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# Senior Machine Learning Engineer (Active Secret Clearance)

Canonical URL: https://nextmove.md/fde/jobs/5a5844b6cb2a5b62

Striveworks posts a senior FDE role to build what the customer runs in Tacoma, WA, at $185,000–$230,000 base, above the senior FDE median of $190,000 across 1,849 postings with pay. Senior Machine Learning Engineer building and deploying data-centric systems, machine learning models, and custom analytics across image, video, text, geospatial, time-series, and structured data. Read from the employer’s posting on November 6, 2026.

- [Striveworks](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/striveworks)

Posted Jul 21, 2026 by Striveworks · open on Greenhouse as of Nov 6, 2026

**$185,000–$230,000** + equity Tacoma, WA Hybrid

Senior Machine Learning Engineer building and deploying data-centric systems, machine learning models, and custom analytics across image, video, text, geospatial, time-series, and structured data.

- [See roles that fit me](https://nextmove.md/sign-up?from=%2Ffde%2Fjobs%2F5a5844b6cb2a5b62&placement=top)
- [View posting at Striveworks](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/striveworks/jobs/7811833003)

Free. Upload your resume once, see why each FDE role fits, and get introduced only when you say so.

## At a glance

### Posted base pay

$185K–$230K Above the median

Midpoint $208K · median $190K

This job $185K to $230K. Senior FDE postings, 1,849 postings: the middle 50% of posted pay is $160K to $220K, median $190K.

### The work

Builds what the customer runs

Balance **Mostly building**

Project stages

1. Pre-sales (not covered)
2. Proof of concept (not covered)
3. Implementation
4. Operations

Travel **Up to 25%**

- **Coding**: Writes production code

- **Builds for**: External customers

- **Level**: Senior

- **Role**: Individual contributor

### What they ask for

Experience

- **6+ years** relevant experience

### Do you meet what the posting states?

The posting asks for 6+ years. How many do you have?

The posting reads as a senior role. What level are you at now?

The job is in Tacoma, WA. Could you work there?

Which of these have you used in production?

Answer each one. Nothing is saved or sent.

[What postings ask for, by background →](https://nextmove.md/fde/paths)

## Conditions

- **Location**: Tacoma, WA

- **Work arrangement**: Hybrid

- **Remote work restrictions**: Hybrid/on site at customer locations at Joint Base Lewis–McChord in Tacoma, Washington

- **Travel**: Up to 25%

- **Pay**:

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[Striveworks](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/striveworks)

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- [Other jobs at Striveworks (11)](https://nextmove.md/fde/companies/striveworks)

## The job description from Striveworks

Posted by Striveworks on Jul 21, 2026

** *“In 36 months, agentic AI systems will be an operating reality across major institutions. We intend to be central to it.” — Dr. Jim Rebesco, Cofounder and CEO, Striveworks ***

The government’s demand for AI is growing far faster than the systems required to support it. Fewer than 15% of federal AI programs have reached sustained production, despite billions of dollars invested. The models perform in testing, but they degrade in the real world. And when performance drops, trust goes with it.

Striveworks was built to solve that problem.

### What you’ll build

Since 2018, we have delivered the most trusted AI systems operating in real-world use cases—providing a layer of assurance underneath hundreds of deployed models that monitors performance, manages drift, and sustains systems long after they leave the lab.

As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, you will be a core contributor to both customer-driven projects and the enduring products of the company. Working directly with customers, data scientists, software engineers, and DevOps engineers, you’ll define requirements and orchestrate complex data engineering pipelines. You’ll also develop machine learning models and custom analytics applied to image, video, text, geospatial, time series, and structured data.. Your work will inform the future of Chariot, our proprietary AI operations platform. The work extends to the field, with mission-critical deployments, direct customer contact, and insights that shape what we build next.

### What it’s like here

We lead with trust, treat each other with respect, and use candor consistently, kindly, and constructively. We care deeply about our work, and we find genuine satisfaction in doing it well. Above all, we take ownership—because we feel the weight of collective results personally. We are looking for people who share these values and are eager to put them into practice.

### What we’re looking for

- A BS degree in computer science, machine learning, or a related discipline and 6+ years of relevant experience
- Demonstrated experience delivering data-centric systems
- Proficiency in programming languages and libraries common to machine learning; excellence in Python is essential, as is knowledge of TensorFlow, PyTorch, and/or scikit-learn
- Proficiency in software engineering fundamentals to include algorithms, data structures, design patterns, and at least one systems programming language
- Proficiency with modern software engineering tools and processes
- Active Secret (or above) US security clearance and US citizenship

The following isn’t required, but we’d love to see it:

- An advanced degree in data science, machine learning, computer science, or a related discipline
- Knowledge of relevant architectures and design patterns for client-server systems
- Experience implementing and deploying software into containerized or cloud environments
- Experience with a variety of unstructured data types
- Experience building AI agents, agentic workflows, or agentic systems
- Experience defining, scoping, planning, and delivering complex, production-level technical solutions
- Experience leading, managing, or mentoring small, cross-functional engineering teams
- Experience delivering technology solutions in secure government environments

You will be hybrid/on site at customer locations at Joint Base Lewis–McChord in Tacoma, WA. You will be expected to travel up to 25% of the time.

### Compensation

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $185,000–$230,000/year. Striveworks’ total compensation package includes a competitive base salary, equity grants, and cash bonuses.

### Benefits include:

- Medical/dental/vision insurance
- Voluntary life, long-term disability, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
- HSA and FSA (including dependent care FSA) plans
- 401(k) plan
- Unlimited PTO
- Paid parental leave

### Ready to build systems that work for a mission that matters? Let’s talk.

Striveworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, social or ethnic origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. Striveworks will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.

If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact People Operations at hr@striveworks.us.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Striveworks is a participating employer in the E-Verify program.

[View posting at Striveworks](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/striveworks/jobs/7811833003)

## About Striveworks

Cloud-to-edge AIOps platform that helps defense and other high-stakes teams build, deploy, evaluate, and maintain AI models in contested, fast-changing environments.

Series B · 50–100 people

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