Machine Learning Engineer (AI) (Remote US)

ICF is seeking a Machine Learning Engineer with a passion for applied AI to join our Data Science team. This role is focused on building and integrating AI-powered solutions that solve real client problems. Youll work across a variety client engagements translating cutting-edge AI capabilities into production systems rapid prototypes and scalable pipelines. Were looking for someone who loves building things can bridge the gap between data science and software engineering and has the communication skills to explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

What youll be doing:

Build and Integrate AI Solutions

• Design and implement AI-driven data pipelines and systems that integrate seamlessly with existing client infrastructure
• Develop production-ready ML solutions using modern frameworks and cloud platforms
• Architect scalable AI systems that prioritize reliability maintainability and performance
• Collaborate with software engineering teams to embed AI capabilities into production applications
• Implement MLOps best practices including model versioning monitoring and continuous deployment

Rapid Prototyping and Demonstrations

• Create fast compelling prototypes that demonstrate AI value to clients and stakeholders
• Translate client problems into concrete AI/ML solutions with quick turnaround times
• Experiment with emerging AI technologies and agentic tools (Claude Code GitHub Copilot AWS Q etc.) to accelerate development
• Build proof-of-concept applications that showcase the art of the possible

Collaboration and Client Interaction

• Participate in client meetings and calls translating technical concepts into business value
• Work closely with project technical leads across multiple client engagements
• Communicate AI capabilities limitations and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Gather requirements and provide technical consultation on AI feasibility and implementation approaches

Model Development and Fine-tuning

• Fine-tune or train models when existing solutions dont meet client needs
• Evaluate and select appropriate pre-trained models and AI services
• Conduct model performance analysis and optimization

What you must have:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Engineering Data Science or related technical field
• 5-8 years of overall professional experience
• 3-5 years of experience specifically focused on applied AI/ML
• 3-5 years of experience with Python and experience building production-grade code
• Hands-on experience with modern ML frameworks (TensorFlow PyTorch scikit-learn Hugging Face)
• 2-3 years of experience with at least one major cloud platform (AWS Azure or GCP) and their ML services
• Proven experience applying Generative AI technologies to solve client problems including designing prototyping and deploying LLM-based or agentic AI solutions.
• Solid understanding of software engineering principles version control (Git) and CI/CD practices
• Experience integrating ML models into production systems and data pipelines
• Proficiency in SQL and working with both relational and NoSQL databases
• Skilled in building fast functional prototypes (12 weeks) and scaling them into stable production-grade solutions through iterative development.
• Excellent communication skills with demonstrated ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving skills and a builders mindset
• US Citizenship or Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) per Federal contract requirements
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Public Trust

• MUST RESIDE in the United States (U.S.) and the work MUST BE PERFORMED in the United States (U.S.) as this work is for a federal contract and laws do apply.

What wed like you to have:

• Experience with Generative AI LLMs and incorporating them into production workflows
• Familiarity with agentic AI frameworks and AI-augmented development tools
• Experience with NLP computer vision or other specialized AI domains
• Knowledge of data warehouse design and dimensional modeling
• Experience with MLOps platforms and model monitoring tools
• Background working on government or federal projects
• Experience with Agile methodologies and working in cross-functional teams
• Familiarity with data visualization tools (Tableau Streamlit Plotly)
• Ability to obtain security clearance
• Experience with deep learning and neural network architectures
• Prior consulting or client-facing experience

Why youll love working here:

• Generous vacation and retirement plans
• Comprehensive health benefits
• Flexible work location (fully remote)
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Friendly community with lots of social events
• Participation in charity initiatives
• Employee support program
• Opportunity to work on diverse impactful projects across multiple industries

Working at ICF

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position including but not limited to relevant work experience skills certifications and competencies that align to the specified role geographic location education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: