Senior AI/ML Architect — Human-Centered LLM Systems

Digital Renovations LLC is looking for a Senior AI/ML Architect to help shape the technical direction of the Veteran’s Companion, a human-centered AI system being developed to support veterans during periods of stress.

This is not a role where the architecture is already decided and we simply need someone to build it. We want a senior technical partner who can challenge assumptions, identify risks, and help determine the safest and most practical way to turn the concept into a working system.

What you’ll do

• Help define the AI/ML and LLM architecture for the Veteran’s Companion.
• Advise on model selection, grounding, retrieval, context management, continuity across interactions, tool access, and evaluation.
• Identify technical risks and failure modes involving hallucination, context loss, privacy, security, and unsafe model behavior.
• Help develop practical approaches to reliability, safety, factual grounding, and appropriate human handoff.
• Review technical assumptions and recommend a better path when warranted.
• Help guide prototype architecture, infrastructure decisions, and future AI/ML priorities.

What we’re looking for

• Strong professional experience designing or leading AI/ML systems.
• Current hands-on understanding of large language models and generative AI system architecture.
• Experience with retrieval and grounding, context management, model orchestration, APIs, tool use, and evaluation.
• Strong understanding of AI reliability, safety, privacy, and security.
• Ability to explain complex technical decisions clearly to both technical and nontechnical people.
• Comfortable working in an early-stage environment and willing to challenge ideas when the evidence points in a different direction.

Experience with human-centered AI, safety-critical systems, public-sector technology, veteran-serving systems, or regulated environments is helpful but not required.

Funding and Growth Path

Digital Renovations is preparing an NIH SBIR application for submission in November 2026 to support development of the Veteran’s Companion. We are identifying key technical personnel now so the proposed team, technical approach, and development plan are credible and ready to move if funding is awarded.

The selected candidate may be asked to participate in limited pre-award technical planning and to document their intended role and participation in the project as part of the funding application. Any pre-award participation will be clearly scoped in advance.

If funding is secured and the project advances as planned, this fractional role may expand substantially and could transition into a full-time technical leadership position.

Engagement

This is a remote, U.S.-based fractional contract role. All work must be performed from within the United States using approved company equipment, security practices, and access controls.

Depending on future funding, hosting, or government system-access requirements, the selected candidate may also be subject to applicable background, suitability, security, or other personnel-access requirements.

About Digital Renovations

Digital Renovations LLC is a veteran-founded company developing human-centered AI systems. Our flagship project, the Veteran’s Companion, is being built to help veterans through difficult moments by restoring context, slowing things down, and helping them reconnect with the people they trust.

Pay: $90.00 - $160.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10.0 – 20.0 per week

Work Location: Remote