Sr. API Engineer

Anika Systems; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Anika Systems is seeking a Senior API Engineer to develop, maintain, and enhance an enterprise Semantic Layer that enables secure data access for analytics and AI-enabled applications. The role focuses on Python backend development, secure API design, and AWS-based data platforms, with deep engagement in data modeling, governance, and AI integration patterns.

The position is 100% remote and requires US citizenship with the ability to obtain government suitability clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise data management.
• Experience developing and maintaining secure APIs within the AWS API Gateway.
• Expertise in data modeling, data integration, metadata management, governance, and AWS-based data platforms.
• Strong hands-on experience with Python, SQL, APIs, and serverless architectures.
• Experience implementing LLMs, RAG solutions, AI agents, MCP integrations, and AI evaluation methodologies.
• Knowledge of vector databases, embeddings, semantic search, and enterprise knowledge retrieval.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain secure APIs for enterprise data access.
• Design and evolve the Semantic Layer to support data access, analytics, and AI-enabled apps.
• Collaborate with data architects, AI engineers, and stakeholders to ensure governed data access.

Skills

Python

SQL

APIs

AWS

LLMs

RAG

MCP

Data modeling

Data integration

Metadata management

Governance

Serverless

Vector databases

Semantic search

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

pgvector

AWS API Gateway

AWS-based data platforms

Job description

Anika Systems is seeking an experienced Senior API Engineer to develop, maintain, and enhance an enterprise Semantic Layer supporting data access, analytics, and AI-enabled applications for a federal client. The successful candidate will be a hands-on Python backend engineer with strong experience designing and implementing secure, scalable APIs, integrating enterprise data sources, and supporting cloud-based services on AWS. The role requires an understanding of data modeling, metadata, and semantic data integration, along with familiarity with emerging AI integration patterns, including LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and Model Context Protocol (MCP).

The Engineer will work collaboratively with data architects, AI engineers, and business stakeholders to ensure the Semantic Layer provides reliable, consistent, and governed access to enterprise information.

This position is 100% remote.

Candidates must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a government suitability clearance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise data management.
• Experience developing and maintaining secure API’s within the AWS API Gateway.
• Expertise in data modeling, data integration, metadata management, governance, and AWS-based data platforms.
• Strong hands-on experience with Python, SQL, APIs, and serverless architectures.
• Experience implementing LLMs, RAG solutions, AI agents, MCP integrations, and AI evaluation methodologies.
• Knowledge of vector databases, embeddings, semantic search, and enterprise knowledge retrieval.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal agencies.
• Experience with vector databases (e.g. pgvector).
• AWS certifications in Data Engineering, Solutions Architecture, Machine Learning, or Generative AI.
• Experience with Agile, DevSecOps, and CI/CD practices.