$170K - 200K a year
Lead the technical bridge between AI research and real-world mission deployment. Ensure advanced ML models are productionized, monitored, and interpretable for operators in high-stakes environments.
Candidates should have an M.S. or Ph.D. in AI, Robotics, Applied Math, or a related field, along with 7-12 years of experience in applied ML/MLOps roles. A deep understanding of model deployment at scale and experience in defense or mission-critical environments is essential.
About Us At Harmattan AI, we are a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Driven by rigorous engineering developments of new defense products based on recent robotics and AI developments, we are on a steep growth trajectory. If you are interested in a career in a highly technical environment, thrive on pushing boundaries, and want to achieve ambitious goals, we would love to hear from you. About the Role As Senior UX Operational Engineer, you will lead the technical bridge between AI research and real-world mission deployment. You’ll ensure that advanced ML models are productionized, monitored, and interpretable for operators in high-stakes environments. You will architect the infrastructure that makes AI reliable, defining inference pipelines, MLOps standards, and monitoring frameworks that survive austere, contested conditions. Responsibilities Applied ML & Infrastructure Translate research models into production-ready services with low-latency performance. Architect and operate ML pipelines for data ingestion, training, validation, deployment, and monitoring. Define model instrumentation to track drift, bias, and reliability in real-time. MLOps Framework Design scalable inference frameworks using tools such as MLflow, Kubeflow, Airflow, or equivalents. Implement best practices for versioning, reproducibility, and compliance with ITAR and DoD constraints. Partner with backend and security teams to ensure robustness across on-prem and GovCloud environments. Collaboration & Leadership Work cross-functionally with Algorithm, Product, and UX teams to ensure AI outputs enhance, not overwhelm, operator decision-making. Mentor engineers and set the technical direction for Harmattan’s AI backbone. Candidate Requirements Educational Background: M.S. or Ph.D. in AI, Robotics, Applied Math, or related field. Experience: 7–12 years in applied ML / MLOps roles with production-grade systems. Technical Skills: Deep understanding of model deployment at scale, ML pipeline orchestration, and monitoring tools. Domain Knowledge: Experience in defense, aerospace, autonomous systems, or other mission-critical environments. Mindset: Systems thinker with technical rigor and an operator-centered approach. Clearance: Eligible for U.S. DoD Security Clearance (Secret or above preferred). Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and ambitious growth plans, ready to go the extra mile to ensure operational excellence. Location and Commitments Contract Type: Full-time / Permanent Work Schedule: Washington DC (on-site preferred) Compensation: $170K-$200K + equity + benefits Start Date: November 2025 We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.
This job posting was last updated on 10/13/2025