Skip to main content
← Back to jobs
Vantor logo

AI/ML Engineer (SME)

Compensation
$161,000–$269,000/year

Job Description

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next.  Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters—where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can: Shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world.

To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Citizen. This position requires an active U.S. Government security clearance, applicants who do not currently hold the required clearance will not be eligible for consideration. Employment for cleared roles is contingent upon verification of clearance status.

Export Control/ITAR: Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Please review the job details below.

This position requires an active U.S. Government Security Clearance at the TS/SCI level with CI polygraph.

This role helps design, build, integrate, and sustain secure technical capabilities that support high-volume analysis and mission operations. The position contributes to AI-enabled, data-driven solutions that help users work across complex datasets at scale, improve operational outcomes, and accelerate the delivery of mission-relevant applications and services. All work is performed in secure environments. Work location is Joint Base Anacostia, Arlington, VA, or Reston, VA.

Responsibilities:

  • Defines, develops, and delivers machine learning models and AI solutions
  • Tests, deploys, and maintains AI systems
  • Optimizes Al models for performance, scalability, and efficiency, leveraging cloud-based resources and distributed computing frameworks
  • Manages the data flow and infrastructure for effective AI deployment, including the preprocessing of data
  • Ensures the quality and accuracy of data fed into models and deploys these models into production
  • Conducts data analysis, preprocessing, and feature engineering to extract valuable insights from large datasets, improving model performance
  • Applies machine learning algorithms to large sets of structured and unstructured data to solve a broad range of problems that include applications in pattern recognition, target detection and tracking, machine learning and decision systems
  • May use system-of-systems and multi-agent approaches to architect and design AI software systems

Minimum Qualifications:

  • List clearance level if required and U.S citizenship requirement
  • Education/experience: e.g., BS in CS or equivalent practical experience.
  • Core skills: e.g., proficiency in [Python, Java, SQL], data structures/algorithms.
  • Tools/tech: e.g., [AWS/GCP/Azure], [Spark/Kafka], containers/CI/CD.
  • Other must-haves: e.g., ability to work onsite X days/week, travel up to Y%.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with [domain/industry: geospatial, defense, fintech, etc.].
  • Built/operated systems at [scale/latency].
  • Familiarity with [governance/compliance frameworks relevant to you].
  • Contributions to [open source/community] or published work.
  • Prior work in cross-functional teams (PM, Design, DS).

Pay Transparency: In support of pay transparency at Vantor, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings.  The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.

 

● The base pay for this position within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $161,000.00 - $269,000.00 annually.

For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

Benefits: Vantor offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond the standard, including a robust 401(k) with company match, mental health resources, and unique perks like student loan repayment assistance, adoption reimbursement and pet insurance to support all aspects of your life. You can find more information on our benefits at: https://www.Vantor.com/careers

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.  If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. 

The date of posting can be found on Vantor's Career page at the top of each job posting.

To apply, submit your application via Vantor's Career page.

EEO Policy: Vantor is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. We believe in fostering an environment where all team members feel respected, valued, and encouraged to share their ideas. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Optimize Your Resume for This Job

Get a match score and see exactly which keywords you're missing

Optimize Resume

Job Details

Category
Software
Employment Type
Full Time
Location
Bolling AFB, DC; Arlington, VA; Reston, VA
Posted
Apr 15, 2026, 08:00 PM
Listed
Apr 16, 2026, 12:22 PM
Compensation
$161,000 - $269,000 per year

About Vantor

Part of the growing space & AI ecosystem pushing the frontiers of technology.

Found this role interesting?

AI/ML Engineer (SME)
Vantor
Apply ↗

Shipping like we're funded. We're not. No affiliation.

Sequoia logo
Y Combinator logo
Founders Fund logo
a16z logo