Senior Python Developer

Ability to Obtain

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.

Essential Requirements:

• 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…