Principal Machine Learning (ML) Engineer

Who We Are:

Raft (https://teamraft.com) is a leading defense technology company dedicated to empowering the U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, equipping the Department of Defense and national security organizations with solutions to drive mission success from the tactical edge to headquarters. Trusted by over 25 federal agencies, we enhance legacy systems and accelerate modernization with our advanced data platforms and AI capabilities. With headquarters in McLean, VA, we build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

We're looking for an experienced Principal Machine Learning Engineer to support our customers and join our passionate team of high-impact problem solvers. You will work cross-functionally to help design, plan, implement, and guide enterprise AI/ML strategies. In this role, you will be a technical advisor who will help lead and direct the execution of advanced machine learning solutions by combining expertise and business insights.

About the Role:

We are seeking a machine learning expert who can help us extract valuable insights from customer data and operationalize AI at scale. As the lead, you will oversee all aspects of the ML lifecycle, including data collection, cleaning, pre-processing, model training, and production deployment. You are well-versed in MLOps and understand how to build trustworthy, mission-critical AI systems.

We are looking for a candidate who is passionate about artificial intelligence and stays current with the latest advancements in the field. Initially, this role will require the candidate to work independently with customers, assisting them in developing new business opportunities until a suitable long-term project for growth is identified.

What We Are Looking For:

• Demonstrated ability to introduce new technology into organizations to further their ability to drive value from data using AI/ML
• Experience building agentic workflows with tool calling, Model Context Protocol (MCP) implementations, and multi-step reasoning systems
• Deep understanding of transformer architectures and common frameworks like vLLM, Pytorch, Tensorflow
• Design, develop, and research Machine Learning systems, models, and schemes
• Study, transform, and convert data science prototypes into production-ready systems
• Search and select appropriate data sets before performing data collection and data modeling
• Perform statistical analysis and use results to improve models
• Train and retrain ML systems and models as needed
• Identify differences in data distribution that could affect model performance in real-world situations
• Visualize data for deeper insights
• Analyze use cases of ML algorithms and rank them by success probability
• Understand when findings can be applied to business decisions
• Enrich existing ML frameworks and libraries
• Experience deploying ML services in secure environments with constrained resources
• Verify data quality and ensure it via data cleaning

Highly Preferred:

• Experience with edge AI and autonomous data fusion systems
• Familiarity with defense and national security applications
• Experience with browser-based geospatial visualization libraries (e.g., Leaflet, OpenLayers, Mapbox).

Clearance Requirements:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance

Work Location:

• Remote (candidates based in DMV/NCR, Tampa, FL, or Hanscom AFB, MA strongly preferred)
• Up to 35% travel

What we will offer you:

• Highly competitive salary
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) and company match
• Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
• Education & training benefits
• Annual budget for your tech needs
• Generous Referral Bonuses
• And More!

Our Vision Statement: 

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession: 

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there? 

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. 

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.