Lead Automation AI/ML Engineer (Federal Government Project) (Washington)

Title : Lead Automation & AI/ML Engineer Location: Washington DC Metro (Remote) Job Type: Full-Time Job Description: As a Lead Consultant you will provide advanced technical expertise and leadership in developing automation and AI/ML solutions that help the Federal government serve the public more effectively. You will lead cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deploy intelligent automation and AI-driven systems, while ensuring high-quality, scalable, and maintainable solutions. In this role, you will mentor junior staff, contribute to professional development initiatives, and help shape innovative approaches to automation and emerging technologies. This role offers a unique opportunity to apply and expand your technical expertise across multiple disciplines, gain practical leadership experience, and drive impactful solutions with real-world outcomes. Key Responsibilities: Automation & AI/ML Development:

• Provide technical leadership in designing, developing, and maintaining automation, AI/ML, and data-driven solutions that improve operational efficiency.
• Architect solutions that are modular, scalable, reusable, and easy to maintain, leveraging best practices in software engineering.
• Integrate automation and AI systems into enterprise ecosystems using modern APIs, cloud services, and data pipelines.
• Establish and enforce coding standards, design patterns, and engineering practices that enable high-quality solution delivery.

Collaboration:

• Serve as a subject matter expert and technical advisor for the team.
• Facilitate discussions with developers, project managers, data scientists, and clients to clarify requirements, constraints, and dependencies.
• Lead open discussions on technical approaches, drive consensus, and make informed, decisive recommendations.
• Communicate clearly, responsibly, and respectfully across technical and non-technical audiences.

Documentation, Reporting, and Management:

• Maintain clear and concise documentation for code, models, and automations, ensuring smooth collaboration in distributed environments.
• Review code and solution artifacts, acting as a quality gate.
• Provide regular and transparent updates on progress, support project managers in planning and risk management.

Troubleshooting and Support:

• Lead efforts to identify root causes of technical issues and implement effective fixes promptly.
• Drive issue resolution with accountability, resourcefulness, and persistence.

Leadership, Learning, and Growth:

• Mentor and coach junior staff, contributing to skill development and knowledge-sharing across the team.
• Support internal training and professional development initiatives.
• Stay up to date with emerging technologies in automation, AI/ML, and software engineering practices.

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in at least one modern programming language (Python, Java, C#, or similar).
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and technologies, including large language models (LLMs), natural language processing (NLP), prompt engineering, and model evaluation.
• Hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, Porch, Scikit-learn) and end-to-end ML workflows (data preprocessing, training, deployment, and monitoring).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and their AI/ML and automation services.
• Strong knowledge of data structures and formats (e.g., JSON, XML) and experience with databases (SQL and NoSQL).
• Experience with modern version control and CI/CD practices (e.g., Git, GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps).
• Applied knowledge of agile development principles and tools like Jira or Azure DevOps.
• Experience with containerization, APIs, and enterprise integration is a plus.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, including modular design, testing, and exception handling.

Other Qualifications:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to break down complex processes and design effective solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated eagerness to learn and adopt new technologies, while actively sharing knowledge.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to address issues directly and respectfully.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive in solving problems.
• Capable of working independently with minimal supervision.

Experience:

• 36 years of experience in software engineering, automation development, or AI/ML solution delivery.
• Experience in a project-based work environment with regular production releases.
• Exposure to high-volume, complex solutions or systems with a large user base is a plus.
• Public sector consulting experience is a plus.

Education:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Professional certifications in AI/ML, cloud, or automation technologies are highly desirable.
• Scrum or PMI certifications are a plus.

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