Lead Backend Engineer - AI Tooling

Alignerr Corp.; New York (NY); Remote; USD 83,000 - 138,000; Part time

Job summary

Alignerr Corp. is seeking a senior backend engineer to design and lead data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation infrastructure powering AI model training.

This remote hourly-contract role focuses on Python systems, robust APIs, and scalable data architectures for large-scale AI workflows. You will collaborate with researchers and engineers, review designs, and drive architecture decisions while committing 20–40 hours weekly.

Qualifications

• 5+ years writing production Python backend services.
• Experience architecting scalable APIs and data schemas.
• Strong English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize Python systems for AI data pipelines and evaluation workflows.
• Develop backend services and tooling for large-scale data annotation and quality control.
• Architect APIs (REST/GraphQL), DB schemas, and auth flows.

Skills

Python backend

APIs REST/GraphQL

Auth systems

Distributed systems

Code reviews

Job description

About The Role

What if your Python expertise could directly shape the infrastructure that powers the world's most advanced AI systems? We're looking for a senior backend engineer to build and lead the data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation infrastructure that leading AI labs depend on to train and improve their models.

Lead Backend Engineer — AI Tooling

About The Role

What if your Python expertise could directly shape the infrastructure that powers the world's most advanced AI systems? We're looking for a senior backend engineer to build and lead the data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation infrastructure that leading AI labs depend on to train and improve their models.

• Organization: Alignerr
• Type: Hourly Contract
• Location: Remote
• Commitment: 20–40 hours/week

What You'll Do

• Design, build, and optimize high-performance Python systems supporting AI data pipelines and model evaluation workflows
• Develop backend services and full-stack tooling for large-scale data annotation, validation, and quality control
• Architect robust APIs (REST/GraphQL), design database schemas, and implement authentication and authorization flows
• Improve reliability, performance, and safety across existing Python codebases
• Identify bottlenecks and edge cases in data and system behavior, then implement scalable, production-ready fixes
• Collaborate with data, research, and engineering teams across model training and evaluation workflows
• Lead synchronous design and code reviews — driving decisions that shape the architecture of critical AI systems

Who You Are

• Native or fluent English speaker with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Full-stack developer with a deep systems programming background and 5+ years writing production Python backend services
• Fluent in modern Python web frameworks with strict type enforcement patterns
• Experienced architecting scalable APIs, data schemas, and auth systems in production environments
• A natural leader in code reviews and system design sessions — you can articulate decisions clearly and bring others along
• Able to commit 20–40 hours per week on a reliable, ongoing basis

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with data annotation, data quality pipelines, or AI evaluation systems
• Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, model training, or benchmarking infrastructure
• Experience with distributed systems, developer tooling, or platform engineering

Why Join Us

• Work directly with leading AI labs on systems that influence next-generation model development
• Fully remote and flexible — work from wherever you do your best work
• Freelance autonomy with the structure and stability of ongoing, project-based engagement
• Make a real, measurable impact on the infrastructure behind some of the most advanced AI in the world
• Potential for extended engagement and expanded scope as projects grow