Raft is seeking a Lead AI/ML Software Engineer to help shape the next phase of their AI Mission System, [R]AIMS. The ideal candidate will be a technical builder-leader with deep experience designing and scaling complex production systems. This is a remote position within the U.S., with a preference for candidates located near Raft hubs.

Company: Raft

Role: Lead AI/ML Software Engineer

Location: Remote within the U.S.; preference for candidates located near a Raft hub (McLean, VA; Colorado Springs, CO; Tacoma, WA; Oahu, HI, Tampa, FL; Boston, MA)

Experience:

6+ years of hands-on experience building and shipping production software systems across the full stack (frontend, backend, infrastructure, and ML)
Demonstrated technical leadership over large, cross-functional engineering initiatives with clear ownership and accountability for outcomes
Experience building data-intensive or AI-enabled production systems with real operational users and real performance constraints

Key Skills:

Kubernetes
cloud-native platform architecture
distributed systems
AI/ML platform engineering
data-intensive application development
machine learning models
service decomposition
inter-service communication patterns
fault tolerance
observability

Qualification:

US citizenship required
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance
Ability to obtain Security+ certification within the first 90 days of employment

Role Focus:

Drive architectural decisions across the [R]AIMS platform
Lead major technical epics from conception through delivery
Simplify and rationalize distributed system architecture as the platform scales
Optimize platform performance across both edge and cloud deployment targets
Establish strong engineering foundations and reusable technical patterns
Mentor engineers at multiple levels

Additional responsibilities:

Engage directly with customers and program stakeholders at operationally demanding environments across the Department of Defense

Nice to have:

Experience building AI/ML infrastructure or agentic systems
Experience with streaming and event-driven architectures
Experience with platform engineering and internal developer tooling
Experience with real-time inference or operational AI systems in latency-sensitive environments
Prior work in defense, national security, or classified program environments
Active clearance

Other:

Salary Range: $180,000.00 - $230,000.00
Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
401(k) and company match
Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
Education & training benefits
Generous Referral Bonuses
Up to 25% travel

Lead AI/ML Software Engineer

Skills Required

Description