Systems Architect III - AI/ML
About the Opportunity GAMA-1 is seeking a hands-on remote Systems Architect III - AI/ML to design, build, and deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions that support mission-driven federal programs.
At GAMA-1, we believe innovation happens when talented people are empowered to solve real problems, collaborate across teams, and continuously learn. This role combines architecture, engineering, hands-on implementation and solution development. This role sits within our Technology Center of Excellence and plays a key part in transforming emerging AI capabilities into practical, secure, and scalable solutions for federal customers.
The Systems Architect III - AI/ML is a hands-on technical leader who leads by doing. You will design architectures, write production-ready code, build data pipelines, and deploy AI models into secure cloud environments. At the same time, you will help shape solution strategies for proposals and new initiatives, working closely with delivery teams, capture managers, and program leadership.
Success in this role means turning complex mission challenges into working AI solutions that deliver measurable value to customers.
What Will the Candidate Do?
The Systems Architect III - AI/ML will design, develop, and deploy AI-driven solutions that support both internal innovation and federal mission needs. Responsibilities include:- Design and implement AI and machine learning architectures to support mission and program needs.
- Develop proofs of concept, prototypes, and demonstration environments to support solution development and proposal efforts.
- Implement large language model (LLM) solutions, including prompt engineering, embeddings, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures.
- Design and implement vector database and semantic search architectures supporting knowledge retrieval and intelligent applications.
- Develop and maintain data ingestion, preprocessing, and model inference pipelines.
- Write production-ready Python code and supporting services to deploy AI solutions in cloud environments.
- Deploy AI services using modern DevOps practices, including containerization, version control, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Design, develop, and maintain automated ETL/data ingestion pipelines using Python or R to transform raw agency data into model-ready formats for AI model training and inference.
- Collaborate with capture managers and technical writers to develop AI solution approaches for proposals and customer engagements.
- Contribute reference architectures, reusable components, and technical standards to the GAMA-1 Center of Excellence.
- Evaluate emerging AI tools, frameworks, and platforms to identify practical adoption opportunities.
- Provide technical guidance and code review to developers supporting AI initiatives.
What Will the Candidate Bring?
Required Qualifications- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related technical field
- 4 -8 years of software development experience, including at least 3 years of hands-on experience developing AI or machine learning solutions.
- Strong proficiency in Python and experience building production-grade applications
- Experience with machine learning frameworks such as:
- PyTorch
- TensorFlow
- Scikit-learn
- Hands-on experience implementing large language models (LLMs) including prompt engineering, API integration, and RAG-based architectures
- Experience deploying applications in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud environments
- Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker
- Familiarity with DevOps practices including Git-based version control and CI/CD pipelines
- Familiarity with NIST-based security frameworks (e.g., NIST 800-53, RMF, FedRAMP) and experience operating in regulated or security-focused environments
- Strong ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or related field
- Experience supporting federal government IT programs
- Experience with vector databases, semantic search architectures, or knowledge graphs
- Experience contributing to technical proposals and solution architecture documentation
- Experience mentoring engineers and contributing to technical standards and engineering best practices
- Experience integrating AI solutions with enterprise platforms such as ServiceNow or collaboration platforms
Work environment
- This work is normally completed in a remote environment with occasional trips to the headquarters office in Greenbelt, MD.
Physical demands
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's and client facilities.