Lead Software Architect — Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Job overview

The Lead Software Architect — Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning role is onsite in Chantilly/Herndon, VA. The target salary range is $225,000–$285,000+ per year. Dark Wolf Solutions builds data management and analytics solutions for defense and intelligence missions. The architect provides technical direction for mission-critical AI and machine-learning systems, shaping enterprise architecture and deployment across classified, multi-cloud, and tactical edge environments. The role connects high-assurance engineering with AI platforms and security practices to support customer mission objectives.

What you'll do

• Architect distributed AI platforms, inference pipelines, and enterprise LLM/SLM deployments
• design multi-agent orchestration and retrieval-augmented generation systems
• optimize inference across heterogeneous hardware
• establish AI security, DevSecOps, privacy, and supply-chain controls
• advise leadership and intelligence stakeholders
• set technical standards and direct research and development initiatives.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

lead software architect

artificial intelligence

machine learning

chantilly va

dark wolf solutions

full-time

enterprise architecture

llm

devsecops

ts/sci clearance

full-scope polygraph

$225k–$285k+

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Why this role

Requires 15+ years of software engineering and systems architecture experience, a bachelor’s degree, and U.S. citizenship with active TS/SCI clearance and Full-Scope Polygraph. Master’s degree or Ph.D. is strongly preferred.

About the employer

Dark Wolf Solutions is hiring for this role. Industry: Computer Systems Design Services. Sector: 54.