Software Engineer
Visionist, Inc.7 days ago
Columbia, MD, USAStaff+
Base Salary
$205k - $280k/yr
Responsibilities
- Lead forward-deployed engagements with mission customers and deliver AI-driven automation from prototype through production.
- Architect and develop agentic AI systems in Python using LLMs, MCP servers, skills, subagents, mission data, and operational tools.
- Design agent guardrails including scoped permissions, human approval gates, and audit logging.
- Develop evaluation suites to measure AI accuracy, reliability, failure modes, and deployment readiness.
- Evaluate frontier and open-weight models, frameworks, and AI design patterns for mission applications.
- Use AI coding agents and establish standards for reviewing, testing, and validating generated code.
- Mentor engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and pairing while leading technical discussions.
- Communicate progress, risks, and tradeoffs to project leads and government stakeholders.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline, or an additional four years of experience in place of the degree.
- At least 12 years of software development experience.
- Advanced Python proficiency, including production services, APIs, and data pipelines.
- Experience developing LLM applications or agentic systems using tool or function calling, structured outputs, context management, and multi-step workflows.
- Experience working directly with end users or mission customers to translate operational challenges into software solutions.
- Experience designing tests, evaluations, or validation layers for AI or other non-deterministic systems.
- Experience using AI coding assistants or agents such as Claude Code, Codex, or Copilot, including reviewing and validating generated code.
- Technical leadership experience through design leadership, technical lead responsibilities, or mentoring engineers.
- Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, Docker, Kubernetes, and Atlassian tools; GitLab is preferred.
- Active Top Secret (TS/SCI) clearance with polygraph is required.
- U.S. citizenship is required, and selected applicants must obtain or maintain a government security clearance.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with technical and non-technical audiences.
Benefits
- Annual merit increases and performance-based bonuses.
- Four weeks of paid time off, 12 paid holidays, comp time, overtime, and flexible work hours.
- 80 hours of paid parental leave plus an $8,000 supplemental payment upon returning from maternity leave.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits for individuals and families; employees waiving medical benefits receive an additional $4,680 per year.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.
- Annual $600 lifestyle bonus for gyms, fitness, new technology, or an HSA.
- Term life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability benefits.
- The role is based around an interview process involving a recruiter phone screen and an interview with the Visionist team at its Columbia, Maryland headquarters.
Tech Stack
Categories
AI ApplicationsForward Deployed
About Visionist, Inc.
Visionist, Inc. delivers engineering, software development, and analytical services to U.S. intelligence and defense agencies, often as a prime contractor. Its teams build mission systems and analysis tools spanning AI/ML integration, cyber and network security, digital signal processing, data analytics, and UX for analysts. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Visionist is privately held and 100% employee-owned through an ESOP.