Lead Backend Engineer - AI Tooling

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

About the Role

What if your Python expertise could directly shape the infrastructure that powers the world's most advanced AI systems? We're looking for a senior backend engineer to build and lead the data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation infrastructure that leading AI labs depend on to train and improve their models. This is a fully remote contract role working on real production systems at the cutting edge of AI development. If you're a senior engineer who wants meaningful, high‑impact work — not another CRUD app — this is it.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize high‑performance Python systems supporting AI data pipelines and model 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.
• Identify bottlenecks and edge cases in data and system behavior, then implement scalable, production‑ready fixes.
• Collaborate with data, research, and engineering teams across model training and evaluation workflows.
• Lead synchronous design and code reviews — driving decisions that shape the architecture of critical AI systems.

Requirements

• Native or fluent English speaker with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Full‑stack developer with a deep systems programming background and 5+ years writing production Python backend services.
• Fluent in modern Python web frameworks with strict type enforcement patterns.
• Experienced architecting scalable APIs, data schemas, and auth systems in production environments.
• A natural leader in code reviews and system design sessions — able to articulate decisions clearly and bring others along.
• Able to commit 20–40 hours per week on a reliable, ongoing basis.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with data annotation, data quality pipelines, or AI evaluation systems.
• Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, model training, or benchmarking infrastructure.
• Experience with distributed systems, developer tooling, or platform engineering.

Why Join Us

• Work directly with leading AI labs on systems that influence next‑generation model development.
• Fully remote and flexible — work from wherever you do your best work.
• Freelance autonomy with the structure and stability of ongoing, project‑based engagement.
• Make a real, measurable impact on the infrastructure behind some of the most advanced AI in the world.
• Potential for extended engagement and expanded scope as projects grow.