Technical Lead

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Why Bixal?

Bixal is a consulting company headquartered in Fairfax, VA, working alongside governments and organizations to help them deliver better services and experiences to the communities they serve. Using evidence-based knowledge and technology, Bixal empowers clients to deliver on their missions more effectively by fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Our values:

• People-First : Emphasizing the importance of people in all aspects of work.
• Collaboration and Transparency : Valuing teamwork and open communication.
• Growth Mindset : Encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.
• Creating Lasting Impact : Focusing on meaningful outcomes and positive change.

About the role:

Bixal is seeking a Technical Lead to serve as the senior technical leader for a U.S. Department of State (DOS) project focused on data analytics, AI, and natural language processing (NLP). This role will lead the development team in building tools to extract, structure, validate and visualize data from a variety of data sources; implement NLP-driven interfaces for search and analysis; and deliver advanced analytics and visualization capabilities to support global stakeholders. The Technical Lead will oversee solution architecture, manage development activities, and ensure alignment with security, compliance, and performance requirements across the program’s data analytics ecosystem.

This is a full-time position contingent on contract award by our client, with a defined performance period of one year with two one-year option periods. This role offers you a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a project that aligns with Bixal’s mission of delivering innovative, human-centered solutions. While the role has a fixed duration, we are committed to transparency and collaboration, keeping you informed about contract updates and new opportunities. At Bixal, we support your professional journey, ensuring your experience reflects our inclusive, purpose-driven culture and prepares you for future success.

Compensation:

The salary range for this role is $140,000 – $150,000. In the spirit of transparency, most offers tend to land near the midpoint of the range. We make compensation decisions thoughtfully, considering your experience, the skills you bring, and our commitment to internal equity. Fairness and transparency are core to how we operate.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI, NLP, and data analytics solutions in collaboration with DOS stakeholders.
• Implement robust MLOps frameworks to automate model training, deployment, experiment tracking, and drift detection, ensuring reliability and scalability of AI solutions.
• Conduct comprehensive performance analyses for LLM and NLP models, monitoring accuracy, bias, and efficiency to optimize outcomes and maintain high standards across analytics platforms.
• Design and execute fine-tuning strategies for large language models (LLMs), ensuring outputs are aligned with ethical, safety, and federal compliance standards.
• Capability to architect, build, and deploy secure Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Knowledge Graph systems, implementing robust Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) mechanisms to ensure data permissions are precisely scoped and access remains tightly governed.
• Develop advanced strategies for prompt understanding and implement data caching mechanisms to optimize model responsiveness and reduce latency in recurring analyses.
• Serve as the technical lead of the development team, ensuring adherence to Agile and DevSecOps practices.
• Architect and implement processes for structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data extraction, organization, and validation.
• Build and refine an NLP-enabled user interface for data query, historical analysis, and visualization.
• Oversee the implementation of a GIS platform for displaying and analyzing location/time-based data.
• Direct the integration of data analytics platforms to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.
• Define and track key data quality and analytics KPIs.
• Ensure solutions meet federal security, compliance, and accessibility requirements.
• Collaborate with government product owners and project leadership to prioritize technical features, address risks, and drive innovation.
• Mentor team members, conduct code reviews, and establish best practices for AI/ML development, data visualization, and analytics delivery.
• Other relevant duties as assigned and qualified/trained to perform

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.
• 8+ years of professional experience in IT and software development, including 3+ years in a senior AI engineering or Data Engineering lead role.
• Demonstrated expertise in AI/ML model development, NLP, and enterprise data analytics pipelines.
• Hands-on experience with key technologies including: Python, Rust, Oracle, SAP HANA, ArcGIS, GitLab/GitHub, Java/Spring, Azure Cloud.
• Experience leading development of data analytics platforms, dashboards, and reporting tools for large organizations.
• Strong knowledge of AI governance, compliance (FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST AI RMF), and MLOps practices.
• Prior experience supporting DOS, DHS, or DOD in mission-critical data science and AI efforts.
• Familiarity with federal government data analytics and reporting environments.
• Have an active Secret Facility Security Clearance

How We Support Our Team:

• Flex hours
• 401K with matching incentive
• Parental Leave
• Medical/dental/vision benefits
• Flex Spending Account
• Company provided short-term disability and life insurance
• Commuter benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 11 Paid holidays

Our company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.