Lead Backend Engineer - AI Tooling
Role summary
Alignerr is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer with 5+ years of Python experience for a fully remote, flexible contract role. The engineer will design, build, and optimize high-performance Python systems for AI data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation systems. Responsibilities include developing backend services, architecting APIs (REST/GraphQL), designing database schemas, implementing security flows, and improving system reliability. The role requires a full-stack developer with a strong systems programming background, comfortable operating autonomously. Prior experience with AI/ML workflows and developer tooling is a plus.
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