, optimize, and implement AI workflows with a strong focus on prompt engineering and automation.
• Design and fine-tune machine learning models to enhance performance and effectiveness.
• Research and apply best practices for large language model (LLM) utilization, including prompt orchestration and fine-tuning techniques.
• Develop and integrate AI agents into data workflows, leveraging state-of-the-art frameworks.
• Apply advanced prompt engineering techniques such as few-shot learning, chain-of-thought reasoning, self-consistency, and retrieval-augmented generation.
• Utilize frameworks like LangChain and DSPy to design, test, and optimize prompts.
• Address token limitations, cost trade-offs, and model-specific constraints across various LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, Mistral, etc.).
• Implement model fine-tuning methods, including soft prompting, adapters, and supervised fine-tuning.
• Develop AI-driven automation workflows using agent-based architectures and frameworks such as LangGraph and OpenAI function calling.
• Write, test, and maintain Python code for AI model development and integration.
• Utilize version control systems (Git) to manage code changes and collaboration

Required Skills & Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in machine learning, AI model development, or related fields.
• Proficiency in prompt engineering and LLM optimization techniques.
• Hands-on experience with frameworks such as LangChain, DSPy, and LangGraph.
• Strong understanding of AI workflow automation and agent-based architectures.
• Solid Python programming skills and experience with version control (Git).
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.
• Due to US Government Contract Requirements, only US Citizens are eligible for this role.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Master's, Ph.D, or coursework/certifications in a related field
• Familiarity with reinforcement learning and other advanced ML techniques.
• Experience deploying AI models in production environments.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Advanced degrees are a plus.

Security Clearance:

• An active TS/SCI security clearance is REQUIRED. Candidates without this clearance will not be considered.

Benefits:

• National Health, vision and dental plans
• 20 days of PTO and 11 paid holidays
• Life Insurance
• Short - and long-term disability plans
• 401(K) retirement plans
• Incentive and recognition programs
• Relocation opportunities