Backend / Integration Engineer

Innodata Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 103,320 - 110,208; Full time

Job summary

Innodata, a global data engineering company, invites a Backend/Integration Engineer to join its Federal Practice and help build a secure data services storefront in a 20-week program. You will implement Databricks REST API write-back, manage async job lifecycles, and integrate with ServiceNow, DataCard, and front-end storefront components in a TS/SCI eligible environment.

You'll own the backend plumbing, ensure secure integrations, and work with Solution Architect to deliver scalable data

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in CS/SE or related field; equivalent experience may substitute on a 2-for-1 basis.
• At least 6+ years total experience, 4+ years in backend or API integration engineering.
• Must-have: Python backend development (production-grade).
• Experience with REST API integration and async job lifecycles (submission, polling, retry, webhook handling).
• familiarity with Databricks REST API or Spark/Databricks.
• Strong JSON schema design and metadata handling.
• Active TS/SCI clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Implement Databricks REST API write-back for labeled outputs and provenance records.
• Build and validate the Duality back-end integration, including API translation and async job management.
• Implement ServiceNow REST integration for routing intake paths.
• Develop storefront backend services bridging frontend UI and platform components.
• Coordinate DataCard write-back with Solution Architect.
• Design and maintain async job queue management and retry logic across integration surfaces.
• Structure output metadata for DataCard provenance per DoD requirements.

Skills

Python backend development

REST API integration

Databricks REST API

Async job lifecycle

JSON schema design

TS/SCI eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field

Tools

Databricks

ServiceNow

Job description

Innodata (Nasdaq: INOD) is a global data engineering company. We believe that data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are inextricably linked. Our mission is to enable the responsible advancement of artificial intelligence by providing the data, evaluation frameworks, and human expertise required to build AI systems that can be trusted at scale. We provide a range of transferable solutions, platforms, and services for Generative AI / AI builders and adopters. In every relationship, we honor our 36+ year legacy delivering the highest quality data and outstanding outcomes for our customers.

About the Program

Innodata's Federal Practice builds the trusted data layer for critical infrastructure Trust & Safety work. Partnering with a leading systems integrator, we're delivering a modern, governed data services platform in a secure federal (IL4) environment. Over an intensive 20-week phase, you'll help stand up a data services storefront, a DataCard governance framework, synthetic data integration, and Databricks write-back capabilities.

About this Role

As the Backend/Integration Engineer, you'll build the connective tissue of the platform. You'll develop the data services storefront's backend, stand up ingest pipelines, and implement reliable write-back into our data lakehouse so results flow cleanly across systems. Working alongside the Solution Architect, you'll make sure the platform's components integrate securely and perform under real workloads in a federal (IL4) environment. It's a strong fit for a backend engineer who likes owning integrations and turning architecture into working plumbing.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement Databricks REST API write-back for labeled outputs, DataCard provenance records, and synthetic content outputs
• Build and validate the Duality back-end integration: catalog intake form configuration, parameter translation to Duality generation API, async job lifecycle management (submission, tracking, retry, completion), output handling
• Implement ServiceNow REST integration for white-glove routing intake path
• Build and maintain storefront backend services (API layer between frontend UI and platform components)
• Implement DataCard write-back path in coordination with Solution Architect
• Design and maintain async job queue management and retry logic across all integration surfaces
• Structure output metadata for DataCard provenance records per DoD distribution statement requirements

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field required. Equivalent experience may substitute for degree on a 2-for-1 basis.
• 6+ years total professional experience, 4+ years backend or API integration engineering
• Python backend development - strong, production-grade
• REST API integration with async job lifecycle patterns (submission, polling, retry, webhook handling)
• Databricks REST API or strong Spark/Databricks platform familiarity
• JSON schema design and structured metadata handling
• Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• ServiceNow REST API integration experience
• Federal program API integration background
• ZenML or ML orchestration pipeline familiarity
• React or modern frontend experience for storefront skeleton support

The expected hourly salary range for this position is $75 to $80 p/hour, based on experience, skills, and qualifications.