Intezra Inc. is a highly technical startup specializing in cyber development and engineering—from tactical-level tools and capabilities to enterprise-level infrastructure and operations. For over 15 years, our leadership team and staff have helped solve the most complex challenges for our clients’ most critical missions.
This role requires an active TS/SCI with Polygraph.
Intezra, Inc. is seeking a Senior Applied AI Engineer to join our mission-driven team at the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. This isn’t a role for someone looking to apply off-the-shelf solutions. We’re looking for a creative technical leader who builds what hasn’t been built—someone who understands that AI in cyber is still in its infancy and sees that as a challenge, not a limitation.
You’ll work directly with cyber operators and engineers to develop AI-driven systems that transform how security professionals operate. From orchestrating multi-agent systems to designing prompt strategies under pressure, you’ll invent and implement practical, high-impact capabilities that thrive in real-world mission environments—not just controlled demos.
Key Responsibilities:
Architect and implement production-grade AI systems for cyber operations, built for scale and reliability.
Lead technical exploration into novel AI applications and drive innovation in uncharted areas.
Design sophisticated agent orchestration systems that coordinate multiple AI models and tools.
Build and maintain robust MCP (Model Control Plane) servers as core infrastructure for AI delivery.
Develop advanced prompt engineering techniques for complex, real-world cyber scenarios.
Create fault-tolerant API integrations that handle failure modes and edge cases gracefully.
Mentor junior engineers while maintaining a high standard of personal technical output.
Balance rapid prototyping with reliable, production-quality system design.
Lead architectural decision-making and contribute to team-wide AI development best practices.
Deliver high-impact proof-of-concepts that push the boundaries of what’s possible in cyber AI.
Drive strategic discussions around AI capabilities, limitations, and operational integration.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
12+ years of software engineering experience with deep expertise in Python.
Hands-on experience developing and deploying AI-powered applications in production environments.
Expert-level knowledge of modern AI system architectures, including agents, RAG, chains, and function calling.
Proven experience integrating multiple AI services and managing model failure behaviors.
Familiarity with MCP servers or similar infrastructure for model serving and orchestration.
Strong prompt engineering skills with demonstrated real-world impact.
Experience building resilient distributed systems and managing asynchronous workflows.
Deep understanding of AI model behaviors, limitations, and constraints across providers.
Ability to prototype quickly while upholding production-quality standards.
Excellent debugging and troubleshooting skills, especially for non-deterministic AI behaviors.
Track record of solving technically novel problems in ambiguous or high-stakes settings.
Nice to Have:
Experience applying AI to cybersecurity or intelligence mission spaces.
Contributions to open-source AI tools, frameworks, or libraries.
Experience fine-tuning foundation models or customizing LLMs for specialized use cases.
Background in building developer platforms or internal AI tooling.
Knowledge of adversarial AI and securing AI-powered systems.
Published research, conference talks, or thought leadership in applied AI.
Experience leading innovation efforts in undefined technical domains.
Active engagement in the AI engineering or cyber defense communities.
Minimum Qualifications:
12+ years of relevant experience.
Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (4 additional years of experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree).
Active TS/SCI with Polygraph required.
Benefits Overview:
At Intezra, Inc., we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to provide peace of mind and flexibility:
Medical: Three Carefirst plans. Intezra pays up to 100% of premiums and deductibles (depending on plan) for employees and their dependents.
Dental & Vision: 100% company-paid Carefirst coverage for employees and dependents.
401(k): 15% company contribution—no employee match required.
PTO: 160 hours annually, with increases based on tenure.
Holidays: 12 floating holidays + 4 Code Red Days annually.
Compensation:
Salary at Intezra is based on several factors, including experience, skills, location, and contract-specific requirements.
Estimated salary range: $170,000 – $260,000 (annualized USD).
EEO Statement:
Intezra Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs—regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr