About this opportunity
Aretec, Inc. lists this Principal Engineer / Technical Lead opportunity in northern, Kentucky. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
At Aretec, Inc., we are catalysts for change within the federal government landscape. Specializing in advanced analytics, machine learning, data analysis, cybersecurity, and business optimization, we empower federal agencies to achieve their most critical missions. As a premier partner and prime vendor, we deliver innovative, high-impact solutions that address complex challenges and drive national progress. Our commitment to excellence and innovation positions us at the forefront of transforming governmental operations, enhancing efficiency, and making a lasting difference in the lives of citizens.
You
You are a thoughtful, collaborative technology professional who turns complex challenges into practical, secure, and maintainable solutions. You work comfortably with engineers, product stakeholders, and federal partners; communicate clearly; and balance delivery speed with quality, traceability, and responsible use of AI. You are energized by mission-driven work and eager to contribute within an established team that values sound judgment and continuous improvement.
What We are Looking For
Aretec is seeking a hands-on Principal Engineer / Technical Lead to guide the architecture and implementation of Greenfield AI Solution within the existing Enterprise Searchteam. This is not an architect-only position: the successful candidate will make critical design decisions, write production code, lead integrations, review code, and manage technical risk across the application and AI stack.
Key Responsibilities
Own the overall technical architecture for AI Solution, including application, integration, data, and AI design decisions.
Provide hands-on technical leadership while designing, implementing, testing, and reviewing production code.
Lead complex integrations with Client, enterprise data platforms, authentication services, and supporting APIs.
Define scalable patterns for LLM integration, retrieval, agent orchestration, source traceability, evaluation, and guardrails.
Translate program objectives into an executable engineering roadmap, sequencing work according to value, complexity, cost, access, and risk.
Set engineering standards for security, reliability, maintainability, observability, documentation, and automated testing.
Identify architectural and delivery risks early; recommend mitigations and communicate tradeoffs to technical and program stakeholders.
Mentor engineers, facilitate design reviews, and resolve cross-stack technical issues without becoming detached from implementation.
Partner with federal stakeholders and the Client team to ensure outputs remain grounded in source material and support, not replace, human judgment.
The Skills We are Looking For
Required Qualifications
Deep hands-on software engineering experience across backend services, APIs, and modern web applications.
Demonstrated success leading architecture and complex implementations for enterprise or mission-critical systems.
Strong Python skills and practical experience with AI/LLM application architecture.
Experience with RAG, retrieval systems, agent orchestration, prompt frameworks, evaluation, and responsible-AI guardrails.
Strong system-integration, data-flow, testing, code-review, and technical-risk-management skills.
Ability to explain technical decisions and tradeoffs clearly to engineers, program leaders, and customer stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively within an existing multidisciplinary delivery team.
Preferred Skills
Experience delivering technology for federal agencies or other regulated environments.
Experience integrating with enterprise search, document intelligence, identity, or data platforms.
Knowledge of source attribution, model evaluation, human-in-the-loop workflows, and AI safety patterns.
Experience mentoring senior and intermediate engineers across AI, backend, frontend, and data disciplines.
The Expectations of the Job
Day One
Learn Aretec's mission, the AI Solution objectives, and the Client team's architecture, standards, security boundary, and delivery practices.
Build relationships with engineering, program, product, and federal stakeholders.
Day Thirty
Validate the target architecture and highest-priority technical risks.
Contribute production code and establish practical review, integration, and testing patterns.
Day Sixty
Lead major implementation and integration decisions across AI, backend, frontend, and data workstreams.
Operationalize evaluation, traceability, and guardrail strategies with measurable quality checks.
Day Ninety
Own the technical execution path for key AI Solution capabilities and drive them from design through validated delivery.
Mentor the engineering team and establish a sustainable approach to architecture decisions, technical debt, and continuous improvement.
At Aretec, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and professional development:
Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
401(k) Plan with Employer Match
Certification Stipends
Professional Development Opportunities
Flexible Work Arrangements, including remote options when permitted by contract
Paid Time Off and Holidays
Please note that due to the nature of our federal contracts and the secure environments in which we operate, only applicants who are sole U.S. Citizens can be considered for this position. Dual citizens are not eligible.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Aretec, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
This anticipated position is contingent upon contract award and final customer approval.
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Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.