AI Lead Engineer
This is an On-site position in Charleston, SC.
Position Overview
We are seeking an AI Lead Engineer who combines strong hands-on technical ability with emerging leadership and product instincts. This role is ideal for someone who has worked in a startup or fast-paced environment, understands how AI systems move from prototype to real-world deployment, and is ready to grow into a team leadership position.
You will initially operate as a primary contributor, designing models, building training pipelines, and delivering AI-driven features, while helping shape the technical direction of our AI efforts. As products mature, you will take on increasing responsibility for mentoring junior engineers and building a small, high-performing team.
Key Responsibilities
Hands-On AI Development
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Design, build, and train machine learning and deep learning models (CNNs, transformers, RL, etc.)
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Develop scalable training pipelines and data processing workflows
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Work across the stack: data ingestion, model development, evaluation, and deployment
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Build and maintain AI systems (backend and, where applicable, user-facing interfaces)
Applied Product Development
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Translate AI capabilities into deployable features aligned with business needs
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Balance model performance with real-world constraints (latency, cost, reliability)
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Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize features and iterate quickly
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Contribute to system architecture decisions as products evolve
Emerging Technical Leadership
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Provide guidance and informal mentorship to junior engineers
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Help establish coding standards, experimentation practices, and development workflows
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Participate in hiring as the team grows
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Gradually take ownership of technical direction for AI initiatives
R&D and Innovation
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Explore and prototype new approaches, including novel neural network architectures
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Apply advanced statistical inference and predictive modeling techniques
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Support exploration of emerging domains such as remote sensing, autonomy, or SBIRS-like systems
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Stay current with advancements in deep learning and applied AI
Collaboration & Execution
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Work within an Agile framework, contributing to sprint planning and regular updates
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Collaborate cross-functionally to support company growth through AI capabilities
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Maintain clear documentation of models, systems, and experiments
Required Qualifications
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Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematical Sciences, Data Analytics, or related field
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US Citizen with ability to obtain Secret Security Clearance
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3–7 years of experience in AI/ML development (industry or applied research)
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Strong programming skills in Python (C++ / Rust / JavaScript a plus)
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Experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
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Solid foundation in:
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Machine learning and deep learning (CNNs, RNNs, transformers)
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Statistical inference (Frequentist and Bayesian methods)
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Data processing and normalization techniques
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Experience building and training models on real-world datasets (not just academic exercises)
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Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Azure DevOps, Git)
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience in a startup or fast-paced product environment
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Exposure to deploying models into production environments
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Familiarity with MLOps concepts (model versioning, monitoring, pipelines)
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Experience with image processing (OpenCV, Pillow) and structured/unstructured data
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Knowledge of:
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Advanced mathematics (e.g., tensor calculus, graph theory)
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Data storage systems (relational and non-relational databases)
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Interest or experience in defense, remote sensing, or space-based systems
What We’re Looking For
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Someone who enjoys both building and leading
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Comfortable with ambiguity and wearing multiple hats
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Able to connect technical decisions to business outcomes
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Motivated by growth into a future leadership role
Growth Path
This role is designed to evolve into a formal leadership position. As our AI capabilities and product portfolio expand, you will have the opportunity to:
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Build and lead a small AI team
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Own major technical initiatives end-to-end
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Contribute to product and R&D strategy
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
ORBIS offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary in a professional atmosphere.
