👋🏼 Hey!

Bitwise is a leading provider of mission-focused intelligence solutions that advance national security for the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. We’re a small and growing company, so you can expect to hop in on the ground floor with us and be a consequential member of the team. You'll be more than a contract performer for us – you’ll also be asked for ideas to improve our company and improve your career, and you’ll contribute to our team culture. We value growth and community above almost all else, so we gather regularly for game nights, happy hours, tech talks, and plenty more. We think you’ll like it here!

Remember, Bitwise is not a cult. 🖖🏼

🎯 What We Look For

Bitwise hires talented engineers who are driven by purpose and who value a culture of technical excellence, growth, and overall wellness. We deliver new and innovative intelligence solutions to our customers at the very forefront of our country’s national security missions. And we do it every single day. Our work matters, and so will you.

We ask that every new hire be able to:

💡 About this Role

As an Applied AI Engineer supporting Cyber Operations, you will design, prototype, and deploy AI-enabled capabilities that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of mission users. You will work directly with cyber operators, analysts, and engineers to identify workflow bottlenecks and apply modern AI techniques to solve real operational challenges.

This role focuses on practical, production-grade AI implementation — not research for research’s sake. You will build systems that integrate large language models (LLMs), retrieval systems, structured data pipelines, and automation frameworks into secure mission environments. Success in this role requires both strong software engineering fundamentals and a deep understanding of how AI behaves in real-world, high-stakes applications.

Responsibilities will include:

Maintain an active TS/SCI with Polygraph. Candidates without a current clearance will not be considered.
Design and implement AI-powered tools to support cyber operations workflows
Develop production-ready applications leveraging modern AI/ML frameworks
Build and integrate retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines
Develop API integrations that connect AI services to mission systems and data sources
Prototype and evaluate emerging AI models and techniques for operational viability
Implement structured outputs, tool/function calling, and agent-based workflows
Monitor and improve reliability, performance, and observability of AI systems
Troubleshoot non-deterministic AI behaviors and refine prompt strategies
Collaborate directly with mission stakeholders to refine requirements and iterate quickly
Document architectures, trade-offs, and best practices for AI system development

📋 Requirements

Active TS/SCI with Polygraph.
Strong software engineering background with proficiency in Python
Experience building and deploying AI-powered applications in production environments
Familiarity with modern AI frameworks and orchestration tools
Experience integrating APIs and handling structured/unstructured data
Understanding of prompt engineering, structured outputs, and tool invocation patterns
Experience working in Linux-based development environments
Familiarity with Git-based workflows
Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and rapidly evolving technical environments
Don't quite meet these requirements? Peep our other prime positions

🌟 Preferred Skills

Experience applying AI to cybersecurity or intelligence use cases
Familiarity with agentic frameworks and multi-step orchestration systems
Experience building retrieval systems using vector databases or semantic search
Knowledge of AI system observability and evaluation methodologies
Experience integrating multiple AI providers or model types
Experience building automation or developer-assist tooling
Familiarity with containerized deployments and cloud environments
Experience supporting production CNO capabilities and operations
Knowledge of end-to-end SIGINT collection and analysis systems
Familiarity with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence)

🏝️ Benefits at Bitwise

Top salaries because we're top performers
Pick your PTO – Everyone values time and money differently, so we give you the flexibility to choose between 3 and 5 weeks of PTO with a corresponding adjustment to your pay. Your choice, your balance.
All 11 federal holidays, paid!
Up to 2 snow days, paid!
We’ll quadruple (4x!) the first 6% you contribute to your 401(k), giving you up to a 24% company match. Contributing less than 6%? Unclaimed matches come right back to you as extra income, giving you a guaranteed 24% that goes to your retirement, to your paycheck, or both. C’mon now! 🚀
100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances. That’s a lot. Already covered on health insurance? No problem – we’ll trade you this benefit for a boost to your salary instead.
$5,250 annual education assistance for training, certifications, tuition, and even student loan repayments.
Spot bonuses for obtained certifications, customer recognition, and just about anything else that makes us go "Hot damn!". We hope to say that many times about you. 🔥

💰 Salary Range

Junior: $115k - $165k
Mid-Level: $150k - $250k
Senior: $225k - $315k
These ranges include our flex income and depend upon your annual work hours.

Salary is determined on an individual basis following the interview process and considering various factors such as years of experience, skills, education, and certifications.

🛎️ What to expect after applying

You'll get an email from us right away to acknowledge your application. After that, we'll:

Send over additional company materials for you to review
Schedule a video call to talk about you, our company, and your place in it
Craft a delightful offer package for you and record a video walkthrough
Work closely with you through onboarding. We’ll keep it joyful and easy.

ℹ️ Disclaimers

Bitwise is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Compensation for this position, including all compensation options, will be determined on an individual basis following the interview process.

If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please send an email to hiring@bitwise.tech #CJ

Apply to Applied AI Engineer