AI & Backend Engineer (Kubernetes, Security) Hybrid

Paylocity; Columbia, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) company contribution

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Birthday leave

Referral bonuses

Open-source bonuses

Professional development

Job summary

Phoenix Operations Group in Columbia, Maryland seeks a Software Engineer to build secure AI integrations and agent capabilities for enterprise data platforms in a hybrid role.

You will develop Python backend services, scale Kubernetes workloads, and connect AI agents with APIs and databases while implementing privacy safeguards and testing.

US citizenship and the ability to obtain a DoD clearance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s + five years relevant experience; related master’s + three years; or high school diploma/equivalent + nine years.
• Strong Python development and hands-on Kubernetes experience.
• Production experience integrating LLM APIs or open-source models.
• Understanding of agents, prompt engineering, tool use, and RAG.
• Experience with REST APIs, microservices, Git, Docker, CI/CD, and Linux.

Responsibilities

• Develop Python backend services, MCP servers, and reusable AI tools.
• Deploy and scale Kubernetes workloads.
• Connect AI agents with APIs, databases, and microservices.
• Implement privacy safeguards, prompt-injection defenses, and output validation.
• Automate testing, troubleshoot issues, and collaborate across engineering teams.

Skills

Python

Kubernetes

LLM integration

REST APIs

Microservices

Git

Docker

CI/CD

Linux

Prompt engineering

RAG

Education

Bachelor's degree +5 years experience

Master's degree +3 years experience

High school diploma +9 years experience

Tools

Java/Spring

AI integration frameworks

Vector databases

Semantic caching

AWS

Azure

NiFi

Kafka

Relational databases

NoSQL databases

Data lakes

Job description

Phoenix Operations Group in Columbia, Maryland seeks a Software Engineer to build secure AI integrations and agent capabilities for enterprise data platforms in a hybrid role.

You will develop Python backend services, scale Kubernetes workloads, and connect AI agents with APIs and databases while implementing privacy safeguards and testing.

US citizenship and the ability to obtain a DoD clearance are required.