Artificial Intelligence Engineer - Federal Cybersecurity (VA)

Triumph Enterprises is building the team for a Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information and Technology / Office of Information Security (OIT/OIS) program covering enterprise cybersecurity architecture and engineering. We are seeking an Artificial Intelligence Engineer to apply machine learning and large language models to cybersecurity operations and to own the evaluation methodology that determines whether an AI capability is fit to deploy. Program: VA Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering Services (COSE) Location: Washington, DC (Remote) | Full-Time, Exempt | Contingent upon contract award CERTIFICATION (REQUIRED) This role requires a current DoD 8140/8570 Level III certification at the time of application. It is a Government requirement on a Federal contract and cannot be waived, substituted, or satisfied by a plan to certify later. A PMP does not substitute for it on this position. One or more of the following: Information Assurance Technician (IAT) III, Information Assurance Management (IAM) III, or Information Assurance System Architect and Engineer (IASAE) III. Commonly satisfied by CISSP, CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP, CCSP, CISM, CCISO, CASP+/SecurityX, CISA, or GSLC. Certification is verified against the current DoD 8140 qualification matrix before an offer is extended. The credentials named above are those most commonly held; any other credential on the current matrix at the required level also qualifies. Credentials that do not meet this requirement include PMP, Security+, CySA+, CEH, CRISC, ITIL, and vendor cloud certifications such as AWS or Azure Security. We ask that you not apply without a Level III credential. Note to applicants: this combination -- senior AI/ML engineering plus a DoD 8570 Level III certification -- is uncommon. If you hold the technical depth and are actively pursuing the certification, tell us where you are in the process and we want to talk to you. ABOUT THE ROLE This is a build-and-prove role in equal measure. Our technical approach commits to a six-pillar validation framework applied before any AI capability is deployed, with testing mapped to each pillar. The engineer in this seat is accountable both for the automation that gets built and for the defensible evidence that it should be trusted in a Federal security environment. RESPONSIBILITIES - Design, build, and operate AI and machine learning capabilities supporting cyber tool integration and security operations automation. - Own the six-pillar AI validation framework: categorize, test, and validate AI technologies before deployment, with testing traceable to each pillar. - Deliver the Autonomous Workflow Library, jointly with the DevSecOps Engineer. - Produce the quarterly Security Control Effectiveness Report. - Maintain the AI System / LLM Development and Operation Documentation Package. - Issue AI Model / LLM Change Disclosures no later than 30 days prior to any model change. - Meet the AI attestation and disclosure obligations the program carries, and document model behavior and changes for a Government audience. - Partner with the Cloud Security Architect and DevSecOps Engineer to integrate AI capability into the enterprise security toolset without expanding the attack surface. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - A current Level III certification as described above. - Minimum 10 years of information technology experience, with demonstrated applied machine learning or LLM engineering in a security or operations context. - Master's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Assurance, Information Security, Data Science, or a related field. Degrees earned outside the United States require a NACES-member equivalency evaluation. - A defensible, documented methodology for categorizing, testing, and validating AI technologies prior to deployment. - Working knowledge of Federal AI governance obligations, including attestation and disclosure requirements. - Ability to write model behavior and change documentation that will stand up to Government review. - Proficiency in Python and modern ML/LLM tooling, and the engineering discipline to move a model from prototype to a supportable production capability. SUITABILITY This position requires a Tier 4 / High Risk Public Trust background investigation. A Tier 4 investigation is adjudicated for suitability and fitness and is not a security clearance. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and able to obtain and maintain the investigation, VA systems access, and PIV credentialing. No work may begin until an interim determination is received. PREFERRED - NIST AI Risk Management Framework experience. - Security operations automation using large language models -- triage, enrichment, detection engineering, or response orchestration. - Published or otherwise demonstrable AI evaluation methodology. - Experience deploying models in a FedRAMP or Federal cloud environment. - Prior VA program experience, particularly within OIT or OIS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Travel is expected to be 0-10%. This position is contingent upon contract award; no offer of employment will be extended before award is made. Triumph Enterprises, Inc. is an SBA-certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business an