{"id":777202,"url":"https://alion.io/job/theinclab-ai-development-lead","title":"AI Development Lead","company":{"id":687314,"name":"TheIncLab","domain":"theinclab.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/theinclab","size_band":"11-50","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"}},"role":"AI/ML","role_family":"AI/ML","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["McLean, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":157000,"max_usd":325000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":782},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"Interpretability","optional":false},{"name":"RAG","optional":false},{"name":"RLHF","optional":false},{"name":"Self-Supervised Learning","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-01-20T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-01-20","last_verified_at":"2026-11-02T17:13:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":287,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":286},"description":"The Mission Starts Here\nTheIncLab engineers and delivers intelligent digital applications and platforms that revolutionize how our customers and mission-critical teams achieve success.\nWe are where innovation meets purpose; and where your career can meet purpose as well. We are looking for an AI Development Lead to join our RAPID AI Research team to deliver TheIncLab's vision. Our work spans the full AI lifecycle, from research and early prototyping through production-grade systems impacting real customers. We encourage you to apply and take the first step in joining our dynamic and impactful company.\nYour Mission, Should You Choose to Accept\nAs an AI Development Lead, you will work cross-functionally with product, engineering, and business leaders to translate cutting-edge AI research into scalable, reliable, and mission-impacting software. We encourage you to apply and take the first step in joining our dynamic and impactful company. \nWhat will you do\nDrive Technical Strategy & ExecutionLead architecture, design, and delivery of AI/ML systems, including LLMs, RAG workflows, agents, and foundation models from prototyping to production.\n\nLead End-to-End AI LifecycleOversee model development including data preparation, training/optimization, evaluation/validation, deployment, monitoring, and iteration. Ensure systems adhere to robustness, scalability, observability, and ethical AI standards.\n\nCollaborate Cross-FunctionallyPartner with product managers, data engineers, UX/design, and business stakeholders to define requirements, set priorities, and deliver impactful AI solutions aligned to business needs.\n\nEstablish Best PracticesChampion CI/CD and MLOps practices, including model versioning, automated pipelines, performance monitoring, and reproducibility.\n\nMentorship & LeadershipMentor engineers and scientists, fostering high engineering standards, technical growth, innovation, and accountability.\n\nResearch & Innovation ImpactStay ahead of industry advancements in generative AI, foundational model tech, self-supervised learning, optimization techniques, RLHF, and robustness/interpretability. Apply research insights to product enhancements and novel solutions. \n\nWhat Success Looks Like\nRobust, scalable, and maintainable foundations for TheIncLab’s products and services\nIncreased velocity of AI development through strong engineering processes\nHigh team morale and growth through mentorship and technical leadership\nMeasurably better customer outcomes informed by AI research\nYou are an analytical and inventive thinker who loves both building and leading. You deliver systems that work at scale.\nYou combine research fluency with practical engineering rigor to bridge innovation and production delivery.\nYou Are:\nInnovative. You constantly survey emerging AI technologies and apply them where they advance business value.\nCollaborative. You communicate technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences alike.\nA Proven Leader. You set direction, elevate execution quality, and nurture talent.\nTechnical & Hands-On. Comfortable writing production-grade code and architecting systems with deep knowledge of modern AI frameworks.\nRequirements\nCapabilities that will enable your success\nBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or related field. \nMinimum 5+ years in AI/ML development with clear progression into technical leadership roles.\nExperience from concept through execution and operationalization of AI/ML systems.\nDeep understanding of generative AI architectures, training paradigms, and foundation models.\nHands-on experience with large deep learning models: language, vision, event, or graph domains.\nExpertise in one or more advanced topics: self-supervised learning, training optimization, robustness, explainability, RLHF.\nDemonstrated record of delivering AI systems at scale, both training compute and inference loads.\nExperience building platform-level capabilities or reusable libraries that uplift other teams.\nTrack record of meaningful contributions to the field, such as publications, open-source code, or recognized projects.\nExcellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to align AI work with business strategy.\nWillingness to travel to customer sites as needed. \nPreferred Qualifications\nGraduate degrees preferred.\nClearance Requirements\nApplicants must be a U.S. Citizen and willing and eligible to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance at the Secret or Top-Secret level. Existing clearance is preferred.\nBenefits\nBenefits\nAt TheIncLab we recognize that innovation thrives when employees are provided with ample support and resources. Our benefits packages reflect that:\nHybrid and flexible work schedules \nProfessional development programs \nTraining and certification reimbursement \nExtended and floating holiday schedule \nPaid time off and Paid volunteer time \nHealth and Wellness Benefits include options for Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance along with access to Wellness, Mental Health, and Employee Assistance Programs. \nSupplemental Life Insurance options for employees and family members.\n401(k) Plan Options with employer matching \nIncentive bonuses for eligible clearances, performance, and employee referrals. \nA company culture that values your individual strengths, career goals, and contributions to the team. \nAbout TheIncLab\nFounded in 2015, TheIncLab (“TIL”) is the first human-centered artificial intelligence (AI+X) lab. We engineer complex, integrated solutions that combine cutting-edge AI technologies with emerging systems-of-systems to solve some of the most difficult challenges in the defense and aerospace industries. Our work spans diverse technological landscapes, from rapid ideation and prototyping to deployment.\nAt TIL, we foster a culture of relentless optimism. No problem is too hard, no project is too big, and no challenge is too complex to tackle. This is possible due to the positive attitude of our teams. We approach every problem with a “yes” attitude and focus on results. Our motto, “demo or die,” encompasses the idea that failure is not an option.\nWe do all of this with a work ethic rooted in kindness and professionalism. The positive attitude of our teams is only possible due to the support TIL provides to each individual.\nAt TIL, we believe that every challenge is an opportunity for growth and innovation. Our teams are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to complex problems. We understand that the path to success is not always straightforward, but we are committed to persevering and finding a way forward.\nOur culture of relentless optimism is not just about having a positive attitude; it is about taking action and making things happen. We believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork, and we know that by working together, we can achieve great things. Our teams are made up of individuals who are passionate about their work and dedicated to making a difference.\nLearn more about TheIncLab and our job opportunities at www.theinclab.com.\n**Salary range guidance provided is not a guarantee of compensation. Offers of employment may be at a salary range that is outside of this range and will be based on qualifications, experience, and possible contractual requirements.\n**This is a direct hire position, and we do not accept resumes from third-party recruiters or agencies.","description_format":"text","description_chars":7413,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Certification reimbursement","Flexible schedule","Life insurance","Professional development","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Defense AI","AI Consulting & Integration"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T23:26:52Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":6,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.229,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":286,"expected_fill_days":27,"reasons":["conf:1","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/theinclab-ai-development-lead","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/theinclab-ai-development-lead.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-03T00:18:23Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":467,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-04T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":687314},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=687314"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Ftheinclab-ai-development-lead"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Ftheinclab-ai-development-lead"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Ftheinclab-ai-development-lead"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/theinclab-ai-development-lead\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Ftheinclab-ai-development-lead"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":777202}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"theinclab.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":777202},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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