Senior Software Engineer

Columbia, MD
Full Time
99085
Experienced
Belay Technologies has been voted Baltimore Business Journal's (BBJ) Best Places to Work 2019, runner up in 2020 and a finalist in 2021!
 
Belay Technologies is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our intel team. We're seeking a Senior Applied AI Engineer who doesn't just implement AI solutions - you pioneer them. This role is for someone who sees the current state of AI in cyber as primitive and is driven to push into uncharted territory. You're the person who built their own AI agents before it was cool, who has strong opinions about prompt engineering, and who can architect systems that others haven't imagined yet. Embedded within cyber units, you'll be the force multiplier who transforms how security professionals work. You'll tackle problems that don't have Stack Overflow answers, build systems that handle real operational complexity, and create AI integrations that actually work under pressure. This isn't about applying known patterns - it's about inventing new ones. We need someone with battle scars from pushing AI systems to production, who knows the difference between demo magic and operational reality, and who has the technical depth to solve problems that would make others give up.


Responsibilities:
  • Architect and implement production-grade AI systems for cyber operations, handling scale and reliability.
  • Lead technical exploration into novel AI applications, charting paths through unproven territory.
  • Design and build sophisticated agent orchestration systems that coordinate multiple AI models and tools.
  • Create robust MCP server implementations that become foundational infrastructure for the team.
  • Develop advanced prompt engineering strategies and reusable patterns for complex cyber scenarios.
  • Build fault-tolerant API integration layers that gracefully handle model failures and edge cases.
  • Mentor junior engineers while maintaining high personal code output.
  • Make architectural decisions that balance innovation with operational reliability.
  • Drive technical discussions about AI capabilities, limitations, and strategic applications.
  • Create proof-of-concepts that demonstrate previously impossible capabilities.
  • Establish best practices for AI development within the unique constraints of cyber operations.

Candidates should have the following qualifications: 
  • TS/SCI Clearance with polygraph
  • 12+ years of software engineering experience with deep Python expertise.
  • Extensive hands-on experience building and deploying AI-powered applications in production.
  • Expert-level understanding of modern AI architectures (agents, RAG, chains, function calling).
  • Proven track record of integrating multiple AI services and handling their failure modes.
  • Strong experience with MCP servers or similar model serving infrastructure.
  • Advanced prompt engineering skills with demonstrable results.
  • Experience building resilient distributed systems and handling async workflows.
  • Deep understanding of AI model capabilities and limitations across providers.
  • Ability to rapidly prototype while maintaining production-quality standards.
  • Track record of solving novel technical problems without existing solutions.
  • Excellent debugging skills for non-deterministic AI behaviors.

Candidates are desired to have the following skills:
  • Direct experience applying AI to cybersecurity or intelligence use cases.
  • Contributions to major AI frameworks or tools.
  • Experience fine-tuning models for specialized domains.
  • Background in building developer tools or platforms.
  • Knowledge of adversarial AI and security considerations for AI systems.
  • Published research or talks on applied AI topics.
  • Experience leading technical initiatives in ambiguous problem spaces.
  • Active presence in the AI engineering community.

Perks and Benefits:
  • 8 weeks paid leave - 4 weeks of personal leave, 3 Yay! days, take off on your birthday,11 paid holidays and optional leave up to 6 days through Belay's volunteer program
  • 10% matching in 401(k) contributions vested on day one
  • $5,000 annual training/tuition
  • Student Loan Repayment Program
  • 100% company-funded HSA
  • Rich medical coverage (100% coinsurance)
  • Dental coverage including orthodontia
  • Up to $420,000 in life insurance, premiums 100% company funded
  • Amazon Prime, gym reimbursement, monthly lunches, games and prizes
  • Pet adoption program, generous referral bonus program, fun events, and more!
 
At Belay, we are committed to creating an environment where you can thrive both professionally and personally.  We believe in transparency and fairness in compensation. Several factors influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, education, specific skills and competencies and certifications. Belay offers a competitive total compensation package that includes benefits and perks, a flexible work-life balance, and career development.

Salary Range: $190,000 to $240,000

Belay Technologies is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business located in Columbia, Maryland (Baltimore/Washington area). Belay Technologies specializes in systems automation and full stack development. Belay Technologies provides leading technology and engineering solutions to the DoD, as well as state-of-the-art commercial products. We hire software engineers, web designers, test engineers, systems engineers, systems administrators, database engineers and other tech services. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
 
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