Lead Backend Engineer - AI Tooling

About this role

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...