AI Engineer (Generative AI & MLOps)

Job Title:

AI Engineer (Generative AI & MLOps)

Type of Position:

This position will begin as a 6-month contract, with strong potential for long-term employment. While the contract is initially set for 6 months, there is no fixed end date, and extensions beyond the initial term are possible. Conversion to a direct hire role may occur as early as 3 months, depending on individual performance and business needs. Although direct hire is not guaranteed, it is a common outcome for high-performing team members, and most contractors in this role do transition to permanent positions over time.

Candidate Requirements:

This role is ONLY open to US Citizens. Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders) and any other work authorizations are NOT permitted here as this role requires eligibility to obtain a secret clearance (a secret clearance is only open to US Citizens). To be clear, a clearance isn’t required to start (but all candidates must be eligible to obtain one eventually). Due to the nature of this role (working for a defense contractor tied to the federal government) – candidates may need to pass a drug screen (which would include cannabis). There would be no exceptions to this (eg: a medical card).

Job Location:

We prefer this role to be based out of our Columbus, OH facility. We may also consider candidates to work out of our facilities in Chantilly, VA or Crystal City, VA – but Columbus, OH is our preference. Regardless of location, this will be an on site role (no remote work).

Compensation:

$69.00/hr to $75.00/hr (depending on experience). Overtime paid at 1.5x over 40 hours.

Benefits:

Available (health insurance, dental, vision, 401k, etc) – benefit eligibility begins the 1st of the month after 30 days of employment.

You will have 7 paid holidays and 10 days PTO per year (PTO accrues over time). In going direct hire, there will be significantly more PTO.

Job Description / Overview:

HRU Technical Resources has partnered with a global research and development organization advancing science and technology across national security, defense, health, energy, and advanced manufacturing domains. We are seeking to hire an AI Engineer. This role supports the expansion of our AI capabilities and is part of an active, funded program with long-term growth potential.

Key Responsibilities:

Design, develop, and deploy secure AI and generative AI solutions using modern cloud platforms

Build and maintain end-to-end AI and ML pipelines for training, fine-tuning, evaluation, and deployment

Develop and integrate large language models into enterprise applications, including RAG-based systems

Fine-tune foundation models or train custom models as needed for applied use cases

Implement secure-by-design software development practices throughout the AI lifecycle

Apply MLOps best practices including CI/CD pipelines, containerization, monitoring, and model lifecycle management

Evaluate model performance, system reliability, and code quality with continuous improvement cycles

Produce clear technical documentation and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Mentor and support peers through knowledge sharing and technical guidance

Participate in research initiatives, pilot programs, and innovation sprints exploring new AI capabilities

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field with 3+ years of AI or ML development experience. We may consider candidates who have a Master’s degree with 1+ year of AI or ML-focused experience.

Strong proficiency in Python for AI and ML development

Hands-on experience with LLMs, including RAG architectures and model fine-tuning

Experience deploying AI solutions in Azure and or AWS environments

Familiarity with generative AI frameworks such as OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Hugging Face

Experience with ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Scikit-learn

Working knowledge of Docker, CI/CD pipelines, and MLOps practices

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with agent frameworks such as LangChain or Semantic Kernel

Exposure to Kubernetes and scalable cloud-native architectures

Familiarity with Microsoft Power Platform or Copilot technologies

Strong understanding of secure data handling and responsible AI practices

Ability to work independently, drive initiatives forward, and collaborate across teams

Work Environment / Physical Requirements:

This role follows a 9/80 schedule, consisting of nine-hour workdays (usually 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Monday through Thursday, with every other Friday off. On working Fridays, the schedule is 6 hours.

This will be an on-site role. There won’t be any hybrid or remote work.

Occasional overtime is possible (and any OT would be paid at 1.5x).

Offer may be contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen (drug screen would include cannabis per federal requirements).

EOE (including Disability/Veterans).

How to Apply for This Job:

#HRUProfessional