Senior Software Engineer, AI Entries

Lyft; Toronto (OH); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Mental health benefits

Family building benefits

Child care benefits

Lyft Health Savings Account

RRSP matching

Paid time off (PTO)

Parental leave

Commuter benefits

Ride credits

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Lyft is seeking a Backend Engineer for the Applied AI team in Toronto. You will build infrastructure connecting Lyft to AI ecosystems and architect APIs for third-party agents and multimodal interfaces.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years of software engineering experience, strong Python/Go skills, and cloud/database expertise. The role emphasizes collaboration across product, data science, and operations, with a hybrid in-office schedule.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science or related field; equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of software engineering/production infrastructure experience.
• Proficient in Python and Go; experience with cloud platforms and databases.

Responsibilities

• Establish engineering best practices and patterns; uplift team craft and drive excellence.
• Drive high-impact projects and deliver scalable system designs.
• Mentor engineers and review code for quality and maintainability.
• Collaborate across product, data science, analytics, and operations.
• Explain trade-offs and manage priorities and deadlines.

Skills

Python

Go

AWS

GCP

Azure

PostgreSQL

DynamoDB

OOP

Data structures

Algorithms

LangChain

Vector DB

API design

Collaboration

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science

Equivalent practical experience

Job description

At Lyft, our purpose is to serve and connect. We aim to achieve this by cultivating a work environment where all team members belong and have the opportunity to thrive.

Lyft is looking for software engineers from a scope of disciplines. We are growing our team with people who want to build, improve and incorporate technologies that make the lives of our community more enriched. As an engineer at Lyft, you'll collaborate with teams like product, data science, analytics, and operations on code that empower us to iterate quickly, while focusing on delighting our passengers and drivers.

The Applied AI team is looking for a Backend Engineer to join the AI Entries team. You will build the foundational infrastructure that connects Lyft to emerging AI ecosystems and devices and architect the APIs and orchestration layers that allow third-party agents and multimodal interfaces to interact with Lyft. By building these robust integration, you will help make Lyft available where our riders are.

Responsibilities:

• Establish engineering best practices and patterns; help uplift the team's craft and drive a culture of engineering excellence
• Drive high-impact projects and innovate new solutions to deliver the best user experience
• Produce and drive scalable system design for large, complex features — from idea through execution and launch
• Mentor engineers on the team, providing technical guidance and supporting their growth
• Write well-crafted, well-tested, readable, maintainable code
• Participate in code reviews to ensure code quality and share knowledge across the team
• Participate in the team's on-call rotation; identify, triage, debug, and resolve issues across our applications and platforms
• Have the ability to explain the various trade offs made in decisions
• Manage project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.

Experience:

• BS/MS or equivalent in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of software engineering/production infrastructure industry experience.
• Experience with Python and Go.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure), distributed systems, and databases such as PostgreSQL or DynamoDB
• Proficient and effective in using AI tools (e.g. Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor) to accelerate coding and engineering workflows
• Proficiency in object-oriented programming.
• Experience working with data structures or algorithms.
• Ability to work with a low-ego, highly collaborative, and cross-functional team.
• Bonus points: Experience with LLM orchestration (LangChain, etc.), Vector Databases, or building APIs for conversational agents.

Benefits:

• Extended health and dental coverage options, along with life insurance and disability benefits
• Mental health benefits
• Family building benefits
• Child care and pet benefits
• Access to a Lyft funded Health Care Savings Account
• RRSP plan with company match to help save for your future
• In addition to provincial observed holidays, salaried team members are covered under Lyft's flexible paid time off policy. The policy allows team members to take off as much time as they need (with manager approval). Hourly team members get 15 days paid time off, with an additional day for each year of service
• Lyft is proud to support new parents with 18 weeks of paid time off, designed as a top-up plan to complement provincial programs. Biological, adoptive, and foster parents are all eligible.
• Subsidized commuter benefits and Lyft ride credits

Lyft is committed to creating an inclusive workforce that fosters belonging. Lyft believes that every person has a right to equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, pardoned record of offences, or any other basis protected by applicable law or by Company policy. Lyft also strives for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibits harassment of any kind. Accommodation for persons with disabilities will be provided upon request in accordance with applicable law during the application and hiring process. Please contact your recruiter if you wish to make such a request.

Lyft highly values having employees working in-office to foster a collaborative work environment and company culture. This role will be in-office on a hybrid schedule — Team Members will be expected to work in the office at least 3 days per week, including on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Lyft considers working in the office at least 3 days per week to be an essential function of this hybrid role. Your recruiter can share more information about the various in-office perks Lyft offers. Additionally, hybrid roles have the flexibility to work from anywhere for up to 4 weeks per year. #Hybrid

The expected base pay range for this position in the Toronto area is CAD $136,000 - CAD $170,000, not inclusive of potential equity offering, bonus or benefits. Salary ranges are dependent on a variety of factors, including qualifications, experience and geographic location. Your recruiter can share more information about the salary range specific to your working location and other factors during the hiring process.

Lyft may use artificial intelligence to screen applicants, however, Lyft employees make the ultimate selection and hiring decisions.

This job fills an existing vacancy.