Junior AI Engineer

Synergy ECP • Full-time • Columbia, MD, US • $100k - $135k / year • 5m ago

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Synergy ECP is a leading provider of cybersecurity, software and systems engineering and IT services to the U.S. intelligence and defense communities. The company leverages its expertise in data transport solutions, software and systems engineering, and other solutions to deliver critical and innovative capabilities to high-level decision makers that enhance our nation’s security.

In an ultra-competitive environment, Synergy ECP has thrived by adhering to our name, making sure excellence is displayed by our Employees, to our Customers and by Improving Performance (ECP). It’s what sets us apart, enabling us to be an autonomous yet agile business that delivers huge results—showing we’re ready to meet our customers’ evolving demands. Synergy ECP has earned a client list that includes numerous Fortune 100 companies, in addition to multiple branches of the US government and military services.

Job Title: AI Engineer

Location: Hybrid (Remote/On-Site)

Clearance: TS (TS/SCI will be required within 6 months of hire)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports To: COO/CTO

Position Overview
Synergy ECP is seeking a motivated AI Engineer to support the design, development, and deployment of AI/ML solutions in mission-driven government environments. This role is ideal for an early-career engineer who wants hands-on experience building production-grade AI systems while working within secure, compliance-driven federal ecosystems.

The Junior AI Engineer will contribute to model development, data engineering workflows, experimentation, and AI system integration under the guidance of senior engineers and architects.

Key Responsibilities

Support development, training, and evaluation of machine learning and AI models
Assist in building data pipelines to support model training and inference
Work with structured and unstructured datasets (text, logs, documents, etc.)
Contribute to experimentation frameworks and model benchmarking
Support integration of AI capabilities into production systems and APIs
Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented Python code
Participate in code reviews and collaborative engineering processes
Assist in MLOps activities (model versioning, monitoring, CI/CD integration)
Ensure compliance with security and governance requirements in federal environments
Document technical approaches and support customer briefings as needed

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, or related technical field
0–3 years of experience in AI/ML, software engineering, or data engineering
Proficiency in Python
Experience with one or more ML libraries (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn)

Familiarity with:

Data preprocessing and feature engineering
Model evaluation metrics
Git-based version control
Understanding of basic statistics and machine learning concepts
Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to learn
Ability to work in a collaborative team environment
U.S. Citizenship (if required for federal work)

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with NLP, LLMs, or generative AI systems
Familiarity with vector databases or embeddings
Exposure to MLOps tools (MLflow, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines)
Experience in AWS, Azure, or GovCloud environments
Knowledge of data governance and secure development practices
Prior internship or project experience in AI/ML
Active security clearance (if applicable)

What Success Looks Like In This Role
Within 6–12 months, the Junior AI Engineer will:

Contribute meaningfully to at least one production AI deployment
Demonstrate ability to independently build and evaluate ML models
Follow secure development and data governance best practices
Collaborate effectively with senior engineers and stakeholders
Support mission-driven AI solutions aligned with federal customer needs

Why Join Synergy ECP

Work on high-impact AI solutions supporting national mission priorities
Gain hands-on experience in secure, production AI environments
Collaborate with senior AI and data engineering professionals
Opportunity for rapid growth into mid-level AI Engineer roles
Competitive compensation and benefits

Compensation Spotlight:

For this role, our typical salary range starts at $100,000 and stretches up to $135,000. But here's the deal – we're not about capping your potential. We're committed to snapping up the best and brightest, and we're ready to put our money where our mouth is. So, if you're one of the rare exceptions to the status quo with the education, experience, and that extra something special, we're not afraid to go above and beyond to secure your talent. Because for us, it's not just about a salary. It's about the complete rewards package, the culture, and the opportunity to make a real impact.

Taking Care of the People Who Take Care of The Nation

Compensation: We offer highly competitive compensation that is consistently recognized by our employees as being generous!

Health & Retirement: We offer a comprehensive Health Benefits package and 401K Retirement plan so you can take care of yourself and your family... both now and in the future. Other health-related benefits include People Partners who will help you navigate both personal and professional worlds, as well as strong wellness related resources offered through our healthcare provider.

Education: Individual growth is a priority at Synergy ECP. Employees are encouraged to take advantage of our company-sponsored continuing education program so they can get their degree or that next certification needed to propel them towards the next level. Not sure what's best for your career plans, we'll help you navigate it all!

Work/Life Balance: A healthy work/life balance is essential for building and executing your work effectively at Synergy ECP, but it’s also necessary to allow you the room to pursue everything you want to develop in your personal life. We offer a generous Paid Time Off benefit and 11 paid holidays a year. Synergy ECP also provides flexible work options that work with your schedule and lifestyle.

Philanthropy: With the help of our amazing employees, Synergy ECP participates annually in building awareness, volunteering and contributing to dozens of organizations. We believe that giving back creates a sense of purpose, engagement, and fulfillment. Have a cause you are passionate about? We bet you'll find others here that care about it just as much!

Great Corporate Facilities: Come by our corporate office and enjoy a weekly happy hour, take a drive to nearby restaurants, grab a snack or coffee in our café, or utilize our collaborative office space and conference rooms.

SkillBridge: Our SkillBridge Program takes the incredible experience our servicemembers already have and shows them how to apply it within corporate environments. We are fanatical about helping our Military!

Synergy ECP is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and are dedicated to maintaining a professional and respectful workplace where every employee can succeed.

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