The Opportunity:This is a Contract to Full Time roleWe are seeking a backend-focused AI/ML engineer to support fast-moving proof-of-concept projects across a variety of product domains. This role will be responsible for building and iterating on backend APIs, data pipelines, and integrations that bring AI-powered ideas from concept to working prototype.
The ideal candidate is comfortable working in ambiguous, early-stage environments and can quickly define a practical path forward when requirements are still evolving. They will integrate third-party AI services and models, including LLMs, embedding models, vision, and speech technologies, while evaluating different providers and summarizing results to guide technical and product decisions.
This position will work closely with stakeholders to understand project goals, identify requirement gaps, and contribute ideas during early product and feature discussions. Strong communication and documentation skills are essential, as the role requires clearly capturing technical findings, decisions, progress, and blockers for broader team visibility.
The successful candidate will be highly adaptable, able to manage multiple concurrent workstreams, and motivated by turning emerging AI/ML concepts into functional prototypes that help shape future product direction.
Responsibilities:- Build and iterate on backend APIs and data pipelines for AI/ML-powered PoC projects, moving fast from idea to working prototype
- Integrate third-party AI services and models (LLMs, embedding models, vision, speech, etc.) across a variety of product domains
- Work directly with stakeholders to understand project goals, identify gaps in requirements, and document decisions
- Set up and run evaluations across AI providers and models, collect results, and summarize findings clearly
- Contribute ideas to early-stage product and feature discussions
- Document technical findings and decisions clearly enough for the broader team to act on
- Juggle multiple concurrent workstreams and communicate progress and blockers proactively
- Comfortable with ambiguity - able to define a path forward when the full picture isnt clear
Education / Experience (Requirements):- 3-7 years of experience in software engineering
- Experience building and deploying REST APIs (FastAPI, Flask, or similar)
- Familiarity with LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, or similar)
- Working knowledge of SQL and at least one non-relational data store
- Comfortable working from loosely defined requirements and moving forward without waiting to be told
- Clear written communicator; can explain technical findings to a non-engineering audience
- Self-directed - raises blockers early and communicates status without being asked
Nice to have- Experience with ML model evaluation or comparing outputs across AI providers
- Familiarity with embedding-based search, recommendation, or personalization
- Experience writing technical specs or findings for handoff to other teams
- Exposure to data ingestion from third-party APIs
- Has shipped something end-to-end independently - side project, open source, or otherwise
Recruiting Range
$150,000-$200,000 USD
Benefits Offered Full-Time Employees:- No-cost employee premiums for you and your eligible dependents for competitive medical, dental, vision and prescription benefits.
- Auto enrollment with immediate vesting of competitive company matching contributions in a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with several investment options.
- Generous Paid Time Off program that includes company holidays and a combined bank of paid sick and vacation time.
- Performance based Short-Term Incentives (varies by role).
- Access to confidential mental health resources to help you and your loved ones improve your quality of life. Personal fitness goal incentives.
- Family orientated benefits such as paid parental leave and support for families raising children with learning, social, behavioral challenges, or developmental disabilities.
- Group Rate Life and Disability Insurance.
Benefits Offered Temporary/Contractors: - Eligible for the relevant benefit programs offered through our partner agencies.
