Contract Associate Engineer, Software Development

Komo Photo; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Sinclair Digital is building an early-career engineering program that blends client/server/cloud work with AI-assisted development. You’ll design cloud services, work on full-stack concepts, and prototype new content delivery ideas while applying modern engineering practices.

This temporary contractor role offers exposure to AWS/GCP/Azure, Docker/Kubernetes, and LLM APIs, with opportunities to convert to full-time based on performance and business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in CS or related field is required.
• ~6 months of experience in application or web development (internships/co-ops count).
• Experience with modern web tech stack and collaborating across teams.

Responsibilities

• Build and operate cloud services using CI/CD and Infrastructure-as-Code practices.
• Learn full stack development across the full spectrum of software engineering.
• Design and build proof-of-concepts for new content-delivery methods, including AI-assisted features.
• Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate prototyping and delivery with sound judgment.
• Collaborate across teams, present ideas, and iterate based on feedback.
• Follow engineering best practices while exploring new and emerging technologies.

Skills

JavaScript

Python

ReactJS

Node.js/Express

HTML5

CSS

MySQL

MongoDB/Mongoose

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Full Stack Web Development certificate + Applied Science degree or equivalent

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

Linux fundamentals

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)

LLM APIs / AI tooling

Job description

About Sinclair Digital

Sinclair Digital is the innovation team transforming how local news and television are produced, distributed, and consumed. We're turning a broadcast-centric company into an every-platform enterprise, combining websites, mobile apps, over-the-top (OTT) apps, and our content publishing platform into one seamless experience, all while keeping an entrepreneurial, build-from-the-ground-up spirit.

Our Engineering team runs a structured early-career program designed to grow new engineers into strong cloud practitioners. You'll work across client, server, and cloud systems, and increasingly with the AI and machine-learning tools reshaping how media is built and delivered.

What You’ll Do

• Build and operate cloud services using CI/CD and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) practices.
• Learn full stack development across the full spectrum of software engineering.
• Design and build proof-of-concepts (POCs) for new content-delivery methods, including AI-assisted features such as automated content tagging, summarization, search, and personalization.
• Use AI-assisted development tooling (e.g., code assistants, LLM APIs) to accelerate prototyping and delivery, applying sound judgment about where these tools fit.
• Collaborate across teams, present your ideas, and iterate based on critical feedback.
• Follow engineering best practices while exploring new and emerging technologies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, a Full Stack Web Development certificate paired with an Applied Science degree, or equivalent practical experience.
• ~6 months of experience in application and/or web development (internships, co-ops, and project work count).
• Working familiarity with several of the following: JavaScript, Java, Node.js/Express, Python, ReactJS, MySQL, MongoDB/Mongoose, HTML5, and CSS.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to Docker, microservices, Kubernetes, Terraform, Linux fundamentals, and serverless / event-driven architecture.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML concepts or tools — for example, calling LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), vector databases, prompt engineering, or basic ML model integration.
• Curiosity about applying AI responsibly to media, content delivery, and developer productivity.

This is a temporary role that will initially be a contractor position through an agency, with the potential to transition to a full-time role based on performance and business needs. The base salary for this role is $83,000. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location. During the temporary contractor period, this position is not benefit-eligible through Sinclair. Upon successful conversion to full-time status, you would be eligible for company benefits that include participation in a retirement plan, quarterly and annual incentive plan bonuses, life and disability insurance, health, dental and vision plans, flexible spending accounts, 15 paid vacation days, 2 paid personal days, 9 paid holidays, 40 hours of paid sick leave, parental leave, and employee stock purchase plan.

Sinclair is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Sinclair

Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 177 television stations in 79 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel, the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts; and multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR and The Nest. Sinclair’s AMP Media produces a growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. Additional information about Sinclair can be found at www.sbgi.net.

About The Team

The life-blood of our organization is our people. We have a compelling story, a goal-oriented culture, and we take really good care of people. How good? Here is a glimpse: great benefits, open-door policy, upward mobility and a strong desire to see you succeed. Ready to be part of a winning team? Let’s talk.