Lead Backend Engineer - AI Tooling

Alignerr Corp.; Seattle (WA); Remote; USD 83,000 - 131,000; Part time

Job summary

Alignerr is seeking a senior backend engineer to build data pipelines, annotation tooling, and evaluation systems powering AI labs. The role is a fully remote, hourly contract with 20–40 hours per week, requiring strong Python backend experience and API design skills.

You will design and optimize high-performance Python systems, develop backend services and tooling for data annotation and validation, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to support model training and evaluation workflows.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience writing production Python backend services.
• Native or fluent English with clear written and verbal communication.
• Self-directed and able to work autonomously in a remote environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize high-performance Python systems supporting AI data pipelines and 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.
• Collaborate with data, research, and engineering teams to support model training and evaluation workflows.
• Identify bottlenecks and edge cases in data and system behavior, then implement scalable, production-ready fixes.
• Lead synchronous code reviews and system design sessions with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Python

Backend development

APIs REST/GraphQL

Auth systems

Remote work

Tools

GraphQL

REST APIs

Job description

About The Role

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

This is a fully remote, flexible contract role for an experienced engineer who wants meaningful, high-impact work — not just another maintenance ticket queue.

• 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 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
• Collaborate with data, research, and engineering teams to support model training and evaluation workflows
• Identify bottlenecks and edge cases in data and system behavior, then implement scalable, production-ready fixes
• Lead synchronous code reviews and system design sessions with cross-functional teams

Who You Are

• Native or fluent English speaker with clear written and verbal communication skills
• 5+ years of professional experience writing production Python backend services
• Full-stack developer with a strong systems programming background
• Deep familiarity with modern web frameworks and strict type enforcement patterns
• Experienced architecting APIs, designing schemas, and building secure auth systems
• Able to commit 20–40 hours per week reliably
• Self-directed and comfortable operating with autonomy in a remote environment

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with data annotation platforms, data quality systems, or evaluation pipelines
• Familiarity with AI/ML workflows, model training, or benchmarking infrastructure
• Experience with distributed systems or developer tooling
• Background working with or alongside AI research teams

Why Join Us

• Work on real production systems at the frontier of AI development alongside leading research labs
• Fully remote and flexible — structure your hours around your life
• Freelance autonomy with the substance of genuinely impactful engineering work
• Collaborate with sharp, mission-driven teams working on problems that actually matter
• Potential for ongoing work and expanded engagement as projects grow