Senior Software Engineer (AI/ML)

About this role

540 is seeking a Senior Software Engineer (AI/ML) to support our partnership with Google and the Department of War in advancing mission-critical capabilities for a global data processing platform. This platform leverages Machine Learning, modern cloud and containerized technologies to ingest, process, and analyze high-volume, time-series data.

The system leverages cloud-native infrastructure, while incorporating AI/ML capabilities to enhance signal analysis, anomaly detection, and data-driven insights. Engineers on this team build and scale full-stack features across user interfaces, backend services, and data pipelines that power mission-critical analytics. You’ll play a key role in integrating AI/ML-driven capabilities into production systems, enabling faster, more accurate operational decision-making.

Location: Patrick SFB, FL or Arlington, VA. Candidates should be local to either location. Onsite support may be required based on mission and customer needs. Travel up to 25%
Citizenship & Clearance Requirement: Per client requirements, candidates must be U.S. Citizens with an active DoW clearance with TS/SCI eligibility
Education Requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field (preferred)
540 Internal Thrive Level: Senior Software Engineer

WHY 540?

540 is a forward-thinking company that the government turns to in order to #getshitdone. We don’t just talk about innovation – we deliver it. We break down barriers, build impactful technology, and solve mission-critical problems.

HOW YOU’LL DRIVE IMPACT

• Design and develop machine learning models and applications for deployment to cloud-native services

• Collaborate with data engineers and data scientists to productionize machine learning models and data pipelines

• Collaborate with a cross-functional team of architects, engineers, and scientists to design and deploy Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) at scale

• Integrate AI/ML capabilities into production systems (e.g., model inference APIs, decision-support features, anomaly detection workflows)

• Design and optimize data models and persistence layers to support both transactional and analytical workloads

• Enable intelligent application behavior by delivering AI and ML features to user-facing applications

• Contribute to technical design documentation and system architecture artifacts

• Lead or participate in code reviews, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure high-quality software

• Drive system reliability through robust testing

• Improve system performance, scalability, and reliability as the platform evolves

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• 8+ years of professional software development experience

• Experience developing microservices in containerized environments

• Experience with, or a strong conceptual understanding of, LLM-based applications, RAG pipelines, and AI-driven decision systems

• Experience with Python

• Experience working with relational databases and data warehouses

• Experience integrating AI/ML capabilities into applications (e.g., working with model inference APIs, ML pipelines, or data-driven features)

• Ability to produce technical design documentation (system diagrams, architecture artifacts)

• Familiarity with MLOps concepts (model deployment, monitoring, versioning)

• Ability to design with future scalability and platform evolution in mind

• Demonstrated ownership and ability to drive work from concept to production

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to navigate ambiguity

• Excellent communication skills, including working directly with stakeholders or clients

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or similar cloud environments

• Experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs

• Experience with API gateways and API management platforms, such as Google Apigee

• Familiarity with API authentication and authorization (PKI, OAuth2, JWT, LDAP, SAML, etc.)

• Experience working on U.S. Federal Government programs, particularly DoW environments

• Google Cloud Professional-level certifications

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Flexible PTO + all Federal holidays off

• Health, dental and vision insurance plans

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• 401k with employer match

• Company-sponsored life insurance, short- and long-term disability

• Professional development (training, certifications, conferences)

• Paid cloud developer accounts

• Referral bonuses

• HQ office perks (parking / metro reimbursement, nitro coffee & lunches)

• Annual social events (540 Week, hackathon, charity golf tournament, etc.)

• Access to 540’s Washington Capitals & Nationals tickets

EQUAL…