[Hiring] Senior Python Developer @Isys Technologies

Role Description

We are seeking a Senior Python Developer to support ongoing activities. This position will be remote and will require an ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

• Scanner development: Design, develop, test, and optimize Python-based scanning capabilities that deliver reliable operation and performance at scale across large, segmented, and federated network environments, including deployment in restricted government environments.
• AI-enabled product engineering: Design and implement production AI capabilities within Optica using local/self-hosted models and cloud-hosted AI services, selecting models and deployment patterns based on security, connectivity, performance, accuracy, and cost requirements.
• AI-assisted STIG ingestion: Develop and operationalize an AI-assisted process for ingesting and interpreting new and revised DISA STIGs; structuring STIG requirements for use within Optica; identifying and managing organizationally defined parameters; and validating cybersecurity content and mappings.
• AI-driven process automation: Identify and automate complex manual product and cybersecurity workflows using AI, including document ingestion, structured data extraction, classification, transformation, validation, exception handling, and human-in-the-loop review where appropriate. Establish measurable quality, throughput, accuracy, and cycle-time outcomes for automated workflows.
• Model integration and orchestration: Integrate and manage local/self-hosted models suitable for disconnected or air-gapped environments as well as cloud model APIs and managed AI platforms. Build maintainable abstractions and orchestration patterns that allow models to be selected or changed based on mission environment and technical requirements.
• Model evaluation and adaptation: Support the AI/ML model lifecycle, including dataset preparation, model selection, evaluation, prompt and retrieval design, fine-tuning or other model-adaptation techniques when appropriate, inference optimization, validation, and production monitoring.
• Coverage expansion: Extend Optica’s cybersecurity content coverage beyond operating systems into installed applications, databases, application servers, middleware, and other software layers to provide a more complete view of CORA readiness.
• Delivery ownership: Plan and execute development work through deployment, stabilization, and resolution of customer findings, communicating status, risks, technical trade-offs, and dependencies clearly to product leadership.
• Product engineering discipline: Contribute to architecture, code review, automated testing, documentation, observability, secure development practices, and production support consistent with the platform’s DISA APL listing and government compliance requirements.
• Technical leadership: Operate as a senior engineer on the Optica team, exercising independent technical judgment, informing architecture and prioritization decisions, mentoring developers, and raising engineering standards as the team grows. Work closely with Optica architecture, dashboard, cybersecurity content, product, and customer-facing teams to align scanner output, AI-generated or ingested content, validation workflows, and end-user reporting.
• Perform other duties as appropriate and as assigned.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of software engineering principles, Python development, network architectures, cybersecurity technologies, and regulatory or compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of dataset preparation, model training concepts, validation, evaluation, inference, model selection, and model adaptation techniques such as fine-tuning.
• Strong understanding of prompting, retrieval-augmented generation, fine-tuning, or other approaches, including the ability to evaluate whether a model is fit for a production use case.
• Knowledge of workflow automation, intelligent document processing, data extraction, validation methodologies, and human-in-the-loop review processes.
• Knowledge of the operational trade-offs among local inference, managed cloud models, security boundaries, latency, cost, model capability, and disconnected or restricted deployment environments.
• Ability to deliver reliable, high-performance cybersecurity solutions that meet mission requirements in both connected and disconnected operational environments.
• Ability to analyze existing codebases, make sound technical and architectural decisions, and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with sound business judgment and the ability to assess customer needs, market conditions, and competitive factors.
• Ability to develop, maintain, and foster effective working relationships with customers to support business objectives and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Ability to provide business case development and identify opportunities that drive future growth.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively, manage multiple priorities, and meet competing deadlines.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and commitment to exceeding expectations and achieving business objectives.
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to work effectively and cooperatively with all levels of management and staff, affiliated-company employees as well as outside business associates; exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others.
• Superior organizational, follow-up, and detail-oriented skills.
• Self-motivated and goal-oriented, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively, with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; including thorough knowledge of proper grammar, advanced vocabulary, spelling, editing and proofreading skills.
• Proficient using Microsoft Office products, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and industry-standard computer software and databases.
• High degree of sensitivity regarding confidential information.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, data science, AI/ML, or a related field. Additional relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Eight or more years of professional Python software development experience. Demonstrated experience must include:
• Design and delivery of production Python software.
• Design, development and deployment of AI-enabled software in production, including architecture, integration, testing, validation, and operations.
• Integration of local, self-hosted AI or LLM models, and/or cloud-hosted AI services or model APIs.
• Application of AI/ML techniques, for example, data preparation, model training, validation, evaluation, inference, model selection, and model adaptation.
• AI-driven automation of complex business, engineering or analytical workflows with measurable operational impact.
• Development of distributed data-collection, or similar systems, including performance, reliability, concurrency, and deployment at scale across segmented or federated network environments.
• Active Secret or Top-Secret security clearance.
• Application of DISA STIGs, SCAP content, or comparable cybersecurity compliance frameworks, including the structure, interpretation, validation and maintenance of compliance requirements.
• Development and deployment of software within DoD or other federal operating environments, including restricted, air-gapped, disconnected, or accreditation-controlled networks.
• Experience with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), embeddings, vector databases, structured outputs, tool/function calling, document parsing, information extraction, agentic or multi-step workflows, and evaluation frameworks.
• Experience deploying and optimizing local or self-hosted models in disconnected, restricted, or resource-constrained environments, including model serving, quantization, GPU/CPU trade-offs, or comparable inference optimization techniques.
• Hands-on experience with cloud AI platforms or hosted model services (e.g., Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, OpenAI APIs, Google Vertex AI).
• Experience with model/version management, evaluation pipelines, experiment tracking, monitoring, quality controls, and production governance for AI-enabled software.
• Experience leading development teams, including task assignment, architecture and code reviews, mentoring, and stakeholder coordination.
• Experience contributing to enterprise dashboards and related full-stack web applications, including usability improvements, reporting, visualization, workflow and evidence management, role-based access, and performance at scale.
• Familiarity with RMF, CORA, and DoW cybersecurity assessment and authorization processes.
• Experience supporting a commercial or GOTS product through government evaluation, APL listing, accreditation, or comparable authorization activities.
• Production experience using Go for endpoint agents, scanners, network services, security tooling or distributed systems.

Physical Abilities

• Sufficient fine motor skills for the use of computers, calculators with an ability to withstand repetitive keyboarding for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work in confined rack spaces.
• Visual and communications ability are adequate to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Ability to kneel, bend and twist at the waist on an occasional basis.
• Ability to reach below shoulder height with regular frequency (desk position) and at or above shoulder height on occasion.
• Ability to push, pull, carry and lift objects weighing up to 10 pounds on a regular basis, and greater weights on an occasional basis.