Principal Backend Engineer – AI/ML

Role Overview
In this role, you'll be responsible for designing and developing systems that use LLMs to create powerful AI-driven agents. These agents will automate business processes, streamline decision-making, and enable companies to operate more efficiently. You'll have the freedom to experiment with both existing AI models and new approaches, with a focus on fast iteration, scalability, and practical, impactful solutions.

Key Responsibilities:
Develop and implement AI-based solutions: Leverage LLMs and other technologies to create next-gen automation tools that solve business challenges.
Design scalable systems: Architect solutions that not only work for immediate needs but can also scale effectively for future growth.
Quickly prototype and iterate: Build and test rapid prototypes to validate ideas and refine solutions before scaling up.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams: Work with product managers, data scientists, Salesforce Research and other engineers to build practical, user-focused solutions.
Balance innovation and pragmatism: Know when to build new models and when to optimize with smart prompts or use existing tools.

What We're Looking For:
Entrepreneurial Mindset: You love solving problems, taking ownership, and seeing ideas come to life.
Strong Systems Developer: You're skilled at architecting and implementing complex, distributed systems.
Opinionated yet collaborative: You bring strong ideas and technical opinions but work well in a team, listening to others and adjusting when needed.
Practical Problem Solver: You understand when to use a simple prompt to achieve a goal versus when to build something custom.
Fast Executor with Long-Term Vision: You can move quickly to deliver solutions but think ahead to ensure scalability, performance, and maintainability.

Required Skills:

• 8+ years of experience in backend development (e.g., Java, Python, Go, or similar).
• Experience with prompt engineering
• Knowledge of AI/ML frameworks and experience working with large language models (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, etc. )
• Experience with cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS, GCP) and scalable system architecture.
• Proficiency in data processing and working with APIs.
• Degree or equivalent relevant experience required. Experience will be evaluated based on the core competencies for the role (e.g. extracurricular leadership roles, military experience, volunteer roles, work experience, etc.)

Bonus Points:

• Experience in building or scaling AI-powered platforms or agent-based systems.
• Knowledge of AI/ML frameworks such as LangGraph