Software Engineer (AI Focus)

This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.

Who we are:

Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional small business with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development, with headquarters in McLean, VA. Our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

About the role:

We are looking for a Software Engineer (AI Focus) with strong front-end skills and a passion for building transformative user experiences powered by AI. You will play a critical role in developing intuitive and powerful interfaces that enable warfighters and analysts to harness the power of large language models (LLMs) in operational environments.

In this role, you will help shape user-facing applications that blend cutting-edge AI models  with secure, performant full-stack systems. You’ll be working at the edge of software and mission—building the next generation of intelligent tools for distributed command-and-control.

This position is based in Hawaii, supporting a real-world defense use case where design, speed, and impact matter.

What You’ll Do

• Lead full-stack feature development from ideation to production in close coordination with product managers, AI researchers, and mission stakeholders
• Conduct user research and workflow analysis to identify inefficiencies and translate business requirements into AI-enabled technical solutions
• Build modern front-end applications using ReactJS, Tailwind, and component libraries integrated with LLM-based services (Claude, OpenAI, open-source models)
• Design and build backend APIs and microservices for scalable deployment and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
• Work with ML engineers to shape model prompts, feedback loops, and in-app integration based on user workflow requirements
• Support disconnected/air-gapped deployment patterns and ensure secure, testable, and maintainable code
• Collaborate with end users, developers, designers, and DevSecOps engineers to continuously improve AI-enabled workflow solutions

What You Bring

• 3+ years of experience as a full stack engineer building modern web applications
• Strong proficiency in ReactJS and JavaScript/TypeScript ecosystem
• Experience building and consuming RESTful or GraphQL APIs
• Understanding of AI/ML concepts and experience integrating AI services into applications
• Strong communication skills with ability to conduct user interviews and translate business requirements into technical solutions
• A user-centered mindset with attention to accessibility, responsiveness, and clean design
• Familiarity with state management, routing, component-driven development
• Understanding of secure coding practices in sensitive or regulated environments
• Comfort working in fast-paced, iterative development cycles and on cross-functional teams

What we are looking for:

• Experience working with AI/ML frameworks and libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Hugging Face, OpenAI APIs)
• Knowledge of prompt engineering and LLM integration patterns
• Experience with Python for AI/ML workflows and data processing
• Experience with workflow analysis and process optimization methodologies
• Understanding of automation tools and workflow orchestration platforms
• Experience with cloud-native AI services (AWS Bedrock, Azure OpenAI, Google AI Platform)
• Ability to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in existing workflows through user research and data analysis
• Knowledge of database design and optimization for AI-enabled applications
• Obtain Security+ certification within the first 90 days of employment with Raft

Highly preferred:

• Experience with process mapping, user journey analysis, and workflow optimization
• Knowledge of RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) architectures
• Experience with vector databases and semantic search technologies
• Experience with containerization and cloud-native deployment patterns
• Understanding of model fine-tuning and prompt optimization techniques
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and collaborative development practices

Clearance Requirements:

• Active Secret with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance

Work Type: 

• Onsite in Honolulu, HI
• May require up to 25% travel to both CONUS and OCONUS locations (Must possess a valid, active US passport with at least six months validity beyond intended period of employment to facilitate international travel and meet security requirements for government contracts.)

Salary Range:

• $130,000 - $160,000 
• The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities

What we will offer you:

• Highly competitive salary
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) and company match
• Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
• Education & training benefits
• Generous Referral Bonuses
• And More!

Our Vision Statement: 

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession: 

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there? 

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. 

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration. 

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.