Lead Backend Engineer (Java/Python + AI)

Nelnet Philippines Inc; Philippines; On-site; PHP 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Nelnet Philippines Inc is seeking a Senior Software Engineer – Java/Python/AI to lead backend development and AI-enabled applications. You will guide architecture choices, review approaches, and mentor engineers to improve quality, scalability, and long-term maintainability.

The role focuses on building robust RESTful services, collaborating across teams, and delivering production-ready solutions while championing security, performance, and reliability.

Qualifications

• Strong practical experience as a Software Engineer, Backend Developer, or AI/ML-focused Engineer.
• Strong experience with Python for backend or AI-related development.
• Strong experience with Java for backend or enterprise applications.
• Experience designing, building, integrating, and maintaining RESTful APIs and backend services.
• Strong understanding of backend concepts such as service integration, error handling, security, scalability, and reliability.
• Experience with SQL and relational databases; NoSQL exposure is a plus.
• Practical understanding of AI, machine learning, LLMs, prompt engineering, RAG concepts, vector databases, or DSPy.
• Experience working in Agile development environments and collaborating across teams.
• Ability to mentor engineers, provide technical guidance, and recommend improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, enhancement, and maintenance of backend services and APIs using Java and Python
• Guide the implementation and integration of AI or machine learning features into applications
• Review solution approaches and recommend future development options
• Mentor less experienced engineers through code reviews, technical discussions, and shared best practices
• Write and promote clean, well-structured, maintainable, and scalable code
• Support testing, debugging, deployment readiness, and production-quality delivery
• Collaborate with team members and stakeholders to clarify requirements and align technical decisions
• Advocate for improvements in security, performance, reliability, and long-term maintainability
• Help the whole team accomplish shared goals while continuously improving engineering practices

Skills

Software engineering

Python

Java

REST APIs

Backend architecture

SQL

NoSQL exposure

AI/ML concepts

Mentoring

Agile

Tools

RESTful APIs

Job description

Nelnet Philippines Inc is seeking a Senior Software Engineer – Java/Python/AI to lead backend development and AI-enabled applications. You will guide architecture choices, review approaches, and mentor engineers to improve quality, scalability, and long-term maintainability.

The role focuses on building robust RESTful services, collaborating across teams, and delivering production-ready solutions while championing security, performance, and reliability.