Frontend Engineer, TS/SCI with Counterintelligence Polygraph Required

Location:
Alexandria, VA
Accrete is an agentic managed services company: an AI workforce that does high-stakes, judgement-heavy work for government and enterprise clients — at the economics of software, not labor.
At the core is Accrete’s Knowledge Engine, a dynamic context graph that captures an organization’s tacit knowledge, resolves data across silos, and builds a living, auditable ground truth. Expert agents reason against that ground truth to act on complex, high-stakes decisions — not just answer questions about them.
From national security to commercial operations, Accrete delivers the work on one platform, with unlimited expert agents and expert judgement.
The Role
As a Frontend Engineer you will work at the intersection of data engineering, software development, and AI. You will rapidly turn ideas, mission requirements, and technical concepts into working prototypes that can be tested with users and evaluated for production potential.
This is a highly hands-on role. You will work directly with engineers, data scientists, AI/ML teams, product managers, and government customers to ingest and manipulate data, build lightweight applications and workflows, test new technical approaches, and iterate quickly based on feedback.
The ideal candidate is a strong generalist who enjoys solving ambiguous problems, learning new technologies, and building functional prototypes rather than spending months designing solutions before putting them in front of users.

What You'll Do

Software Prototyping
Rapidly develop functional software prototypes to demonstrate new concepts and capabilities
Translate ambiguous mission requirements into working technical solutions
Build proof-of-concepts that combine data, APIs, AI models, and software components
Develop lightweight applications, services, scripts, and interfaces to test new ideas
Iterate rapidly based on user feedback and technical findings
Evaluate prototype approaches and make recommendations for production implementation
Work across the technology stack as needed to get prototypes operational
Identify technical risks, limitations, and dependencies early in the development process
Maintain clear documentation of prototype architecture, functionality, and technical decisions
Data Engineering
Build data ingestion and transformation pipelines to support prototypes
Integrate structured and unstructured data from multiple sources
Work with APIs, databases, files, feeds, and other data sources
Clean, normalize, transform, and enrich data for analytical and AI applications
Develop SQL queries and Python-based data processing workflows
Monitor data pipelines and troubleshoot data quality and integration issues
Create reusable data workflows that can transition from prototype to production
AI & Automation
Integrate AI and machine learning capabilities into software prototypes
Work with LLMs, embeddings, RAG, information retrieval, and AI agents where appropriate
Develop prototypes that automate manual or knowledge-intensive workflows
Experiment with different AI models, APIs, tools, and architectures
Build workflows that combine data processing with AI-driven analysis or decision support
Develop evaluation methods to measure prototype performance and usefulness
Work closely with data scientists and AI engineers to test new approaches
Technical Collaboration
Partner with software engineers, data scientists, product teams, and mission experts to understand requirements and quickly convert them into a minimum viable product for collecting feedback
Participate in technical design sessions and architecture discussions
Translate customer needs into technical requirements and implementation plans
Communicate prototype capabilities, limitations, and technical tradeoffs
Support demonstrations and technical discussions with government customers
Provide recommendations on whether and how successful prototypes should be productionized
Draft software documentation
Mission Support
Work directly with government customers and mission users to understand operational challenges
Rapidly respond to emerging technical requirements and mission needs
Build prototypes that demonstrate measurable mission value
Support customer demonstrations, testing, experimentation, and deployment
Operate effectively in secure and potentially classified environments
What We're Looking For
Active TS/SCI clearance with Counterintelligence or Lifestyle Polygraph
3+ years of experience in data engineering, software engineering, application development, or a related technical field
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience
Strong experience with C++, Python, Java, SQL, and any equivalent programming skills
Experience working with APIs and integrating multiple data sources
Experience rapidly developing software prototypes or proof-of-concepts
Strong understanding of software development fundamentals
Ability to work across unfamiliar technologies and quickly learn new tools
Strong problem-solving and debugging skills
Ability to work independently and make technical decisions in an ambiguous environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting the Department of Defense or Intelligence Community
Experience building AI/ML or LLM-powered applications
Experience with RAG, embeddings, vector databases, NLP, or information retrieval
Experience with AI agents and tool-calling workflows
Experience with modern web application development
Experience with FastAPI, Flask, React, or similar frameworks
Experience with PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Elasticsearch, or similar data platforms
Experience with AWS, Azure, or other cloud environments
Experience with Docker and Kubernetes
Experience with Git, CI/CD, and modern software development workflows
Experience with Spark, Airflow, Kafka, Databricks, Snowflake, or similar data technologies
Experience working in classified, secure, or air-gapped environments
Experience taking prototypes into production
Experience developing applications for government or national security customers
Ability to obtain and maintain additional security clearance accesses to Special Access Programs (SAP) or Access Compensatory Control Measures (ACCM)
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means
turning ideas into working software quickly
.
You will be successful when you can take a loosely defined mission problem, identify the relevant data and technical approach, and produce a functional prototype that allows users and technical teams to evaluate the concept.
The strongest candidates will be comfortable operating with incomplete requirements and will know when to prioritize speed and experimentation over architectural perfection. At the same time, you should be able to recognize which prototypes have real production potential and work with engineering teams to mature them into reliable capabilities.
Why Accrete Government
Build cutting-edge AI and data capabilities supporting U.S. government and national security missions
Work on technically challenging problems with real-world mission impact
Rapidly prototype new AI, data, and software capabilities
Collaborate with experienced engineers, data scientists, AI researchers, and mission experts
Work directly with government customers and end users
Help turn experimental concepts into deployed capabilities
Operate in a fast-moving environment with significant technical ownership
Salary Range: $
145k-$180k
The salary range provided reflects the estimated compensation for this role based on the expected qualifications and experience level. The final offer may vary depending on factors such as skills, experience, and alignment with role requirements.
Core Values & Expectations:
Impact
You take full ownership and accountability for your work, consistently seeing projects through from inception to completion with a strong bias for action. Proactively identifying challenges, you drive solutions rather than waiting for direction, and hold yourself and others to the highest standards for delivering results. With strategic thinking and a problem-solving mindset, you make informed decisions leveraging data and expertise, always looking for ways to improve processes, optimize workflows, and enhance outcomes beyond your immediate responsibilities.
Collaboration
You work seamlessly across teams, prioritizing shared goals and team success over individual credit. Engaged listening and open, candid communication are at the heart of your approach, ensuring alignment and synergy throughout the organization. You value diverse perspectives, seeking input from others to drive better results. By treating colleagues with respect and professionalism, you help build a culture of trust, supporting each other through challenges, celebrating successes, and constructively addressing conflicts to strengthen relationships and improve outcomes.
Passion for AI & Innovation
You are deeply excited about the transformative potential of AI and committed to contributing to a company shaping the future of work. With curiosity and a growth mindset, you continuously seek to learn, adapt, and stay at the forefront of new developments. Your enthusiasm for innovation drives you to explore new ideas, challenge the status quo, and find creative solutions that deliver meaningful impact. You approach your work with energy and a desire to advance both technology and the way we work.
Company Benefits
Competitive Salary:
Aligned with experience and market standards
Comprehensive Insurance:
Health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
401(k) Plan:
Build your financial future with our retirement savings plan
Growth & Development:
Access professional learning opportunities and career advancement support
Onsite Perks:
Enjoy catered lunches, snacks, and a fully stocked kitchen
Team Bonding:
Company-sponsored happy hours and social events to connect and unwind
Accrete is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.