Senior Full Stack AI Engineer

Toptal; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Toptal is seeking a Senior Full Stack AI Engineer to design, build, and scale production-grade applications powered by generative AI. The role focuses on delivering real products, not prototypes, with an emphasis on architecture and long-term maintainability.

The ideal candidate will own product development end-to-end, integrate AI into production workflows, and balance rapid delivery with solid software fundamentals. Strong ownership and product thinking are essential for success.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of strong full stack engineering experience.
• Backend development with Node.js or Python.
• Frontend experience with React or similar framework.
• Experience building and consuming APIs and cloud deployments.
• Hands-on experience integrating generative AI into production.
• Knowledge of prompt engineering and AI system constraints.

Responsibilities

• Build end-to-end applications with generative AI capabilities.
• Develop scalable backend services, APIs, and integrations.
• Create responsive frontend experiences with modern frameworks.
• Design modular architectures for scalability and reliability.
• Integrate LLMs and AI tools with safeguards and monitoring.
• Optimize data flows, prompts, and system interactions.
• Translate requirements into technical solutions and trade-offs.
• Own features from ideation to deployment and iteration.
• Reuse proven solutions to accelerate delivery.
• Improve product quality using performance data and feedback.

Skills

Full stack engineering

Node.js

Python

React

APIs

Cloud platforms

AI integration

Prompt engineering

Architecture design

Ownership

Job description

Headquarters:

Remote URL: https://www.toptal.com/ Summary: We are looking for a Senior Full Stack AI Engineer to design, build, and scale production-grade applications powered by generative AI. This role is focused on delivering real products, not just prototypes. The ideal candidate is a strong end-to-end builder who can make sound architectural decisions, integrate AI capabilities into usable systems, and balance fast delivery with long-term maintainability.

General Information:

This is a senior engineering role for someone who can own product development from architecture through deployment. The role requires strong full stack engineering fundamentals combined with hands-on experience integrating generative AI into production workflows. The right candidate understands how to build scalable backend services, intuitive frontends, and reliable AI-enabled features that serve real users. This person should bring strong product thinking, architectural judgment, and the ability to move independently from requirements to shipped solutions.

Tasks and deliverables:

• Build end-to-end applications that incorporate generative AI capabilities into real user workflows
• Develop scalable backend services, APIs, and integrations using modern engineering practices
• Build responsive and maintainable frontend experiences using modern frameworks
• Design modular system architectures that support scalability, reliability, and long-term maintainability
• Integrate LLMs and other AI tools into production applications with appropriate safeguards and monitoring
• Optimize prompt flows, data pipelines, and system interactions for consistency and performance
• Translate business requirements into technical solutions and make strong implementation trade-offs
• Own features from ideation through development, testing, deployment, and iteration
• Reuse and adapt proven solutions where appropriate to accelerate delivery
• Continuously improve product quality based on performance data, feedback, and operational learnings

Required Experience:

• Strong full stack engineering experience, ideally 5+ years
• Proficiency in backend development with technologies such as Node.js, Python, or similar
• Strong frontend experience with frameworks such as React or comparable modern tools
• Experience building and consuming APIs, working with databases, and deploying on cloud platforms
• Hands-on experience integrating generative AI into production applications
• Practical understanding of prompt engineering and AI system limitations, including failure modes and edge cases
• Proven ability to design systems that scale beyond MVP and remain maintainable over time
• Strong understanding of software architecture, system design, and engineering best practices
• Demonstrated experience shipping multiple production-grade products or platforms
• Ability to combine traditional software engineering discipline with modern AI-driven workflows
• Experience working independently with strong ownership and product mindset

Engagement highlights:

• Opportunity to build impactful AI-powered products used in real production environments
• High ownership across architecture, implementation, and delivery
• Role suited for engineers who enjoy both product thinking and technical depth
• Chance to shape scalable systems early and influence long-term engineering quality
• Fast-paced environment with a strong emphasis on execution and practical outcomes
• Meaningful work at the intersection of full stack engineering and applied AI