Senior Software Engineer - AI (Materia AI)

About the Role

Responsibilities

• Design and build backend services using Python, FastAPI, and PostgreSQL for real-time AI interactions and large-scale data flows.
• Define service boundaries, system interfaces, and scalable design patterns for the AI platform.
• Develop high-performance APIs and microservices powering AI agents, orchestration engines, and content pipelines.
• Integrate backend systems with modern LLM providers (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic) and implement orchestration, routing, and execution safeguards.
• Productionize AI capabilities with error handling, guardrails, telemetry, and observability.
• Lead core engineering decisions, architecture reviews, and mentoring; promote best practices in testing, resiliency, and maintainability.
• Strengthen CI/CD pipelines and DevOps automation for cloud-native development workflows.
• Collaborate with ML engineers, product managers, and designers to turn AI concepts into scalable backend solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years building backend systems, APIs, and microservices.
• Strong proficiency in Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, and AWS cloud services.
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, architecture, and data modeling.
• Experience with AI-driven systems or agent-based architectures.
• Proven ability to deliver production-ready, highly reliable systems.
• Excellent debugging skills and strong cross-functional communication.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, iterative environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Curiosity and enthusiasm for integrating AI technologies into real applications.
• Familiarity with embeddings, vector search, or RAG retrieval patterns.
• Strong opinions on testing, automation, and operational robustness.
• Experience with modern LLM APIs or orchestration frameworks.

What's in it For You

• Hybrid Work Model: flexible hybrid working environment for office-based roles.
• Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: Flex My Way policies, work from anywhere up to 8 weeks per year.
• Career Development and Growth: Grow My Way programming and skills-first approach.
• Industry Competitive Benefits: flexible vacation, two company-wide Mental Health Days, Headspace app, retirement savings, tuition reimbursement, employee incentive programs.
• Culture: award-winning reputation for inclusion, flexibility, and work-life balance.
• Social Impact: two paid volunteer days annually, pro-bono consulting, ESG initiatives.
• Comprehensive US benefits package including health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401k with company match, parental leave, sabbatical leave.
• Optional hospital, accident and sickness insurance; optional life and AD&D insurance; Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts; fitness reimbursement; EAP; Group Legal Identity Theft Protection; 529 Plan; commuter benefits; Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance; Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Compensation

• Base compensation range for eligible office locations (New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Irvine, McLean, Washington DC): $127,000 - $235,000 USD.
• For any eligible US locations unless otherwise noted: $110,000 - $204,200 USD.
• Base pay positioned within range based on knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity.
• Role may be eligible for an Annual Bonus based on enterprise and individual performance.

About Us