Software Engineer (m/f/d) Backend & Applied AI Systems

iACT; Jena; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ownership of backend & AI architecture

Founders-led team with influence over技

Flexible working hours

Scholarship funding if EXIST approved

Long-term CTO path with equity

Job summary

iACT is building an immersive AI-powered VR training platform and is seeking a backend and applied AI engineer to shape the technical foundation from the ground up. You will join a prospective founding team and contribute to core architecture, integration of AI services, and secure data flows.

This role is tied to the EXIST grant; if approved, it provides a 12-month full-time scholarship while the team develops the product, with scholarship amounts and family support details outlined in the

Qualifications

• At least two years of hands-on backend development experience.
• Strong Python skills and experience with FastAPI, Django, or a comparable framework.
• Experience building REST and/or WebSocket services and working with PostgreSQL.
• Authentication, authorisation, API security, and scalable backend design.
• Experience integrating LLM APIs and/or RAG systems into real applications.
• Comfort designing systems for real-time or interactive clients.
• English proficiency at B1 level or higher.
• Based in Germany or willing to relocate for a full-time commitment if grant is approved.

Responsibilities

• Own the backend and applied AI architecture connecting the Unity VR client with services.
• Design secure REST and WebSocket APIs and define client-server contracts.
• Implement authentication, authorisation, role management, and GDPR-conscious data flows.
• Design and maintain data models for users, sessions, progress, and application data.
• Integrate and orchestrate LLM, RAG, Speech-to-Text, and Text-to-Speech services.
• Develop dialogue-state logic and knowledge retrieval for institutions.
• Optimize AI pipelines for latency, reliability, observability, and cost.
• Support secure, scalable cloud deployment for pilots and future use.

Skills

Backend development

Python

FastAPI/Django

REST APIs

WebSocket

PostgreSQL

Authentication

LLM integration

Realtime systems

English B1+

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Docker

AWS/Azure/GCP

Cloud deployment

Job description

Join the founding team behind an immersive AI-powered VR training platform

About iACT

iACT is an AI-powered immersive platform that helps international talent navigate social, professional, academic, and administrative life in Germany through realistic, interactive practice.

We have a functional prototype and are preparing for institutional pilots. We are looking for a backend and applied AI engineer who wants to shape the technical foundation of the product from an early stage.

The opportunity

This is not a standard salaried vacancy. You would join the prospective founding team and apply with us for the EXIST Business Start-up Grant. The commitment would begin only if the grant is approved. If approved, the programme provides a 12-month, full-time scholarship while the team develops the product and business.

Your role

Own the backend and applied AI architecture connecting the Unity VR client with authentication, databases, speech services, and LLM/RAG pipelines.

Design secure REST and WebSocket APIs and define reliable client-server contracts with our Unity/VR developer.

Implement authentication, authorisation, role management, and GDPR-conscious data flows.

Design and maintain data models for users, sessions, learning progress, and application data.

Integrate and orchestrate LLM, RAG, Speech-to-Text, and Text-to-Speech services.

Develop dialogue-state logic and systems for retrieving institution-specific knowledge.

Optimise AI pipelines for latency, reliability, observability, and cost.

Support secure, scalable cloud deployment and prepare the platform for institutional pilots and future commercial use.

Requirements

What you bring

• A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least two years of hands‑on backend development experience.
• Strong Python skills and experience with FastAPI, Django, or a comparable framework.
• Experience building REST and/or WebSocket services and working with databases such as PostgreSQL.
• A solid understanding of authentication, authorisation, API security, and scalable backend design.
• Practical experience integrating LLM APIs and/or RAG systems into real applications.
• Comfort designing systems for real-time or interactive clients.
• English proficiency at B1 level or higher
• Based in Germany or willing to relocate, and available for a full-time commitment if the grant is approved.

Nice to have

• Experience with vector databases, embeddings, and production RAG pipelines.
• Experience integrating Speech-to-Text and Text-to-Speech services.
• Docker and cloud deployment experience with AWS, Azure, GCP, Hetzner, or similar.
• Knowledge of GDPR and privacy‑by‑design principles.
• Experience with C#/.NET, Unity integrations, VR/XR, or other real‑time interactive applications.

Benefits

What we offer

Ownership of the backend and applied AI architecture from prototype to pilot.

A small, founder‑led team with substantial influence over technical direction and product decisions.

Flexible working hours and a high degree of creative freedom.

If the EXIST application is approved, a 12-month monthly scholarship of €3,000 for doctorate holders, €2,500 for university graduates, €2,000 for team members with vocational qualifications, or €1,000 for students, plus €150 per child.

If approved, the project may also receive up to €30,000 in material funding for a team and €5,000 for coaching.

Following the funding phase, the opportunity to discuss a long‑term Co‑Founder/CTO role with equity, subject to mutual fit and a separate agreement.

Important funding conditions

The position and scholarship are contingent on approval of the EXIST application. EXIST supports teams of up to three people, and individual eligibility depends on the programme's current rules. We will review eligibility with shortlisted candidates before moving forward.

If you're excited about building the technical backbone of a product that helps people integrate and thrive in a new country, we'd love to hear from you.