Senior Software Engineer, Internal AI Tools Lead
Locations: Los Angeles, CA | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA
Industry: Defense, National Security, Space Technology
Salary Range: $150,000 – $230,000 base + bonus and benefits
We are hiring a Senior Software Engineer, Internal AI Tools Lead to design and scale the internal AI-powered platforms that run the business. This is a high-impact, hands-on technical leadership role focused on replacing manual, spreadsheet-driven workflows with secure, intelligent, and automated systems.
If you enjoy building internal products, working directly with business leaders, and using AI to eliminate operational friction, this role is built for you.
What you’ll be doing
• Lead the technical architecture and roadmap for the company's internal tools and AI automation platforms
• Build full-stack internal products including workflow engines, approval systems, dashboards, and internal copilots
• Design and deploy AI-powered automations such as Slack or Teams bots, workflow agents, and retrieval-augmented systems
• Partner closely with teams across Finance, HR, IT, Cyber Security, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Business Development
• Integrate internal tools with enterprise systems like ERP, CRM, HRIS, ticketing, and document management platforms
• Set engineering standards for quality, testing, observability, and security in a regulated environment
• Mentor and support a small team of engineers while remaining a hands-on individual contributor
• Measure impact through clear KPIs such as cycle-time reduction, error reduction, and automation coverage
What we’re looking for
• 5+ years of experience building production software, internal tools, or SaaS platforms
• Proven experience acting as a technical lead or architect while staying hands-on
• Strong full-stack skills using Python and or TypeScript
• Experience with modern frameworks such as React, Next.js, FastAPI, Node.js, or similar
• Hands-on experience integrating with enterprise systems via APIs and event-driven architectures
• Practical experience using LLMs and AI services to build internal tools, copilots, or workflow automations
• An AI-first development mindset, using modern tools to accelerate delivery rather than hand-writing boilerplate
Nice to have
• Experience building internal tooling in complex or regulated environments such as defense, aerospace, or manufacturing
• Familiarity with workflow orchestration or agent frameworks like LangGraph or n8n
• Experience designing systems with strong security and compliance requirements
• A portfolio of internal tools, open-source work, or side projects that demonstrate leverage-driven engineering
Eligibility
To comply with US Government space technology export regulations, candidates must be a US Citizen, US Permanent Resident, Protected Individual, or eligible to obtain required US government authorizations.
