AI Platform Engineer
Software Engineering, Data Science
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
USD 115k-175k / year + Equity
About Mach Industries
Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.
Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.
The Role
Build reusable AI platform capabilities that engineering and business teams can adopt safely. Deliver shared inference integrations, retrieval pipelines, evaluations, and self-service tools. Make permissions, runtime behavior, and operating costs visible while helping accountable partners assess readiness for their use cases.
Key Responsibilities
- Build reusable inference interfaces and self-service templates with least-privilege identities, approved tool permissions, documented failure behavior, and human approval gates.
- Partner with data engineers to deliver retrieval pipelines that preserve source permissions, provenance, refresh behavior, and approved ingestion and retrieval constraints.
- Create versioned evaluations and release gates covering regressions, permission leakage, prompt injection, and tool safeguards, with recorded results and rollback procedures.
- Monitor failures, latency, usage, and costs; maintain privacy-aware traces, configurations, runbooks, and incident improvements for supported shared AI services.
- Agree interfaces with application and data teams, implement Security-approved controls, and leave business decisions and use-case acceptance with accountable owners.
Required Qualifications
- 4+ years of software or platform engineering experience, including hands-on AI integrations; the experience requirement does not mean four years in AI.
- Ability to build and support AI inference integrations using software engineering practices, including authentication, error handling, automated tests, and documented interfaces.
- Working knowledge of retrieval pipelines, source permissions, provenance, and sensitive-data risks, including preserving access restrictions when information reaches AI applications.
- Ability to design repeatable evaluations for functional regressions, retrieval quality, permission leakage, prompt-injection risks, and safeguards around AI-triggered tool actions.
- Experience instrumenting services and investigating runtime failures, latency, resource use, costs, and configuration issues using actionable, privacy-aware diagnostic evidence.
- Ability to document reusable capabilities and collaborate with business, Security, application, and data partners on approved permissions and release controls.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience delivering shared AI capabilities adopted by multiple applications or teams through supported interfaces and examples.
- Experience with automated deployment, versioned evaluation assets, and controlled rollout or rollback of AI-enabled services.
- Familiarity connecting AI platform controls to enterprise identity, data governance, and established operational support practices.
Additional Requirements
- Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
At Mach, we believe that compensation is more than just a paycheck. It's a comprehensive package designed to reward the time, skills, and expertise you bring to our team. We are committed to offering competitive compensation that is equitable, transparent, and aligned with market trends.
Key Elements of Our Compensation Philosophy:
- Competitive Salaries: We continuously research market rates to ensure our salaries are competitive with those in our industry and geographic location.
- Performance-Based Incentives: Our bonus structure is tied to both individual and company performance, creating a win-win scenario that motivates our team members to excel.
- Equity Participation: We offer stock options or equity to employees, ensuring that you share in the success and growth of the company.
- Benefit Packages: Our benefits include healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, and paid time off, because we understand that your well-being extends beyond the office.
- Professional Development: We allocate funds for continuing education, training, and career growth.
- Transparency: We are committed to openness about our compensation tiers and how decisions are made, ensuring trust and mutual respect.
By joining Mach, you’re not just accepting a job—you’re becoming a key part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your growth. Together, we aim to create a rewarding environment that sets the stage for long-term success.
Data Privacy
To view Mach Industries candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://machindustries.com/privacy-policy.
Disclosures
This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.
Mach participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.
Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. If you’d like to defend the American way of life, please reach out!