Lead Backend Engineer - AI Tooling

Lead Backend Engineer - AI Tooling

About the Role

What if your Python expertise could directly shape the infrastructure powering next-generation AI? We're looking for a senior backend engineer to build the data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation systems that leading AI labs depend on to train and improve their models.

This is a fully remote, flexible contract role for an experienced engineer who wants meaningful, high-impact work - not just another maintenance ticket queue.

• Organization
  : Alignerr
• Type
  : Hourly Contract
• Location
  : Remote
• Commitment
  : 20-40 hours/week

What You'll Do

• Design, build, and optimize high-performance Python systems supporting AI data pipelines and evaluation workflows
• Develop backend services and full-stack tooling for large-scale data annotation, validation, and quality control
• Architect robust APIs (REST/GraphQL), design database schemas, and implement authentication and authorization flows
• Improve reliability, performance, and safety across existing Python codebases
• Collaborate with data, research, and engineering teams to support model training and evaluation workflows
• Identify bottlenecks and edge cases in data and system behavior, then implement scalable, production-ready fixes
• Lead synchronous code reviews and system design sessions with cross-functional teams

Who You Are

• Native or fluent English speaker with clear written and verbal communication skills
• 5+ years of professional experience writing production Python backend services
• Full-stack developer with a strong systems programming background
• Deep familiarity with modern web frameworks and strict type enforcement patterns
• Experienced architecting APIs, designing schemas, and building secure auth systems
• Able to commit 20-40 hours per week reliably
• Self-directed and comfortable operating with autonomy in a remote environment

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with data annotation platforms, data quality systems, or evaluation pipelines
• Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, model training, or benchmarking infrastructure
• Experience with distributed systems or developer tooling
• Background working with or alongside AI research teams

Why Join Us

• Work on real production systems at the frontier of AI development alongside leading research labs
• Fully remote and flexible - structure your hours around your life
• Freelance autonomy with the substance of genuinely impactful engineering work
• Collaborate with sharp, mission-driven teams working on problems that actually matter
• Potential for ongoing work and expanded engagement as projects grow