Staff AI/ML Engineering Manager

Job Title: Staff AI/ML Engineering ManagerJob Category: ScienceTime Type: Full timeMinimum Clearance Required to Start: TS/SCIEmployee Type: RegularPercentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%Type of Travel: LocalAnticipated Posting End: 12/2/2026The Opportunity:This position is for an AI/ML Engineering Manager. We are seeking a talented and motivated AI/ML Engineering Manager to join our growing team. This is a unique player/coach role designed for an experienced AI/ML engineer who is passionate about both researching, building, developing AI/ML applications and leading people. You will be responsible for managing and mentoring a team of skilled AI/ML researchers and engineers while also actively apply cutting-edge AI/ML algorithms in a variety of domains to meet the mission needs of our customers. You'll split your time effectively between guiding your team's success and rolling up your sleeves to wrangle data, write code, build and train models, solve complex technical challenges, and contribute directly to our AI/ML portfolio.Responsibilities:Hands-on AI/ML Development: Actively participate in the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle, contributing high-quality, well-tested, and maintainable code for data pipelines, model training, evaluation, and deployment to key AI/ML projects using our tech stack.Proven proficiency in Python, including experience with key machine learning libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy).ML System Design & Architecture: Contribute to technical design discussions and architectural decisions for scalable and robust machine learning systems, including data pipelines, model training infrastructure, serving layers, and MLOps frameworks.Code & Model Quality: Actively participate in code reviews, ensuring adherence to coding standards, MLOps best practices, and high-quality engineering principles, specifically for machine learning models and infrastructure (e.g., reproducibility, testability, explainability).Stay Current and Mentor: Keep abreast of cutting-edge machine learning research, algorithms, MLOps tools, and cloud AI/ML services, advocating for their strategic adoption. Leverage this continuous learning to mentor and provide technical direction to your AI/ML team.Lead & Mentor: Manage, coach, and mentor a team of AI/ML engineers, fostering their technical and professional growth, by providing career advice and helping with program technical guidance.  Additionally, you will work with the greater AI/ML engineering group to cultivate a positive, collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team that is focused on bringing modern AI/ML development practices and robust engineering principles across all ARKA programs.Performance Management: Conduct regular 1:1 bi-weekly meetings with your team, provide feedback on both technical and non-technical topics, assist with setting clear goals, and manage performance reviews for your direct reports.Collaboration: Work closely with AI/ML engineering organization and other engineering leadership to align priorities, define requirements, and ensure successful project delivery across programs.Project Oversight: Help manage project priorities, timelines, and deliverables for your team, identifying and removing roadblocks.Hiring & Onboarding: Participate in the recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, and retention of engineering talent for your team and the broader organization.  Additionally works closely with engineering leadership to align current and new staff skillsets with program needs over time.Qualifications:Required: Active TS/SCI Clearance Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, mathematics, engineering, or a related field3+ years of experience in a formal or informal leadership capacity (e.g., Tech Lead, Team Lead, mentoring junior engineers, project leadership)8+ years of experience developing AI/ML applications, data science, or algorithm developmentExperience with Python and data science / machine learning libraries (e.g. PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, OpenCV, NumPy, Pandas, Polars, scikit-learn, etc.)Experience with one or more of the following areas:Applying unsupervised and/or supervised machine learning techniquesApplying and/or developing algorithms based in statistical analysisAnalyzing large datasets and building models to perform inferenceApplying Large Language Models (LLMs) and techniques such as retrieval augmented generation (RAG), fine tuning, and prompt engineeringExperience with deep learning architectures (e.g. FCNs, CNNs, RNNs, Transformers, GANs)Experience with modern software development methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Kanban)Experience with version control systems such as Git and the associated tooling to for modern software version controlExcellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skillsStrong problem-solving and analytical abilitiesA genuine passion for both technology and people leadershipAbility to effectively balance management responsibilities with individual technical contributionsDesired:MS or PhD in machine learning, computer science, mathematics, or related fieldsExperience directly managing AI/ML engineers, including performance management cyclesExperience with any of the following AI/ML domains:Large Language Models and experience identifying ways to incorporate them into new areas and applicationsApplying Transformer-based architectures to domains in other areas outside of Natural Language Processing (NLP) such as computer visionObject detection algorithms such as YOLO and Faster-RCNNNatural Language Processing algorithms such as BERTGenerative Adversarial Networks and Variational AutoencodersReinforcement learning and familiarity with Gymnasium Gym, RLlib, and Stable BaselinesApplying clustering algorithms and/or deep neural networks to real life problemsImplementing tracking and pattern-of-life algorithmsExperience with Machine Learning libraries and frameworks such as HuggingFace and LangChainExperience with Computer Vision libra