Engineering Manager/Leader (AI/ML)

Company: Client First Technologies
Location: Coronado
Posted on: February 19, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Description: Overview Client First Technologies (CFT) currently is seeking an Engineering Manager / Leader to support an upcoming contract. In this role, the Engineering Manager will lead a team of engineers in the design, development, and deployment of high-impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions, blending hands-on technical leadership with project execution and cross-functional collaboration. The Engineering Manager will help define and communicate the team’s roadmap and vision, drive day-to-day delivery across the engineering roadmap, guide technical architecture discussions, and ensure solutions are delivered with the quality, scalability, and documentation required to support the Navy’s modernization objectives (including a modern data/application foundation and streamlined CI/CD). This is a full-time, on-site position in Coronado, CA. CFT offers a competitive benefit package and collaborative work environment with a strong company culture. Veterans and military spouses are encouraged to apply. Employment is contingent upon award. Requirements: Responsibilities Partner with stakeholders to define and communicate the team’s roadmap and vision, aligning engineering efforts with overall organizational goals Provide technical guidance and provide hands-on action when necessary Run the day-to-day execution of the engineering roadmap, overseeing projects from inception to completion Contribute to the design and evolution of technical architectures, capacity plans, and tooling strategies, prioritizing technical challenges and resource allocation Drive technical architecture discussions Maintain appropriate documentation Stay current with best practices and emerging technologies in developer infrastructure Qualifications Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science Minimum of ten (10) years writing code Minimum of ten (10) years of industry experience in an engineering management role in a Scrum-based environment Motivated by optimizing engineering teams Experience with systems, networking, and troubleshooting Proficiency in reviewing code Experience with full developer tools to include CI/CD technologies, automation and pipelines, and automated testing. Outstanding communication skills, including the ability to visually present complex data and effectively communicate technical details to both technical and non-technical audiences Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and deployment (build, validate, release, operate) Proficient technical writing skills Physical Demands Must be able to sit and stand for long periods of time Occasional travel and overtime may be required Required Clearances and Screenings This position is subject to a government background investigation (BI) and must meet eligibility for access to classified information. Candidates must have a current, in-scope Tier 3 (T3) BI. CFT is a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. Discrimination and harassment are not tolerated.

Keywords: Client First Technologies, Fullerton , Engineering Manager/Leader (AI/ML), IT / Software / Systems , Coronado, California