Senior AI/ML Engineer
At a glance
Senior Machine Learning Engineering role at Ignite IT. Suitland · no salary stated · we estimate $181,150–$247,500 across the United States.
Ignite IT has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
aimlroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Improve the Census survey autocoder by building and testing Python components for text handling, prompts, model calls and coding workflows
- Apply approved prompt, model, dictionary and rules updates in small changes tracked through version control
- Pilot LLM, fuzzy-match and dictionary approaches for additional surveys, adapting them to each survey’s coding needs
- Test changes across normal and edge cases, then compare candidate outputs with approved results alongside the evaluation team
- Diagnose production failures across code, data and model behavior, and coordinate releases and verification with MLOps
What you bring
- A computer science, engineering or data science degree, or equivalent relevant work experience
- At least eight years in software or ML engineering, including three years building NLP or ML applications and integrating LLMs
- Strong Python skills, with experience in data processing, APIs, automated tests, Git and maintainable software
- Hands-on experience with text classification, prompt design, structured outputs and evaluating model performance changes
- Experience supporting AWS applications and resolving production issues with data science and operations teams
Who this fits
This senior engineering role suits you if you have built NLP or ML systems and can work across software, evaluation and production support. You must be able to obtain and keep the required Census credentials, follow confidentiality rules, and support Census business hours and scheduled critical processing runs. The position depends on a contract award.
From the employer
Ignite IT Hub is seeking a senior AI/ML Engineer to maintain and enhance the U.S. Census Bureau's LLM Autocoder, which assigns standardized codes to survey write-in responses. You will build and test model and software improvements for the American Community Survey (ACS), develop pilots for additional surveys and fields, and work with data scientists and MLOps engineers to integrate approved changes into production.
Responsibilities
• Develop and maintain Python components for text preprocessing, model invocation, prompt management, structured output validation, and coding workflows.
• Implement approved changes to prompts, model configuration, dictionaries, rules, and supporting code in small, version-controlled increments.
• Build pilots using LLMs, fuzzy matching, direct-match dictionaries, or hybrid approaches; adapt implementations to survey-specific taxonomies and requirements.
• Write unit, integration, regression, negative, and edge-case tests, and work with the evaluation team to compare candidate results with approved baselines.
• Reproduce production problems, isolate causes across code, data, prompts, and model behavior, and implement verified corrections.
• Partner with the MLOps Engineer on packaging, deployment, rollback, and post-release verification within Government-approved AWS environments.
• Participate in code reviews and SME working sessions; maintain technical documentation, user guidance, and reproducible examples for Government handoff.
Requirements
Required qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, data science, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• 8+ years in software or ML engineering, including 3+ years building NLP or ML applications and hands-on experience integrating LLMs into working systems.
• Strong Python development skills and experience with data processing, APIs, automated testing, Git, and maintainable software design.
• Experience with text classification, prompt design, structured model outputs, and measuring the effects of implementation changes on model performance.
• Experience deploying or supporting applications in AWS, troubleshooting production issues, and collaborating effectively with data scientists and operational teams.
Preferred qualifications
• Experience with fuzzy matching, dictionary-based coding, survey text, or industry and occupation classification.
• Experience with ML frameworks such as scikit-learn, PyTorch, or Hugging Face, and handling sensitive data in controlled federal environments.
Conditions of employment. Position contingent on contract award. Must be able to obtain and maintain applicable Census Special Sworn Status and Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentials, follow confidentiality requirements, and support Census core business hours and coordinated critical processing runs.
Benefits
Benefits
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance