Machine Learning Engineer (AI) - (Remote - US)

*We are open to supporting 100% remote work anywhere within the United States. Must be able to support Eastern Time Zone*

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. You'll work across a variety client engagements, translating cutting-edge AI capabilities into production systems, rapid prototypes, and scalable pipelines. We're 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 you’ll 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 don't meet client needs
• Evaluate and select appropriate pre-trained models and AI services
• Conduct model performance analysis and optimization

What you must have:

• Bachelor's 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 (1–2 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 builder's 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 we’d 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 clear