Senior Staff / Senior Machine Learning Engineer

SciTec, a wholly owned subsidiary of Firefly Aerospace, is a dynamic non-traditional defense contractor that delivers advanced technologies in support of U.S. National Security and Defense. For the past forty-five plus years, we have supported Department of Defense customers by developing innovative remote sensing algorithms, tools, and techniques to deliver world-class data exploitation capabilities supporting missile

• →Develop and implement machine learning, deep learning, and AI algorithms for remote sensor data exploitation
• →Design, train, and optimize models supporting image analysis, detection, tracking, and multi‑modal sensor fusion
• →Deploy high‑performance inference pipelines for large‑volume, real‑time or near‑real‑time data processing
• →Collaborate closely with C++ and system-level engineers to integrate ML/AI solutions into existing software frameworks
• →Apply strong software engineering practices to ensure model reproducibility, performance, and maintainability
• →Work as part of an Agile team and contribute to shared tools, workflows, and documentation
• →Other duties as assigned

• A Bachelor’s degree in the physical sciences, mathematics, engineering, computer science, or a related field
  (Additional years of education may be substituted for years of professional experience)
• At least five years of professional experience in machine learning, AI engineering, or applied algorithm development
• At least three years of experience working in Linux environments
• Proficiency with Python and common ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn)
• Strong understanding of data structures, numerical methods, and algorithm design
• Experience optimizing models and pipelines for high‑data‑throughput processing
• Feature engineering and statistical tests, such as Mutual Information and Shapley Analysis
• Detail oriented with strong problem‑solving skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work full‑time in-person at the Boulder, CO office location
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with GPU programming and acceleration (CUDA, cuDNN, TensorRT, ROCm, etc.)
• Direct experience applying ML/AI techniques to OPIR, E/O, SAR, Spectral, RF, or other remotely sensed data
• Strong understanding of modern software engineering principles, including object‑oriented design and SOLID principles
• Experience with production deployment of ML models, MLOps pipelines, or real‑time inference systems
• Familiarity with C++17/20/23, especially for model integration or high‑performance compute components
• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in the physical sciences, mathematics, engineering, computer science, or a related discipline
• Professional fluency in one or more additional languages: Python, Rust, or C++
• Prior experience in Agile software development environments
• A current active DoD SECRET clearance or higher