Machine Learning Engineer (75% Hybrid - VA or MD)

Codescratch is currently seeking a self-motivated and talented Machine Learning Engineer to build cutting-edge analytics and tools in support of the cyber mission space. Join our team to contribute to innovative engineering projects, creating reliable, scalable, and high-performing software for efficient data processing and informed decision-making. This position is ideal for individuals who are passionate about designing efficient, secure, and scalable software and thrive in a collaborative environment. You’ll own your technical designs, and help shape the big picture. This is your chance to work on real-world challenges in a place where you can learn and grow while supporting mission-critical applications!

The ideal candidate will be an experienced software engineer with a strong foundation in designing, developing, and maintaining high-quality software solutions. Collaboration and innovation are at the core of this role, requiring a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous learning.

This position allows for a hybrid schedule but requires candidates to be local for hybrid travel to the Ft. Belvoir, VA area., Design, develop, train, and optimize machine learning models for use in operational DoD/IC environments. Work with data from a variety of classified and open-source sources. Build and maintain end-to-end ML pipelines including data ingestion, feature engineering, model training, evaluation, and deployment. Collaborate with mission analysts, data engineers, and software developers to integrate ML solutions into production systems. Ensure model explainability, auditability, and robustness in accordance with DoD and IC compliance and security standards. Participate in cross-functional agile teams, contributing to architecture discussions, prototyping efforts, and operational support. Keep abreast of emerging machine learning techniques and evaluate their applicability to mission needs.

We have openings in all levels and years of experience. Please apply and we will assess your qualifications further!

Minimum of 3-5 years (can hire Sr level also) of hands-on experience with machine learning in a professional, academic, or government setting. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Information Assurance, or related discipline from an accredited college/university. One year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education. Relevant certifications may be substituted for education or years of experience Familiarity with MLOps practices and tools (e.g., MLflow, Docker, Airflow, Kubernetes, Kubeflow). Experience building and maintaining end-to-end ML pipelines (data ingestion, training, deployment, monitoring). Proficiency in machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn. Strong understanding of supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning techniques. Experience with data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model evaluation/validation techniques. Solid programming skills in Python with familiarity in Bash, C, and C++. Practical experience deploying machine learning models in production environments. Familiarity with AWS services such as SageMaker, Bedrock, and GlueDemonstrated ability to work with large-scale datasets using tools such as Pandas, NumPy, and SQL. U.S. citizenship required Active TS/SCI w. Polygraph clearance required Must be local to, or willing to relocate to the DMV Metropolitan area Preferred Skills and Experience: Knowledge of domain-specific ML applications such as: Sentiment Analysis User Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) Cyber threat analysis Entity recognition and relation extraction from unstructured text ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) Understanding of AI security, including adversarial ML and model robustness. Experience with classified cloud platforms (e.g., C2S, JWCC) and secure DevOps pipelines. Experience building out complex production LLM workflows such as RAG. Experience fine tuning LLMs for specialized use-cases. Familiarity with model interpretability tools (e.g., SHAP, LIME). Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams (Data Engineers, Product Managers, Software Engineers).

As a group of software engineers that have worked together over a decade in the defense industry, we set out to create an organization that chose the best and left off the worst of our employment experiences. We decided to form a company that would focus on people and the work while setting aside bureaucracy and egos. We are a small company that focuses on our employees first. We are committed to reducing operational expenditures and optimizing administrative procedures, prioritizing employee compensation over corporate infrastructure investment.

Highlights of our benefits package:

We are proud to offer a stellar 401(k) plan on day one. Codescratch contributes 15% of your earnings each pay period, on top of any contribution you choose to make. No vesting schedule, no lump sum, no gotchas! Our team members stick around because they love the company, not because of gimmicks. Contribute 12% of your rate towards your premium for healthcare, vision and dental. Flexibility - get paid for every hour that you work, even if it’s over 40! Education/training allowances. We invest in you and cover the cost of certifications relevant to your job. We also reimburse some of the cost for books, audiobooks and online video courses., $180,000 - $250,000. (Plus paid Benefits & 15% 401k immediately vested!)

This pay range for this job level is a general estimated guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Codescratch, is a leading software services company that specializes in developing innovative solutions, driving improvements, and optimizing operations in the public and private sectors. Proven track record of success in tackling complex, large-scale challenges that demand out-of-the-box thinking and innovative approaches. Our focus is on delivering maximum value to our customers, mitigating risks and ensuring the highest quality and efficiency. We provide unprecedented mission successes through software innovations, and could not do it without our amazing employees!