Enterprise AI Architect

Location: McLean, Virginia, United States

Department: Agency, DLA

Workplace: hybrid

Employment Type: full

Description

Overview

Join a team where innovation meets mission. Our AI, cloud, cyber, and modernization solutions save agencies thousands of hours, safeguard national security, and strengthen health and humanitarian missions worldwide. With 1,700+ team members, 1,500+ AI/data experts, and 100+ prime contracts, we deliver at scale and with purpose.

We’ve been recognized as a Top Workplace by the Washington Post for six straight years and named to the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies 13 of the past 14 years. Credence is a welcoming home for those looking to grow and contribute to positive change. We encourage all employees to expand beyond their boundaries and dive into important world-changing Federal challenges.

Position Summary

Credence has an immediate need for an Enterprise AI Architect to join our growing AI and Automation practice. In this role, you will design and lead the development of cutting-edge AI solutions that drive real-world impact across federal programs. You will guide cross-functional teams, shape technical strategy, and mentor engineers in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with a strong background in AI/ML development, cloud platforms, and enterprise-scale systems design.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Define and maintain the enterprise AI/ML reference architecture, including patterns for agentic systems, retrieval-augmented generation, model federation, and human-in-the-loop workflows
• Establish architectural standards, ADRs, and interface control documents (ICDs) that govern how programs adopt AI capabilities
• Drive AI platform strategy across AWS and GCP — including GovCloud (IL5/IL6) environments — with attention to vendor lock-in, portability, and total cost of ownership
• Lead architecture reviews across programs; advise delivery teams on design trade-offs, integration patterns, and production readiness
• Partner with Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, and DevSecOps to ensure AI solutions meet federal security, compliance, and accreditation requirements (RMF, FedRAMP, Zero Trust)
• Evaluate emerging AI/ML tools, models, and frameworks; make sourcing and standardization recommendations to leadership
• Shape the AI capability roadmap in support of capture, proposal, and growth activities across the federal portfolio
• Mentor technical leads and senior engineers; cultivate an architecture community of practice

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, AI/ML, Engineering, or a related field; Master's preferred
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in software/AI/ML systems, with at least 3+ years in an architect or principal engineer capacity
• Demonstrated experience setting technical direction for AI/ML platforms or programs at enterprise scale
• Deep understanding of modern AI patterns, including Transformers, agentic systems, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Agent2Agent (A2A), Mastra, LangGraph, and LLM orchestration frameworks
• Hands-on fluency in Python and TypeScript sufficient to prototype, review, and credibly direct implementation
• Production experience deploying AI workloads in AWS, or GCP — GovCloud experience strongly preferred
• Strong grounding in CI/CD, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and DevSecOps principles
• Working knowledge of federal security and compliance frameworks (RMF, FedRAMP, NIST 800-53)
• Experience with Agile delivery and tools (Git, Jira, Confluence)
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible to obtain a Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret clearance
• Experience with multi-model federation (e.g., LiteLLM, Bedrock, Vertex AI)
• Background in data architecture, data fabric, data mesh, or lakehouse patterns
• Knowledge of Zero Trust Architecture and ATO processes for AI/ML workloads
• Prior experience on federal digital modernization programs, ideally in DoD or large civilian agencies
• AWS/GCP Solutions Architect, or equivalent certifications

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Free Food & Snacks