​ The Office of Information Technology (OIT) at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking skilled professionals to support a wide range of program and technical services across the institute. This is a remote position with occasional onsite visits required for key personnel to support collaboration, planning, and program delivery.

The NICHD OIT team provides full lifecycle IT support, helping the institute maintain a secure, efficient, and modern technology environment. Team members will work alongside NIH scientists, administrators, and stakeholders to deliver innovative, compliant, and user-centered digital solutions that advance NICHD’s strategic goals.

The AI Architect / Automation Lead will drive strategy and implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and intelligent automation solutions across NICHD’s application portfolio. Working in collaboration with infrastructure and application teams, this role is responsible for identifying, designing, and implementing automation solutions that reduce manual workload, optimize workflows, and accelerate modernization. The ideal candidate blends deep technical expertise with a practical understanding of the NIH environment and federal compliance requirements.

This role is pivotal in maturing DevSecOps, enabling AI-assisted development (e.g., code generation, documentation automation), and embedding test automation, accessibility, and security into the SDLC.

AI & Automation Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of an AI/RPA roadmap aligned with NICHD’s mission, system architecture, and budget constraints.

• Collaborate with partner organizations to leverage proven federal AI strategies and tooling.

• Evaluate legacy processes and systems for automation opportunities using RPA, AI-enhanced development, and machine learning.

• Introduce AI tools for document generation, accessibility compliance, and code refactoring to improve team productivity.

Automation Design & Implementation

• Architect and implement automation frameworks across data pipelines, reporting workflows (Power BI, SQL, Oracle), and grant/policy systems.

• Apply AI-assisted code generation with guardrails and ensure security and accessibility are embedded into automation solutions.

• Design preview environments, CI/CD pipelines, and test automation frameworks to support rapid, defect-free deployments.

• Champion the use of developer portals, code templates, and reusable components to enforce standards and consistency.

Collaboration & Cross-Team Coordination

• Work closely with NICHD’s multi-contractor environment, including infrastructure support teams, to ensure smooth delivery of AI-enabled solutions.

• Participate in Agile ceremonies and collaborate with product managers, technical leads, and stakeholders to identify automation opportunities and define user-centric outcomes.

• Support documentation and compliance efforts using AI-enhanced tools to accelerate and streamline regulatory deliverables.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field.

• 8+ years of experience in software development, DevSecOps, or system architecture with +4 years leading AI or RPA initiatives.

• Hands-on experience with:

  • RPA tools 

  • AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, OpenAI APIs)

  • CI/CD pipelines, test automation, and DevSecOps

  • Data platforms such as SQL Server, Oracle, and Power BI

• Strong understanding of:

  • Agile Product Management

  • Trunk-based development, feature flags, and secure coding practices

  • Federal compliance standards (FISMA, Section 508, accessibility)

• Strategic Thinking – Can develop and execute AI/RPA strategies that deliver measurable operational value and align with modernization goals.

• Technical Leadership – Deep understanding of AI, automation, and DevSecOps practices; able to mentor teams and guide implementation at scale.

• Efficiency-Driven Mindset – Seeks to eliminate redundancies and manual tasks through intelligent automation while ensuring continuity of operations.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Comfortable working in a federated, multi-vendor environment with strong communication and coordination skills.

• Innovation with Compliance – Drives change while maintaining adherence to NIH, HHS, and federal IT regulations and standards.

• Master’s degree in AI, Data Science, or related field

• Certifications in one or more of the following:

  • UiPath Developer, Microsoft Power Platform

  • AI/ML (e.g., AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty)

  • Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or PMI-ACP

• Experience supporting federal agencies, especially NIH, HHS, or other health-related institutions

• Familiarity with:

  • Human-centered design (HCD)

  • Enterprise Performance Lifecycle (EPLC)

  • API integration and microservices architecture

The salary range is $180,000-200,000/year. The salary range for this position reflects a variety of factors that influence compensation decisions, including skills, experience, training, certifications, and organizational needs.