Overview:
BigBear.ai is seeking an AI Applications Engineer. In this position, you will develop and maintain AI applications and a config-driven decision-support platform that combines LLM-powered chat (RAG), structured data (MCP/PostgreSQL), and dashboards to support operational readiness and logistics workflows. You will own features end-to-end across backend APIs, database, and the modern React UI, with ongoing support for the existing Dash/Flask application during migration.
What you will do:
- Build and maintain full-stack features: FastAPI services, PostgreSQL schema/migrations, and React/TypeScript UI in an Nx monorepo
- Design, implement, and maintain LLM/RAG pipelines using LangChain (Python) or LangChain4J (Java)—retrieval, embeddings, tool/agent orchestration, and prompt workflows
- Integrate LLM providers (e.g. OpenAI, Anthropic, Ask Sage), document ingestion, semantic search, and chat/report features
- Work with vector stores (e.g. PostgreSQL (pgvector), Weaviate), Redis, and Keycloak auth; implement role-based access and secure API patterns
- Connect to external systems via MCP, REST/PostgREST, and related data adapters
- Write and maintain tests (pytest, Vitest) and participate in CI/CD (Docker, GitHub Actions)
- Debug production issues, improve reliability/performance, and keep dependencies and security patches current
- Use AI-assisted development tools (e.g. Cursor) effectively: prompt well, review generated code critically, and ship production-quality changes at a steady pace
What you need to have:
- 3+ years full-stack development with strong Python and React/TypeScript
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance
- Hands-on LLM/RAG experience building production features with LangChain or LangChain4J (chains, retrievers, agents/tools, embeddings, vector stores)
- Experience building and consuming REST APIs (FastAPI or similar)
- Solid PostgreSQL skills: schema design, SQL, migrations (pgvector a plus)
- Comfortable with Docker, local dev environments, and basic deployment workflows
- Strong debugging, testing, and code review habits
- Ability to work independently across backend, frontend, database, and AI layers
- Proven comfort using AI coding assistants as a daily workflow—not as a substitute for understanding the codebase
What we'd like you to have:
- Dash/Plotly, Flask, or legacy-to-modern UI migration experience
- Keycloak/OAuth, Redis sessions
- Nx monorepos, TanStack Router/Query, Tailwind CSS
- MCP protocol, Ask Sage, or similar enterprise LLM platforms
- Government/defense or regulated-environment experience
About BigBear.ai:
BigBear.ai is a leading provider of AI-powered decision intelligence solutions for national security, supply chain management, and digital identity. Customers and partners rely on Bigbear.ai’s predictive analytics capabilities in highly complex, distributed, mission-based operating environments. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, BigBear.ai is a public company traded on the NYSE under the symbol BBAI. For more information, visit https://bigbear.ai/ and follow BigBear.ai on LinkedIn: @BigBear.ai and X: @BigBearai.
BigBear.ai is an Equal opportunity employer all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.