Senior AI Software Engineer (TS/SCI)

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next.  Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters—where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can: Shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world.

To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Citizen. This position requires an active U.S. Government security clearance, applicants who do not currently hold the required clearance will not be eligible for consideration. Employment for cleared roles is contingent upon verification of clearance status.

Export Control/ITAR: Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Please review the job details below.

This position requires an active U.S. Government Security Clearance at the TS/SCI with CI poly level. 

We are seeking a Senior AI/ML Software Engineer to integrate secure chatbot and AI assistant capabilities into existing geospatial intelligence, analytics, visualization, and mission-support tools. You will help analysts discover data, navigate applications, and complete approved workflows using natural language. The role requires strong software engineering skills, practical LLM experience, and an understanding of secure, usable AI in mission environments. 

Responsibilities:

• Integrate AI chatbots and assistants into existing geospatial, analytics, visualization, and mission applications. 
• Build natural-language workflows for data discovery, application navigation, visualization generation, and approved actions. 
• Implement LLM patterns such as prompt orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation, tool calling, and conversation context. 
• Connect AI services to REST APIs, data catalogs, search platforms, knowledge graphs, geospatial services, notebooks, and dashboards. 
• Develop reusable backend services and frontend components that make AI assistance simple for analysts to use. 
• Enforce identity, entitlements, and data-access policies; provide citations, provenance, audit records, and clear system limitations. 
• Test and evaluate AI quality, safety, latency, and usability, including protections against prompt injection, data leakage, and unauthorized actions. 
• Deploy and operate AI services in Kubernetes and Red Hat OpenShift, including restricted or disconnected environments, and collaborate with technical and customer teams. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience delivering production applications or services. 
• Hands-on experience integrating generative AI or LLMs into production software applications using patterns such as RAG, embeddings, vector search, function calling, or agent workflows. 
• Strong Python skills and experience with JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, Go, C++, or another modern language. 
• Experience building REST APIs or microservices and using Git, automated testing, CI/CD, and Agile development practices. 
• Experience integrating enterprise data sources and applying secure identity, authorization, and data-protection controls. 
• Willingness to work 75% or as needed in a SCIF environment in Herndon, VA; Denver, CO; or St. Louis, MO. 
• U.S. Person with an active TS/SCI with CI poly, or the ability to obtain the required clearance and polygraph. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience building chatbot interfaces with React, TypeScript, or comparable web frameworks and applying usability practices. 
• Experience with AI orchestration frameworks, model gateways, MCP-compatible services, or agent-to-tool integration. 
• Experience deploying commercial, open-source, or locally hosted LLMs in cloud, on-premises, classified, air-gapped, or disconnected environments. 
• Experience with vector search, Elasticsearch, knowledge graphs, GIS, imagery, geospatial applications, or other mission-critical systems. 
• Experience with AI safety controls, human-in-the-loop approvals, model monitoring, evaluation, GPU workloads, or model serving. 
• Experience with containers and Kubernetes; Red Hat OpenShift experience is preferred. 

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Pay Transparency: In support of pay transparency at Vantor, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings.  The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.

The base pay for this position within California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and for all other states is:

$145,000.00 - $205,000.00

Benefits: Vantor offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond the standard, including a robust 401(k) with company match, mental health resources, and unique perks like student loan repayment assistance, adoption reimbursement and pet insurance to support all aspects of your life. You can find more information on our benefits at: https://www.Vantor.com/careers

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.  If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. 

The date of posting can be found on Vantor's Career page at the top of each job posting.

To apply, submit your application via Vantor's Career page.

EEO Policy: Vantor is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. We believe in fostering an environment where all team members feel respected, valued, and encouraged to share their ideas. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.