Staff AI API Engineer

SentinelOne; United States; Remote; USD 170,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a cutting-edge company at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, where you'll tackle extraordinary challenges as a Staff AI API Engineer. This role focuses on developing high-performance backend APIs that support generative AI products, requiring deep expertise in Python and modern backend technologies. You'll collaborate with talented teams globally, ensuring robust data management and secure API integrations. If you're passionate about building secure, high-performing systems and thrive in a collaborative environment, this opportunity is perfect for you. Be part of a team that values innovation and impact in an industry-leading environment.

Benefits

Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance

401(k)

Unlimited PTO

Paid Company Holidays

Paid Sick Time

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Disability and Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Gym Membership Reimbursement

Cell Phone Reimbursement

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in scalable, production-quality Python backend services.
• Expertise in backend API frameworks like FastAPI and gRPC.
• Strong understanding of database architectures and distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain high-performance Python-based backend APIs for AI products.
• Design scalable and secure backend architectures using modern technologies.
• Collaborate with engineers and product teams to deliver cohesive experiences.

Skills

Python

API Development

Database Architecture

Distributed Systems

High-Performance Backend Infrastructure

Authentication Protocols

Collaboration Skills

Problem-Solving

Education

Degree in Computer Science

Equivalent Practical Experience

Tools

FastAPI

gRPC

Kafka

GraphQL

Redis

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About Us

At SentinelOne, we’re redefining cybersecurity by pushing the limits of what’s possible—leveraging AI-powered, data-driven innovation to stay ahead of tomorrow’s threats.

From building industry-leading products to cultivating an exceptional company culture, our core values guide everything we do. We’re looking for passionate individuals who thrive in collaborative environments and are eager to drive impact. If you’re excited about solving complex challenges in bold, innovative ways, we’d love to connect with you.

What are we looking for?

We’re seeking a Staff AI API Engineer specialized in backend systems and API development. This role requires deep expertise in Python-based API engineering, database architecture, distributed systems, and high-performance backend infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have proven experience designing, building, and maintaining production-grade APIs that integrate sophisticated AI functionality.

What will you do?

As a Staff AI API Engineer, you’ll join our globally distributed team to:

• Develop and maintain high-performance Python-based backend APIs supporting our generative and agentic AI products.
• Design and implement scalable, secure, and reliable backend architectures, leveraging technologies like asyncio, FastAPI, gRPC, Kafka, and GraphQL.
• Ensure robust data management, incorporating relational and NoSQL databases, Redis caching, streaming, and efficient data handling.
• Implement and manage secure zero-trust authentication and authorization schemes for public and internal APIs.
• Collaborate closely with frontend engineers, AI researchers, product managers, and DevOps teams to deliver cohesive product experiences.
• Optimize backend services for scalability, reliability, and performance in high-availability environments.

What skills and experience should you bring?

We're looking for experienced engineers passionate about building secure, high-performing backend systems, with:

• A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years of professional experience developing scalable, production-quality Python backend services.
• Expert-level proficiency with Python, asyncio, and backend API frameworks such as FastAPI, gRPC, and GraphQL.
• Deep understanding of backend architectures, distributed systems, and microservices.
• Experience managing database architectures (relational databases, NoSQL, Redis).
• Strong expertise in authentication and authorization protocols (OAuth, JWT, OpenID Connect, etc.).
• Proven track record interacting with third-party APIs and developing fail-safe integrations.
• Familiarity with modern generative AI technologies (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Meta's LLaMA) and experience building backend integrations.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach in globally distributed teams.

Exceptional candidates will also bring expertise in:

• Proficiency in languages beyond Python, including Go, Java, Kotlin, Rust, C++.
• MLOps and AIOps practices and tools such as MLFlow, Airflow, or Weights & Biases.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP) and deployment tools (Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, ArgoCD).
• Experience optimizing API performance and scalability in production environments.
• Background in cybersecurity, threat detection, or related fields.
• Agile methodologies, including experience as a Technical Lead or Scrum Master.

Why Us?

You will be joining a cutting-edge company where you will tackle extraordinary challenges and work with the very best in the industry.

• Medical, Vision, Dental, 401(k), Commuter, Health and Dependent FSA
• Unlimited PTO
• Industry-leading gender-neutral parental leave
• Paid Company Holidays
• Paid Sick Time
• Employee stock purchase program
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Gym membership reimbursement
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Numerous company-sponsored events, including regular happy hours and team-building events

This U.S. role has a base pay range that will vary based on the location of the candidate. For some locations, a different pay range may apply. If so, this range will be provided to you during the recruiting process. You can also reach out to the recruiter with any questions.

Base Salary Range $170,200 — $234,600 USD

SentinelOne is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

SentinelOne participates in the E-Verify Program for all U.S. based roles.