Data Science & AI Branch - Senior Software Developer

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division (JOID) provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

SPA's NATO Allied Command Transformation Group, within JOID, provides capability development, portfolio management, program management, quality management, cost estimation analysis, standardization, reporting, software solutions and information management, and capability management support. We also provide an improved capability requirements capture process, including the generation, documentation and tracing of user requirements, with appropriate technical scrutiny, over the entire lifecycle of the requirements from capability definition through capability realization and capability usage.

We have a near-term need for a Data Science & AI Branch: Senior Software Developer to provide onsite support out of Norfolk, VA.

The Data Science & AI Branch Senior Software Developer will design, develop, and maintain robust software components focusing on scalability, performance, and security. Implement and optimise AI/ML algorithms, ensuring compliance with NATO-specific requirements. Design and manage data pipelines for secure handling of classified data. Develop, test, and integrate model training and inference systems. Deploy and support AI applications within NATO's secure environments. Collaborate with data scientists and AI engineers to enhance software practices. Produce high-quality documentation for software components and processes. Stay updated on software development, AI engineering, and NLP technologies. Contribute to a culture of innovation within the Data Science & AI Branch. Provide feedback about their work clearly and concisely.

Required:

• Citizenship of one of the NATO member countries.
• Active NATO Secret-level security clearance or valid national Secret clearance.
• Bachelor's degree or higher from a nationally recognized/certified university in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline OR 6+ years of professional experience in software development within the last 8 years.
• Proven experience as a software developer with a focus on implementation AI systems in the last 4 years.
• Proficiency in modern software development and practices, including coding in Python, C++, Java, or similar programming languages.
• Experience with AI/ML frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage secure and scalable software systems for sensitive data.
• Strong skills in database management, data processing, and cloud-based services, particularly with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies and orchestration tools like Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience designing and testing APIs or system interfaces to integrate AI systems into larger infrastructures.
• Understanding of NATO data security standards, privacy concerns, and secure coding practices.
• Effective communication skills, to include writing technical documentation, code reviews, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including non-technical users.
• Experience working within NATO environments or demonstrated familiarity with NATO processes, workflows, and organizational culture.
• Able to work fully onsite based on client needs.

Desired:

• Experience with Big Data tools such as Apache Kafka, Databricks or Spark.
• Knowledge of federated learning practices and secure multi-party computation for handling sensitive or classified AI training datasets.
• Familiarity with military or defense applications of AI systems, particularly in international environments.
• Experience with agile software development methodologies and tools, such as Jira or Confluence.
• Capability to act as a 'data storyteller' by visualizing technical insights and presenting relevant findings to senior leadership in accessible formats.
• Eligibility and prior experience working with NATO security clearances to process classified or sensitive data.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices to streamline secure software development and system deployment within NATO.